Discover Sweetwater County
There is something for everyone in Sweetwater County.
Home to more than 42,000 residents, the Sweetwater County area features standout communities that appeal to all different lifestyles.
In This Article
Fun (and free!) Entertainment
It’s easy to find free summer activities in Sweetwater County, such as taking a drive on the Green River Basin Scenic Byway to take in colorful landscapes of nature and varieties of wildlife. Other ideas include two farmers markets, the Rock Springs Historical Museum and the Rock Springs Downtown Walking Tour. On the campus of Western Wyoming Community College are a dinosaur exhibit, Weidner Wildlife Museum and a one mile maintained Nature Trail. Bitter Creek Park and the Wataha Recreational Complex have fishing ponds, and summertime splash pads are at Garnet Park and Rec Center Park. For off leash dog parks, visit Bitter Creek Bark Park and the Foothill Wetlands Area.
Capital of the World
Trona is Wyoming’s top international export, and at the current rate of operation, Wyoming’s trona reserves will last more than 2,000 years. In fact, the Green River area in Sweetwater County is known as the “Trona Capital of the World,†mining the naturally occurring mineral for soda ash that is used to make glass, paper products, laundry detergents and many other products. In Sweetwater County, the trona industry had its beginning in 1938 when discovered during oil and gas explorations. Current area trona employers include Church & Dwight Company, Ciner Resources LP, Genesis Alkali, Solvay Chemicals and Tata Chemicals North America.
Savor the Flavor
Get your breakfast fix and a cup of phenomenal coffee at one of Sweetwater County’s newest businesses, Cowboy Crepes & Cafe. Like its name says, the café specializes in crepes – nearly 20 of them – and it also features menu items like paninis and homemade pastas. The popular restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner in downtown Rock Springs across from Broadway Theater, and its hot and iced beverages range from French press coffee to energy drinks to housemade sun tea.
Tools of the Trade
Harbor Freight Tools Inc. has debuted in Rock Springs at the Plaza Mall Shopping Center. The discount tool and equipment retailer now has more than 1,000 stores in 48 states, and the Rock Springs opening is the third in Wyoming, joining outlets in Cheyenne and Casper. The company started in 1977 in Los Angeles and today is headquartered in Calabasas, California, and Harbor Freight Tools has a large mail order business to go along with its store sales. The company generated more than $5 billion in revenue in 2018.
Sweet Smell of Success
The former executive chef for Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County has started her own restaurant. In June 2019, Eve Pizza opened Eve’s at White Mountain Golf Course, running her business in a space formerly occupied by 9 Iron Italian Grill. Eve’s offers selections of high-quality, made-from-scratch food, wines and Wyoming brews. The restaurant opens Wednesday through Sunday for lunch, happy hours and dinner.
The 4-1-1 On Sweetwater County
Great Recreation: There are so many recreation opportunities in Sweetwater County that it’s hard to list them all. People can enjoy hiking, biking, camping, rock climbing, paddle boarding, wind surfing, ATV riding, hunting, fishing and more.
Low Taxes: A favorable tax structure is in place in Sweetwater County, where businesses don’t pay corporate income tax and residents don’t pay individual income tax. Also, Wyoming has a low 4% sales tax.
Good Transportation: Sweetwater County is lucky to be located along a major transportation corridor that includes Interstate 80, two U.S. highways, three Wyoming state highways, major flyways and the Union Pacific Railroad.
Breathing Space: A low population density exists in Sweetwater County, with U.S. Census figures showing that the county averages only 4.2 inhabitants per square mile.
- Public Lands: About 75% of the land in Sweetwater County is open to the public for hiking, camping and exploration, with popular destinations like Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, Killpecker Sand Dunes and Expedition Island.
Convenient Airport: Along with daily commercial flights to Denver, Rock Springs-Sweetwater County Airport accommodates corporate jets and general aviation planes and provides an annual $30 million economic impact to the region.
Cultural Diversity: Rock Springs is the “Home of 56 Nationalities,†thanks to immigrants from around the globe who came to the city to work coal mines that provided fuel for steaming the Union Pacific Railroad trains.
Health Care: Area residents have access to quality health care at Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County and Aspen Mountain Medical Center, plus there are several specialists and elder care options throughout the region.
For Business: A pro-business climate is present throughout Sweetwater County, with low costs of doing business, low regulatory burdens and convenient access to state legislators and even the governor.