Sleepy city known as the "Energy Capital of the Nation"
Once named Donkey Town by railroad surveyors in the 1880s, Gillette, as it would come to be known, is a sleepy city of about 35,000 in northeast Wyoming. "We're not as big as Casper, Cheyenne and Billings, and we don't have quite as many amenities, which makes it a little more relaxed here. There's less going on, in a good way," says Signature Real Estate Group Realtor Westin Hinkel, who was born and raised in the city. The self-proclaimed "Energy Capital of the Nation," Gillette produces fossil fuels like oil and gas, and the state of Wyoming produces nearly 35% of the coal in the U.S. "This is also a very outdoor-oriented area. You've got the Black Hills to the east and the Big Horn Mountains to the west, and we're within reasonable driving distance to Devils Tower, Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone," Hinkel says. "Out here, you have every outdoor opportunity you could want."
The Big Horn Mountains are about 2 hours west of Gillette.
Oil wells are one of the natural resources found in the outer areas of Gillette.
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Dalbey Memorial Park is the park system's crown jewel
“One of the best parts about Gillette is our park system. There are parks and recreation sites all over town,” Hinkel says. The city’s crown jewel is Dalbey Memorial Park, which includes courts for volleyball and basketball, a Little League ballfields, a disc golf course and a fishing lake. “I really love Cam-Plex Park. There are playgrounds, frisbee golf and open grassy areas with trees — we walk our dogs here all the time,” Hinkel says. The Cam-Plex is one of the state’s premier event facilities. Known for rolling hills and open plains, Campbell County has some of the state’s best hunting. Hunting at designated ranches and on over 250,000 acres of public land includes antelope, mule deer and elk. "Golfing is also pretty big in Gillette. You'll have golfers on the course all the way into October and November," Hinkel says.
You can play disc golf year-round at Dalbey Memorial Park in Gillette.
Hunting deer and other game is a way of life in Gillette.
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A housing stock that reflects a blue-collar foundation
In early 2025, the median home price in Gillette was around $350,000, which is about 13% lower than the national median of about $400,000. The city is primarily owner-occupied single-family housing but has pockets of townhomes and condos. “This is a hard-working, blue-collar town, which is reflected in the housing stock,” Hinkel says. There are no gated communities or HOAs in Gillette, and manufactured homes are common on the outskirts of town. In addition to manufactured homes, Gillette has a mix of architecture, including midcentury ranch-style, split-levels from the 1970s and ‘80s, and more contemporary offerings. “You’re going to have a mix of locals and out-of-town people buying here, and in almost every single neighborhood, you’ll see RVs, four-wheelers, and boats all parked in the driveways,” Hinkel says.
This Contemporary home in Gillette has a brick face and 2-car garage.
You will find older Mid-Century style homes in Gillette.
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Respected teachers at the county's public schools
Campbell County School District No. 1 is graded B-minus by Niche. The district serves over 8,000 students in 23 schools. “We’re probably a little bit above average here. I know people are very proud of our district, and we have really great teachers that are respected in the community,” Hinkel says.
Buffalo Elementary School offers a great learning environment in Gillette.
Thunder Basin High School has great athletic opportunities for students in Gillette.
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Downtown has a Main Street vibe and a summer concert series
Multiple commercial stretches in Gillette are home to various retailers and restaurants. "Downtown has a Main Street vibe with independent businesses and banking options. City Hall is there too," Hinkel says. Downtown Thursday Nights is a six-week summer concert series held on the 3rd Street Plaza. "There are some cool places to eat downtown, but the Ice Cream Cafe has some of the best ice cream you'll ever have," Hinkel says. There is chain dining, grocery stores and big-box shopping along South Douglas Highway. "If you need to do some real shopping, Rapid City and Casper are about two hours away, and Billings is about 3.5 hours away. If you grow up in Wyoming, driving two-to-four hours is something most people are probably used to."
Come and get a scoop or two at Gillette’s Ice Cream Café in downtown.
Albertsons is a more cost-effective way to shop for groceries in Gillette.
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Annual New Year's Eve Buck & Ball is held at the Cam-Plex
The annual International Pathfinders Camporee was the calendar highlight of 2024. Pathfinders clubs are like the Boy Scouts of America but with a religious foundation. “It was held in August and brought out over 50,000 visitors, literally from around the world,” Hinkel says. Held at the Cam-Plex, the Camporee was the largest event ever hosted in the city. “The annual New Year’s Eve Buck & Ball is also held at the Cam-Plex, along with rodeos, concerts and banquets. They also hold graduation there,” Hinkel says.
The Boy Scouts of America have a great facility in Gillette.
The Cam-Plex offers areas to walk but mostly hold rodeos and concerts in Gillette.
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Direct access to I-90 and rush hour traffic on state Route 59
Gillette has direct access to Interstate 90, which cuts through the town from east to west. “I-90 is one of the reasons I love Gillette. Except during Sturgis in the summer, it doesn’t get heavy traffic. You can drive to the mountains 60 miles away and pass like 10 cars the whole way,” Hinkel says. “If you’re coming from any city, Gilette will be very easy to drive around. The main drag, state Route 59, can get a little busy at rush hour, but it’s nothing compared to most places.” Limited public transportation options exist, including out-of-town bus services offered by Greyhound, FlixBus and Dakota Trailways. Campbell County Health is the city’s main hospital and a major employer. To catch a flight, Northeast Wyoming Regional Airport is about 5 miles north.
Falling crime and short, hot summers that include wildfire risk
According to crime statistics released by the state of Wyoming, violent crime in Gilette dropped 23% between 2022 and 2024. Property crime dropped almost 18% between 2023 and 2024. “The city is definitely pretty safe. I’m not lying when I say that people leave their cars and houses unlocked,” Hinkel says. “I’m not going to say we don’t have crime, but overall, it’s a very safe community.”
Gillette's climate is cool and semi-arid, characterized by short, hot summers and long, cold winters. The average annual snowfall is between 50 and 60 inches, and there are about 210 sunny days each year, which is about average in the U.S. "Wyoming winters can get bad for sure, but it's not all bad. There are some weeks of 40-to-60-degree weather, so we'll get a lot of snow, but then it'll melt, and you can go for a walk," Hinkel says.
Breezy drought conditions are common in the dry summers, which causes a significant wildfire risk due to the open land surrounding the city. "There isn't a lot of moisture here in the summer compared to some places. So, it can be dry, and temperatures can climb to nearly 100 degrees, but then it gets down to 60 at night and cools everything off," Hinkel says.
Written By
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