energy capital of the nation
Gillette is centrally located in an area involved with the development of vast
quantities of American coal, oil and gas Over the last decade, the population has
increased 48 percent. Founded in 1891 with the coming of the Chicago,
Burlington & Quincy Railroad, it was named for Edward Gillette, who worked
as a surveyor for the company.
Tourism Gillette's inclusion on the Black and Yellow Trail in 1912, a highway
extending from the Black Hills to Yellowstone, brought many different travelers
and tourists into town via automobile resulting in construction of tourist
camps, cottages, and motels along with cafes and eateries.
The Gillette Syndrome is named for the
social disruptions that occur in towns experiencing rapid growth; during the
1960s, Gillette doubled its population from 3,580 to 7,194 resulting in
increased crime, high costs of living and weakened social and community bonds.
Geography Gillette Wyoming is situated between the Bighorn Mountains and the
Black Hills in the Powder River Basin. Devils
Tower rises 1,267 feet - 386 m - above the Belle Fourche River; the
summit is 5,112 feet - 1,559 m - above sea level.