Casper is located in
Natrona County and it is the county seat. It lies northwest of
Cheyenne along Interstate 25, on the banks of the North Platte River.
In 1847, Mormons established a ferry at the site. The city was founded in 1888 with the arrival of the railroad. It expanded with the discovery of oil at Salt Creek, followed by the Teapot Dome and Big Muddy discoveries. The Lost Soldier oilfield of Sweetwater county triggered a new boom in 1948.
Today Casper, is a railroad, distribution, processing and trade center. In a mining, ranching and farming area, the majority of Casper's workforce is nevertheless employed in the service industry or retail.
Local attractions include the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center, presenting settler and Native American accounts of all the major trails. Nearby points of interest include Independence Rock; Hell's Half Acre; and a petrified forest.
Casper is part of the Casper, Wyoming metro area.