South Casper & Casper Mountain

Historic Oregon Trail crossing on the North Platte River

Bessemer Bend is a tiny unincorporated CDP where the North Platte River makes a distinctive horseshoe turn southwest of Casper. The site holds deep historical significance: this was the last crossing point on the North Platte for Oregon, Mormon, and California Trail emigrants, and in 1847 Mormon entrepreneurs established a toll ferry here. In 1888 the town of Bessemer was platted across 49 blocks with ambitions of becoming Natrona County's seat, but the railroad bypassed it for Casper and the town faded. Today approximately 110–199 residents live in a quiet, rural setting with direct access to a blue-ribbon trout fishery and a BLM interpretive site preserving the trail-crossing history.

Very small CDP (~110–199 residents). In 1888, the town of Bessemer was platted here with 49 city blocks — its developers envisioned a 'Queen City of the West' after oil was discovered in the area. When the railroad was routed to Casper instead, Bessemer never materialized. The BLM interpretive site preserves the trail-crossing history and is open year-round with no entry fee.

Mountain residential living at 8,130 feet above Casper

Casper Mountain is a small residential CDP perched at 8,130 feet on an anticline of the Laramie Range, rising 3,000 feet above the city of Casper. Roughly 628 residents occupy homes spread across 10.4 square miles of pine and aspen forest, with Hogadon Basin Ski Area, Crimson Dawn Museum, and the Casper Mountain Trails system as immediate neighbors. The median home price runs well above the Casper metro average, reflecting the mountain setting and scarce inventory. WY-251 (Casper Mountain Road) is the sole vehicular route to downtown, and winter closures due to snow and ice are a recurring factor for daily commuters.

WY-251 (Casper Mountain Road) is the sole route between the mountain CDP and Casper. The road climbs approximately 3,000 feet and is subject to seasonal closures due to snow, ice, and low visibility. WYDOT maintains a WY-251 webcam at milepost 5 for real-time conditions. Prospective residents who commute daily should plan for winter delays and occasional full-day closures.

Tiny CDP at the base of Casper Mountain

Mountain View is one of the smallest CDPs in the Casper metro, with roughly 39–96 residents occupying about 58 housing units across 3.8 square miles at the base of Casper Mountain. The CDP sits where the terrain begins to rise from the Casper valley floor toward the 8,130-foot summit, placing Rotary Park, Garden Creek Falls, and the foot of WY-251 (Casper Mountain Road) within easy reach. Downtown Casper is a 12-minute drive north. Data is extremely limited for a CDP of this size.

Rural-residential living southwest of Casper along WY-220

Red Butte is an unincorporated CDP southwest of Casper along WY-220, named for the distinctive red sandstone buttes that served as a major Oregon Trail landmark. With roughly 1,430 residents spread across about half a square mile near the North Platte River, the community offers a rural-residential character while keeping downtown Casper a 15-minute drive northeast on CY Avenue. Homeownership rates exceed 90%, and the median home value carries a premium over the Natrona County median, reflecting larger lots and river-corridor proximity.