Southwest Wyoming

Lincoln County | Sweetwater County | Uinta County

Photo by Wyoming Office of Tourism

Thriving Industrial & Energy Hub

Southwest Wyoming forms a high-impact industrial and energy corridor, offering businesses access to world-class resources, infrastructure, and workforce. Sweetwater County is home to the largest natural trona reserves in the world, supporting a globally significant soda ash industry with major employers like WE Soda and Ciner. It also offers strong rail, highway, and pipeline access for manufacturing, logistics, and energy services. Uinta County builds on this strength with a robust oil and gas presence, rail-served industrial sites, and growing opportunities in manufacturing centered around Evanston.

Lincoln County is emerging as a center for next-generation energy development, highlighted by TerraPower’s Natrium advanced nuclear project in Kemmerer. This multibillion-dollar investment is creating new opportunities in energy technology, construction, and long-term operations. With abundant resources, available industrial land, and a pro-business climate, this region is positioned for large-scale investment and long-term economic growth.

Heather Tupper

Director of Regional Operations

Phone: 307-777-2804

Industry Clusters

Advanced Manufacturing
Agriculture
Energy
Mining
Tourism

Education in Support of Local Business

Western Wyoming College in Rock Springs collaborates with businesses throughout its service area to develop programs responsive to industry needs, especially mining, energy, and healthcare.

Success Stories

WE Soda in Green River, WY

WE Soda, formerly Genesis Alkali, is a leading producer of natural soda ash.

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Historic Roundhouse in Evanston, WY

Built in 1912–1914, the historic Evanston Roundhouse & Railyards is one of the last intact roundhouses on the UPRR line. In 2009, the city was able to refurbish the first of four sections of the Roundhouse as a public facility.

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Demographics

Total Regional Population: 83,309

Total Regional Labor Shed (within a 100-mile radius): 412,347

Source: Applied Geographic Solutions

Counties within the Southwest Region

Transportation

Southwest Wyoming boasts a strong, multi-modal transportation network that supports large-scale industrial operations, energy production, and manufacturing. The region continues to invest in industrial access roads, rail-served sites, and logistics infrastructure to support both traditional and emerging industries.

Interstates & Highways

Interstate 80 runs directly through Sweetwater and Uinta Counties, serving as a major east-west freight corridor between Salt Lake City and the Midwest. U.S. Highways 189 and 30 provide north-south connectivity through Lincoln County, linking key communities like Kemmerer and Afton to regional markets.

Airports

Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport in Rock Springs serves the region’s air needs and offers daily commercial service to Denver International Airport.

Railways

The Union Pacific Railroad serves the region with mainline and spur access to trona mines, power plants, and industrial facilities, enabling efficient bulk shipping.

Public Land

71% (11,792.8 square miles) of the total land in Southwest Wyoming is public.

Popular Activities

Blue ribbon fishing
Rafting, kayaking, and paddleboarding
Hiking and backpacking
Mountain, road, and gravel biking

Tourism Hotspots

Bear River State Park: See bison, elk, and enjoy scenic trails.
Fort Bridger State Historic Site: Tour restored military buildings, a reconstructed trading post, and archaeological exhibits.
Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area: Explore 207,363 acres of scenic landscape and the 91-mile Flaming Gorge Reservoir.
Killpecker Sand Dunes: Ride ATVs, hike, or sled on 11,000 acres of open sand, with dunes up to 100 feet high.
Fossil Butte National Monument: Discover one of the world’s largest freshwater fish fossil deposits.