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B+History
History · Douglas

Douglas’ post office opened in 1886, and 13% of its homes were built before 1940

More historic than 71% of U.S. towns · #7 of 28 in Wyoming. What drives it

12 places in town are on the National Register, among them two historic districts with 232 buildings between them. Below: 1 old photo or paper, maps from 1894 on, and the census since 1890.

1886first post office
12on the National Register
13%homes built before 1940
1old photo or paper
7famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
From Douglas’ archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How Douglas began

When was Douglas founded?

1886

The Douglas post office opened in 1886, the earliest record of the town by name.

First census: 491 in 18902020 census: 6,386140 years

How historic is Douglas?

B+

More historic than 71% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.

What drives the grade ↓
Founding year: the first Douglas post office (Blevins & Helbock, CC0).The full story ↓
History grade

What drives Douglas’ History grade

On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Douglas is more historic than 71% of U.S. towns, #7 of 28 in Wyoming. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its age pulls it down.

B+
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Douglas’ overall grade.
Founding era1886, from the first post office: founded 1850–1899, an older era than 37% of U.S. townsC+Homes built before 194012.5% of homes (±4.3) · typical WY town 12.0% · U.S. 8.4%B−National Register12 listings, 242 historic buildings, 377 per 10,000 residents · typical WY town 25.1 · U.S. 2.4A+
All U.S. towns we grade (21,289)Ahead of 71%
NewerOlder
Wyoming towns of 2,500+ (28)Ahead of 78%

Wyoming towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Wyoming town has 25.1 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Douglas’ 377 sits above most of its state (100% of Wyoming towns have fewer) while its 242 historic buildings outnumber those of 94% of U.S. towns.

How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from C+ to A−. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±4.3 points). The founding year is the first post office, not a stated founding date.

Founding year: the first post office (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →

What stands out about Douglas’ past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A historic districtThe North Douglas Historic District takes in 129 historic buildings.A history waiting to be writtenOnly 1 old photo is in the public archives. The rest are in attics and albums.Mapped building by building5 fire insurance maps, 1894 to 1920, drew every building in Douglas.Landmarks on the Register12 places on the National Register.
★ What stands out · On the National Register

12 listings protect 242 historic buildings

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.

places listed
12
National Historic Landmarks
0
none yet
historic buildings protected
242
each building in a district counts
first listed
1979
College Inn Bar
College Inn BarChrist Episcopal Church and RectoryUS Post Office-Douglas MainDouglas City HallFremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad Passenger DepotJenne BlockMorton MansionOfficer's Club, Douglas Prisoner of War, built 1943Hotel LaBonteNorth Douglas Historic DistrictOld Douglas ArmorySouth Douglas Residential Historic District
BuildingsDistricts

Architectural styles listings

Gothic Revival2
Vernacular2
Late Victorian2
Neo-Classical1
Georgian Revival1
Commercial1
College Inn BarBuilding
Christ Episcopal Church and RectoryGothic Revival
US Post Office-Douglas MainNeo-Classical
Douglas City HallGeorgian Revival
Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad Passenger DepotBuilding
Jenne BlockCommercial
Morton MansionVernacular
Officer's Club, Douglas Prisoner of WarBuilt 1943
All 12 listings
Hotel LaBonteBuilding · listed 2008North Douglas Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 2002Old Douglas ArmoryBuilding · listed 2022South Douglas Residential Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 2023

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

Help out

Start Douglas’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Douglas’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
1 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Retake an old viewDouglas-Wyoming-1920s-postcard: stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
Every building

Douglas, building by building, 1894–1920

Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.

Douglas fire insurance map, 1894, sheet 11894Sheet 1 of 1
Edition
Sheets
BrickWoodStone

Sanborn Map Company, via the Library of Congress. Editions published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.

The story

How Douglas came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Douglas.

Read it all →

Douglas was platted in 1886 when the Wyoming Central Railway (later the Chicago and North Western Transportation Company) established a railway station; the settlement had been in existence since 1867 when Fort Fetterman was built and was first known as "Tent City" before it was officially named "Douglas", after Senator Stephen A. Douglas. It served as a supply point, warehousing and retail, for surrounding cattle ranches, as well as servicing railway crews, cowboys and the troops of the U.S. Army stationed at Fort Fetterman. It was incorporated in 1887.

Douglas was the home of a World War II prisoner of war camp. Its former railroad passenger depot is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Douglas, 1886 to 1962

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1886Post officeThe Douglas post office opens
  3. 20th century
  4. 1923In the archiveDouglas-Wyoming-1920s-postcard
  5. 1936Born hereRory Cross is born here
  6. 1943BuiltOfficer's Club, Douglas Prisoner of War is built
  7. 1943Born hereJim Anderson is born here
  8. 1944Born hereDavid Briggs is born here
  9. 1949On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  10. 1962Born hereHarriet Hageman is born here
By decade

Douglas, decade by decade

One decade in the archive so far: the 1920s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1920s1 item
Douglas-Wyoming-1920s-postcard1923Douglas-Wyoming-1920s-postcardPostcard
1930s–1990snothing yet
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Add from your album
Today55 recent
Bearers of the U.S. and Wyoming flags pass the White Wolf Saloon2015Bearers of the U.S. and Wyoming flags pass the White …Fun on the dragon ride at the Wyoming State Fair2015Fun on the dragon ride at the Wyoming State FairA float passes the White Wolf Saloon2015A float passes the White Wolf SaloonA truck passes the White Wolf Saloon2015A truck passes the White Wolf SaloonChildren parade past the White Wolf Saloon2015Children parade past the White Wolf SaloonA truck passes the White Wolf Saloon2015A truck passes the White Wolf SaloonA float passes the White Wolf Saloon2015A float passes the White Wolf SaloonWould-be racecar drivers at the Wyoming State Fair2015Would-be racecar drivers at the Wyoming State FairLookalikes, father and son, at the Wyoming State Fair2015Lookalikes, father and son, at the Wyoming State FairTrophy heads at the White Wolf Saloon2015Trophy heads at the White Wolf SaloonOne of several murals inside the one remaining building from Camp Douglas2015One of several murals inside the one remaining buildi…One of several murals inside the one remaining building from Camp Douglas2015One of several murals inside the one remaining buildi…One of several murals inside the one remaining building from Camp Douglas2015One of several murals inside the one remaining buildi…Colorful Ferris wheel at the Wyoming State Fair2015Colorful Ferris wheel at the Wyoming State FairColorful Ferris wheel at the Wyoming State Fair2015Colorful Ferris wheel at the Wyoming State FairFather and son at the Wyoming State Fair2015Father and son at the Wyoming State FairFather and son at the Wyoming State Fair2015Father and son at the Wyoming State FairPart of the procession at Douglas, Wyoming's, annual Fair Parade held during the state fair, which Douglas hosts. Parad…2015Part of the procession at Douglas, Wyoming's, annual …Part of the procession at Douglas, Wyoming's, annual Fair Parade held during the state fair, which Douglas hosts. Parad…2015Part of the procession at Douglas, Wyoming's, annual …Part of the procession at Douglas, Wyoming's, annual Fair Parade held during the state fair, which Douglas hosts. Parad…2015Part of the procession at Douglas, Wyoming's, annual …Part of the procession at Douglas, Wyoming's, annual Fair Parade held during the state fair, which Douglas hosts. Parad…2015Part of the procession at Douglas, Wyoming's, annual …Part of the procession at Douglas, Wyoming's, annual Fair Parade held during the state fair, which Douglas hosts. Parad…2015Part of the procession at Douglas, Wyoming's, annual …Part of the procession at Douglas, Wyoming's, annual Fair Parade held during the state fair, which Douglas hosts. Parad…2015Part of the procession at Douglas, Wyoming's, annual …Part of the procession at Douglas, Wyoming's, annual Fair Parade held during the state fair, which Douglas hosts. Parad…2015Part of the procession at Douglas, Wyoming's, annual …Sheep shearer at the Wyoming State Fair2015Sheep shearer at the Wyoming State FairAt the Wyoming State Fair2015At the Wyoming State FairAt the Wyoming State Fair2015At the Wyoming State FairChrist Episcopal Church2015Christ Episcopal ChurchOne of Wyoming's "Official Mythological Creatures," the jackalope2015One of Wyoming's "Official Mythological Creatures," t…A remnant of Camp Douglas2015A remnant of Camp DouglasThe 1916 Jenne Building, or Jenne Block, as it was first known, in2015The 1916 Jenne Building, or Jenne Block, as it was fi…The "never low in spirits" Double D liquor store in2015The "never low in spirits" Double D liquor store inOne of two dozen or so silhouetted jackalope details on the Jackalope Bridge over the North Platte River in2015One of two dozen or so silhouetted jackalope details …One of Wyoming's "Official Mythological Creatures," the jackalope, in2015One of Wyoming's "Official Mythological Creatures," t…Dusk on Jackalope Bridge over the North Platte River in2015Dusk on Jackalope Bridge over the North Platte River …Interstate 25 - Wyoming2014Interstate 25 - WyomingUS Post Office2012US Post OfficeNorth Douglas Historic District2012North Douglas Historic DistrictWyoming State Fair2010Wyoming State FairWelcome to2010Welcome toUnion Pacific Coal Train2010Union Pacific Coal TrainUS GENERAL LAND OFFICE Geodetic control point2010US GENERAL LAND OFFICE Geodetic control pointLandscape at Wagonhound Rd2010Landscape at Wagonhound RdI25 over North Platte River2010I25 over North Platte RiverDouglas Yellowstone hw2010Douglas Yellowstone hwDouglas State Fair tribune2010Douglas State Fair tribuneDouglas Richards St2010Douglas Richards StDouglas Pioneer Museum2010Douglas Pioneer MuseumConverse county2010Converse countyDefense.gov photo essay 090109-D-1852B-0022009Defense.gov photo essay 090109-D-1852B-002Defense.gov photo essay 090109-D-1852B-0012009Defense.gov photo essay 090109-D-1852B-001I-25SBapproachingExit1402008I-25SBapproachingExit140I-25SBExit1402008I-25SBExit140I-25SBExit1352008I-25SBExit135Native rock painting wy usa2002Native rock painting wy usa
On the map

Douglas on the map, 1949 to 1974

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Douglas. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Douglas on the 1949 USGS mapDouglas on the 1950 USGS mapDouglas on the 1974 USGS map1949Douglas sheet · 1:24,000

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Douglas.

Then & now

Stand where they stood

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.

Douglas-Wyoming-1920s-postcard
Retake this viewDouglas-Wyoming-1920s-postcard, 1923

Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Douglas’ page.

Retake this view · +15
People over time

Douglas, census by census

05001,0001,5002,0002,5003,0003,5004,0004,5005,0005,5006,0006,5007,00019001920194019601980200020206,386

Grew from 491 people in 1890 to 6,386 in 2020, more than tenfold.

14 censuses, 1890–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Douglas’ Wikipedia page.

Famous people

7 famous people were born in Douglas

Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.

See all →
Harriet HagemanUnited States Representative from Wyoming since… · b. 1962
David BriggsAmerican record producer · b. 1944
J
Jim AndersonAmerican politician · b. 1943
R
Rory CrossAmerican rancher · b. 1936
S
Scott SalesAmerican politician · b. 1960
James HagemanAmerican politician · b. 1930
Places that used to be

Places now gone and burying grounds

Douglas’s post office has been open since 1886.

Gone or out of use
Albert Sims Fee Land MinemineAnderson PitmineCarmen PitmineFort Fetterman PitmineLisco PitmineMiner Sand and Gravel PitmineWintermote Pitmine
4cemeteries and burying grounds inside Douglas
Camp Douglas POWsDouglasPioneerWashington Park

US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Questions about Douglas’ history

What year was Douglas founded?

The Douglas post office opened in 1886, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records).

How does Douglas rank for history?

Douglas is more historic than 71% of U.S. towns, #7 of 28 in Wyoming. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.

What is on the National Register in Douglas?

12 listings: 10 buildings, among them the College Inn Bar (listed 1979, the first), and 2 historic districts, the North Douglas Historic District and the South Douglas Residential Historic District, with 232 contributing buildings. 242 historic buildings in all.

How old are the homes in Douglas?

13% of Douglas’ homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±4.3 points), against a typical 12% for a Wyoming town; the median home was built in 1977.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

From Wikimedia Commons (26), the Library of Congress (30), the National Register of Historic Places (12), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.