Platte County /

Platte County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wyoming. As of 2010, the population was 8,667. Its county seat is Wheatland. Two important Republican politicians came from Platte County: former Governor Jim Geringer, who served from 1995–2003) and former State Representatives Harold Hellbaum, who served from 1963–1977 and was Speaker of the House at the end of his tenure. Platte County was also the birthplace of Larry Birleffi (1918–2008), the "Voice of the University of Wyoming Cowboys" from 1947-1986. Platte County was organized in 1911. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,111 square miles (5,467 km²), of which 2,085 square miles (5,400 km²) is land and 26 square miles (67 km²) (1.23%) is water. As of the census of 2000, there were 8,807 people, 3,625 households, and 2,494 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 4,528 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.18% White, 0.16% Black or African American, 0.50% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.69% from other races, and 1.27% from two or more