Park County

Park County was created in 1909 from portions of Big Horn County and is bordered by Montana to the north and includes portions of the Shoshone National Forest, the oldest national forest in the United States. Major landmarks include the Absaroka Mountains, the North Fork and South Fork of the Shoshone River, Sunlight Basin, and the historic Buffalo Bill Dam. The Park County Courthouse is located at 1002 Sheridan Avenue in Cody, housing essential offices including the Park County Clerk & Recorder, the Park County Assessor at the same address, and the Park County Treasurer.

The County Clerk's office maintains vital records, election administration, and various governmental documents. The Assessor's office handles property valuations and tax assessments. What makes Park County unique is its position as the gateway to Yellowstone, its rich Western heritage including the Buffalo Bill Center of the West (one of America's premier cultural institutions), and its combination of outdoor recreation, ranching traditions, and vibrant arts communities in towns like Cody, Powell, and Meeteetse.

To look up current inmates at the Park County Detention Center, citizens can call the detention center directly at (307) 527-8710 or visit the Sheriff's Office in person during business hours. Municipal law enforcement in Park County includes the Cody Police Department (serving the city of Cody, the largest county), the Powell Police Department (serving the town of Powell), and the Meeteetse Town Marshal (serving the small town of Meeteetse). The Cody Police Department is located at 1402 Beck Avenue, Cody, WY 82414, phone (307) 527-8700.

Under Wyoming's Public Records Act (Wyoming Statutes § 16-4-201 through § 16-4-205), arrest records are generally considered public information, and citizens may request arrest records, booking logs, and incident reports from the Sheriff's Office or municipal police departments by submitting a written or in-person request. Wyoming law allows law enforcement agencies to withhold certain investigative records if disclosure would interfere with enforcement proceedings. Park County does not border any tribal lands with separate police jurisdiction, though the Wind River Reservation is located in neighboring counties.

Citizens seeking arrest records should be prepared to provide the subject's name, date of birth, and approximate date of arrest to facilitate the search.

Wyoming also has a Circuit Court system, and Park County Circuit Court shares the same courthouse location and handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, small claims (up to $6,000), preliminary hearings, and protective orders. Park County Justice Courts operate in various locations throughout the county and handle minor offenses, traffic citations, and preliminary matters. Municipal courts operate in Cody and Powell for city ordinance violations and certain traffic matters.

Under Wyoming Statutes § 16-4-203, court records are presumed to be open to the public unless specifically sealed by court order or protected by statute, such as juvenile records, certain family court matters, and cases involving confidential informants. The Clerk of District Court office hours are typically Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.

The Recorder's Office maintains and provides public access to deeds, mortgages, deeds of trust, liens (mechanics liens, tax liens, judgment liens), easements, rights-of-way, Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) filings, military discharge records (DD-214s, which are protected), plat maps, subdivision filings, and various other documents affecting real property. Users can search by name, document type, book and page, or reception number. Property tax records and assessment information are maintained by the Park County Assessor's Office, also located at 1002 Sheridan Avenue, phone (307) 527-8610.

The Assessor maintains property valuations, ownership information, parcel data, and tax assessment records. Park County provides an online GIS (Geographic Information System) mapping tool that allows citizens to search for properties by address, owner name, or parcel number and view parcel boundaries, assessment values, and property characteristics. The Park County Treasurer's Office, phone (307) 527-8630, handles property tax collection and can provide tax payment history and current tax amounts due.

To request certified copies of recorded documents, citizens should visit the Clerk & Recorder's office in person or submit a written request with specific document information; certified copies typically cost an additional fee beyond standard copy charges.

Applicants must provide valid photo identification and demonstrate a direct and tangible interest in the record (parent, legal guardian, the registrant if of legal age, or legal representative). Marriage licenses are issued by the Park County Clerk's Office; couples must apply in person with valid identification, and both parties must be present. Marriage certificates (proof of a marriage that occurred) can be obtained from the same office.

Divorce records (Decrees of Divorce) are maintained by the Clerk of District Court at the Park County Courthouse, phone (307) 527-8640, as these are court records rather than vital records per se. For births, deaths, and marriages occurring anywhere in Wyoming, including Park County, citizens may also order certified copies from the Wyoming Department of Health, Vital Statistics Services, 2300 Capitol Avenue, Cheyenne, WY 82002, phone (307) 777-7591, or online through the VitalChek service at vitalrecords.health.wyo.gov. All vital records requests must comply with Wyoming's vital records confidentiality statutes, which restrict access to authorized individuals to protect privacy.

For local business operations in Park County, the Park County Clerk's Office at (307) 527-8620 handles certain local filings including fictitious name registrations (DBA - Doing Business As) for sole proprietors and partnerships operating under a name other than their legal name. Professional and occupational licenses (contractors, cosmetologists, healthcare providers, etc.) are generally issued by state-level licensing boards rather than county offices. Building permits, zoning approvals, and land use permits in unincorporated Park County are handled by the Park County Planning & Zoning Department, which can be reached through the county government offices at (307) 527-8560.

Cities within Park County (Cody, Powell, Meeteetse) have their own building and zoning departments for permits within city limits. The Park County Chamber of Commerce, located in Cody, and the Powell Valley Chamber of Commerce provide business support services and maintain directories of local businesses. Business owners should also be aware of Wyoming's favorable business climate, including no corporate income tax and no personal income tax.

citizens who are at least 18 years old by election day, have resided in Wyoming for at least 30 days prior to the election, and are not currently adjudicated mentally incompetent or serving a felony sentence. Wyoming offers online voter registration through the state portal at sos.wyo.gov, or citizens may register in person at the Park County Clerk's Office, at driver's license stations, or by mailing a completed voter registration form. The registration deadline is typically 30 days before any election, though Wyoming also offers Election Day registration for those who miss the deadline; voters registering on Election Day must provide proof of residency.

To find your polling place in Park County, voters can contact the County Clerk's office, check their voter registration card which lists the assigned precinct and polling location, or use the polling place lookup tool on the Wyoming Secretary of State's website. Park County has multiple polling places distributed throughout the county in Cody, Powell, Meeteetse, and other communities to ensure access. Election records that are public in Wyoming include voter registration lists (with certain personal information like birth dates and driver's license numbers redacted), precinct-level election results, candidate filings, campaign finance reports filed with the Wyoming Secretary of State, and official election canvass results.

Under Wyoming Statutes § 22-2-119, voter registration records are public but subject to restrictions on use. In the November 2024 general election, Park County demonstrated strong voter participation with turnout estimated at approximately 73-78% of registered voters, consistent with Wyoming's typically high voter engagement in presidential election years. The next major election is scheduled for November 3, 2026, and will include Wyoming's U.S.

House of Representatives seat, one U.S. Senate seat (depending on the cycle), state legislative races for the Wyoming House and Senate, and various county offices. Absentee ballots in Park County are available to any registered voter and can be requested by submitting an absentee ballot application to the Park County Clerk's office; applications are typically accepted beginning 45 days before an election.

Absentee ballots can be returned by mail (must be received by election day), in person at the County Clerk's office, or at designated drop boxes. Wyoming does not require an excuse to vote absentee. The County Clerk's office publishes unofficial election results on election night and certifies official results following the county canvass.

Citizens with questions about election administration, voter registration status, or polling places should contact the Park County Clerk at (307) 527-8620.

The Buffalo Bill Center of the West, one of the nation's premier Western history museums, serves as a major cultural and economic anchor. Agriculture remains vital to Park County's economy, with cattle ranching, hay production, and some crop farming occurring throughout the county's valleys. The median household income in Park County is estimated at approximately $63,000 to $68,000, slightly above Wyoming's median and reflective of the mix of tourism service jobs, natural resource positions, and small business ownership.

Major employers include West Park Hospital (a critical access hospital serving the region), Park County School Districts #1 and #6, Park County government, retail chains, and numerous hospitality businesses. Energy and natural resources continue to play a role, though less dominant than in some Wyoming counties; some oil and gas activity occurs in certain areas of Park County. The manufacturing sector is limited but includes some specialty manufacturing and value-added agricultural products.

Northwest College, located in Powell, serves as both an employer and a workforce development institution. Unemployment in Park County typically mirrors Wyoming's overall low unemployment rate, generally ranging from 3% to 5%, with seasonal variation due to tourism patterns. Economic development efforts focus on diversifying the economy, supporting small business growth, enhancing broadband infrastructure to enable remote work and entrepreneurship, and leveraging the county's exceptional quality of life to attract businesses and skilled workers.

The Park County Economic Development Coalition works to recruit and support businesses in the area. Recent years have seen growth in professional services, healthcare, and recreation-based businesses as the county attracts residents seeking lifestyle opportunities alongside economic prospects.