Newcastle
Population ~3,500 · Weston County
A working-class energy town on the Wyoming side. Coal, oil, and bentonite mining have been the economic foundation for decades. Wyoming culture runs deep — self-reliant, skeptical of outside interference, fiercely independent.
~3,500
Population
$38,000-$44,000
Median Income
$150,000-$200,000
Median Home Price
Coal
Key Industry
The Challenge
Coal is dying. Not slowly — rapidly. Wyoming coal production has been declining for a decade. Newcastle's tax base, employment, and identity are tied to an industry the market is leaving behind. Young people who would have worked in energy are leaving.
~3,500
Population
$38,000-$44,000
Median Income
~12-15%
Poverty Rate
BHC's Role in Newcastle
How Seed Foundation and the Black Hills Consortium are investing in Newcastle's future.
BHC Wyoming satellite office — 5-10 direct tech jobs
Wyoming expansion anchor — primary landing zone for WY-bound relocators
Zero income tax marketing — combined with affordable housing
Seed Academy partnership — STEM and AI education for Newcastle High School
Coal-to-code narrative — attract state and federal transition funding
Projected Impact by Year 5
Conservative projections based on the Tulsa Remote model and BHC's base case financials.
15-22
BHC Jobs
200-250
Relocations
$9.8M
Economic Impact (5yr)
68-83
New Students
What makes Newcastle unique
Wyoming's $16,000 per-pupil funding makes enrollment gains 2.6x more valuable. Each new student brings more state funding than South Dakota.
School District
Weston County School District #1
Current enrollment: ~500-600 students
Projected new students by Year 5: 68-83
Wyoming funds ~$16,000 per student — 2.6x more than South Dakota.
Housing
Median home price: $150,000-$200,000
Wyoming has 0% state income tax. Combined with affordable housing, relocators build wealth dramatically faster than in coastal cities.
“Newcastle has world-class infrastructure — a hospital, good schools, an airport. BHC is building the replacement narrative for coal: 'coal-to-code.'”
— The pitch to Newcastle
Move to Newcastle
Apply to Settle the West and start your new life in the Black Hills.