Centennial
The community of Centennial is located in the southeast corner of the state of Wyoming, 27 miles west of Laramie, Wyoming on scenic byway Highway 130. It is nestled in Centennial Valley with Sheep Mountain to the east, Centennial Ridge and the Medicine Bow Forest to the west.
Centennial is at an altitude of 8076 ft, and has the possibility of snow year round. It has the following weather profile:
- Average high temperature is 53.1 degrees F
- Average low temperature is 27.7 degrees F
- Average precipitation is 14.19 inches
- Average snowfall is 111.6 inches
- The snowiest month is March averaging 18.3 inches
- The coldest temperature was -45 degrees F in January 1963
- The warmest temperature was 95 degrees F in July 1954
- The snowiest year was 1951 with 187.3 inches
- (Weather information courtesy of Dayweather)
Early Plains Indians passed through the valley looking for wood to make teepee poles and bows. They were followed by tie-hacks, miners, and ranchers. Congress passed two acts in 1862 which had strong impacts on the valley. One was the Pacific Railways Act that led to the construction of the transcontinental railroad; the other was the Homestead Act.
The construction of the railroad brought about a need for railway ties and several camps sprung up in the Medicine Bow Forest. By some counts three million ties were taken from the forest between the years 1867 and 1870.
The Homestead Act granted settlers 160 acres of land if they could live on that land for five years and improve it. This made possible the establishment of several area ranches that still exist today.
In 1875 gold was discovered on Centennial Ridge and the rush was on. The mine and new town of Centennial were named in honor of our nation's Centennial Celebration. In 1877 the main vein ran out at a fault line. What remains of the vein is yet to be discovered.
Centennial's major industry is tourism. It has a thriving arts community, theatre, several restaurants, hotels, gift shops, grocery store, a ski area 8 miles west on Highway 130, United State Post Office, school, museum, church, and of course the library.
Today Centennial is a mix of retirees, ranch families, nature lovers, and a few dreamers looking for gold.
Centennial Library
Centennial has boasted a library since the 1920's. In 1979 Pat Self, owner of the Old Corral restaurant, graciously provided the community his The Goodie Shoppe, a small building next to the Old Corral, to use as a library. 
The grand opening was held August 20, 1979 and was attended by author James Michener (pictured right).
The Centennial library won the Andy Fisher Award of the Wyoming Library Association in 1984 for renovations in 1982-83, including adding heaters, electrical outlets, oak furnishings, and carpet.
At the time the library was heated by a wood burning stove. The Lions Club provided cut wood, and students and teachers sometimes helped move snow from the wood pile. If the library didn't get to 50 degrees by noon, it would close for the rest of the day.
In 1993 the Old Corral had new owners, and it was decided it was time for the library to have its own building. The Centennial Library and Cultural Association (CLCA) was formed to finance, construct, and maintain a building to house the library.
The new library was constructed in 1993 with the help of community volunteers. The Grand opening was held July 30, 1994.
The library is a branch of the Albany County Public Library. Albany County provides a librarian, books, subscriptions, audio books, cataloging, reference material, interlibrary loan, training, Internet access, and participation in the state's library database. The CLCA provides and maintains the building. Trained community volunteers staff the library Monday through Friday, 11 AM - 3PM, year round and Saturdays, 11 AM - 3 PM, Memorial Day through Labor Day.