La Barge, Wyoming

La Barge lies near the western banks of the Green River, upstream of the Fontenelle Reservoir. The surrounding area is rich in oil and natural gas fields.

The town is named for an old French-Canadian mountain man, Joseph Marie La Barge, who trapped furs in the area during the 1830's and 1840's. La Barge came from Quebec via St. Louis and Nebraska, marrying a woman of Spanish and French descent along the way. Also along the way he served the US Government in some capacity during the War of 1812 and was granted US Citizenship for that service. He raised his kids in the La Barge area, then slipped on the ice one day in January, 1860 and died of his injuries a few days later at the age of 73.

La Barge offers an elementary school for its children but once they reach the age for middle and high school, they are bussed to nearby Big Piney. La Barge is in the same school district as Big Piney and Marbleton. The nearest Chamber of Commerce is in Sublette County, as is the nearest Tourism Board. Because of these connections, La Barge is almost more Sublette County than it is Lincoln County.