Quick Facts: Wyoming

Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. It is bordered by Montana, Idaho, and Utah to the west; Montana to the north; South Dakota and Nebraska to the east; with Colorado and Utah to the south.

ABBREVIATION: WY
NICKNAME: The Equality State
POPULATION: 587,618 (2024 est.)
CAPITAL: Cheyenne
STATE BIRD: Western Meadowlark
STATE FLOWER: Indian Paintbrush
AREA: 97,814 sq. mi.
TIME ZONE: Mountain
ENTERED UNION: July 10, 1890
ALTITUDE: High, 13,809 ft. Gannett Peak
CLIMATE: Mostly dry, with severe winters and fairly cool summers. Light summer rain.

Here lay the great highway of the Old West. Much of the state is scrub and sage, a high land of thrusting mountain ranges, rolling plains and sloping basins. Past Rattlesnake Hills and into legendary South Pass went the old Oregon and California trails.

In some places, the deep ruts worn into the baked soil by the iron-bound wheels of countless wagon trains can still be seen, a section of the pass, and its historic wheel ruts, was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1966. In addition, through Wyoming went, the Pony Express, the first Trans-Continental Telegraph line and the rails of the Union Pacific.

Although oil-refining, sugar beet processing, and coal mining are important to modern Wyoming, the state retains much of the atmosphere of the Old west.

In the countryside graze more than 350,000 sheep, down from the more than 3.7 million sheep reported back in the 1940’s, but still a vital part of the state’s economy. Due to the recent years of drought, the larger ranches have reduced their numbers of cattle, however, with just over a million cattle in stock, cattle and sheep out-number people in Wyoming by almost 3-1.

Yes, it’s still the Old West in Wyoming, with plenty of open space, horses, cowboys, cattle, sagebrush, blue skies, and clean air; Wyoming still stirs up images of the frontier days of the westward expansion.

Castle Geyser with rainbow in Yellowstone, Wyoming

For tourists, Wyoming primarily means natural geysers, protected wildlife, and the roaring cataracts of Yellowstone, the oldest and largest national park in the United States.

Yellowstone spans an area of 3,468.4 square miles, comprising lakes, canyons, rivers and mountain ranges; it is primarily located in Wyoming. Yellowstone National Park contains some of the strangest and most interesting geological features found anywhere in the world. Declared a National Park on March 1, 1872, it continues to draw millions of tourists from every corner of the planet.

Another popular tourist attraction is the annual ‘Frontier Days’ held every summer in Cheyenne Wyoming. Cheyenne Frontier Days is a 10-day festival of non-stop excitement, featuring the world’s best rodeo action and Western entertainment.

Fun Facts:

The famous Teapot Dome scandal, which blackened President Harding’s administration, concerned oil leases in Wyoming and California. It took its name from the shape of a rock formation above the oil reserves in Wyoming.
Cody, Wyoming, is named for ‘Buffalo Bill’ Cody.
Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch gang lived in and around Kaycee, Wyoming, on the Powder River.
Wyoming is called the Equality State because it was the first state to give women the right to vote, granted in 1869 when it was still a territory.
The horse on Wyoming’s license plate is named ‘Old Steamboat’ in honor of a legendary bucking bronco that no one could ride.
‘Devils Tower‘ was named the country’s first national monument by President Roosevelt in 1906. It is a sacred site of worship to many Plains Indians, who know it as ‘Bears Lodge’.

History:

Wyoming, the 44th state admitted to the United States, has a rich and rugged history rooted in Native American heritage, westward expansion, pioneering spirit, and groundbreaking milestones in equality. Known for its wide-open landscapes and iconic natural landmarks, Wyoming has long symbolized the American frontier.

Long before European contact, the region was inhabited by various Native American tribes, including the Arapaho, Cheyenne, Crow, Lakota Sioux, and Shoshone.

These tribes lived off the land, hunting buffalo, trading, and developing deep spiritual and cultural connections with the plains, mountains, and rivers of what is now Wyoming. Their presence and traditions shaped the land for centuries and continue to play an important role in the state’s identity today.

The first Europeans to explore the area were likely fur trappers and mountain men in the late 1700s and early 1800s. During the early 19th century, explorers such as John Colter—once a member of the Lewis and Clark expedition—traveled through Wyoming, reporting incredible geothermal features in what would become Yellowstone National Park. T

he fur trade dominated the region in the early years, with rendezvous sites like the Green River Valley serving as gathering points for trappers and traders.

The mid-1800s saw a massive increase in westward migration. Several major routes, including the Oregon Trail, the Mormon Trail, and the California Trail, passed through Wyoming. Forts such as Fort Laramie were established to support and protect emigrants heading west.

These migration routes brought settlers and U.S. military presence into direct conflict with Native American tribes, leading to a series of confrontations and forced relocations.

The construction of the transcontinental railroad in the 1860s was a turning point in Wyoming’s development. The Union Pacific Railroad brought jobs, settlers, and industry to the region, while towns such as Cheyenne and Laramie sprang up along the route.

Wyoming Territory was established in 1868, and with it came increased settlement and the growth of ranching and mining industries.

In a bold and historic move, Wyoming made headlines by becoming the first territory (and later state) to grant women the right to vote in 1869—decades before the 19th Amendment. This earned it the nickname “The Equality State.”

Women in Wyoming also served on juries and held public office earlier than in other parts of the country, with Esther Hobart Morris becoming the first female justice of the peace in the U.S.

On July 10, 1890, Wyoming became the 44th state in the Union. The state’s economy continued to be driven by ranching, coal and mineral extraction, and later tourism. The establishment of Yellowstone National Park in 1872, the first national park in the world, highlighted Wyoming’s natural beauty and helped shape the national conservation movement.

Today, Wyoming remains a land of vast open spaces, wildlife, and proud frontier traditions. From its Native roots and pioneering achievements in women’s rights to its central role in shaping the American West, Wyoming’s history is both unique and deeply influential.