Wyoming

Basic Information

Wyoming, located in the Mountain West region of the United States, is known for its vast plains, mountain ranges, and having the smallest population of any state.

Capital

• Cheyenne

Largest City

• Cheyenne

Area

• 97,914 sq mi (10th largest)

Population

• 576,851 (2020, least populous state)

Demographics

Wyoming has the smallest population of any U.S. state with a predominantly rural distribution and relatively homogeneous demographic profile.

Ethnic Composition

• White:84.8%
• Hispanic:10.1%
• Native American:2.7%
• Black:1.3%
• Asian:1.1%

Languages

• English:93.2%
• Spanish:4.8%
• Other Indo-European:0.8%
• Asian Languages:0.7%

Age Distribution

• Under 18:22.8%
• 18-64:60.9%
• 65+:16.3%

Population Growth

• Annual Rate:0.2%
• Natural Increase:1,500
• Migration:Variable (often tied to energy industry)

Economy

Wyoming's economy is heavily based on mineral extraction, agriculture, and tourism, with significant reserves of coal, natural gas, and oil.

GDP

• $41.6 billion (2022)

Major Industries

• Mining & Energy Production
• Tourism & Recreation
• Agriculture & Ranching
• Government Services

Employment Rate

• Employed:96.5%
• Unemployment:3.5%

Major Companies

• Cloud Peak Energy
• Wyoming Medical Center
• Union Pacific Railroad
• F.E. Warren Air Force Base (major employer)

Climate

Wyoming has a semi-arid continental climate characterized by cold winters, warm summers, and low precipitation, with significant variations based on elevation.

Eastern Plains

• Avg. Summer:85°F
• Avg. Winter:20°F
• Rainfall:12-16 inches/year

Mountain Regions

• Avg. Summer:70°F
• Avg. Winter:15°F
• Snowfall:150-200+ inches/year

Basin Areas

• Avg. Summer:85°F
• Avg. Winter:15°F
• Rainfall:6-10 inches/year (semi-arid)

Wind Patterns

• High wind velocity
• Frequent winter blizzards
• Low humidity year-round

Visiting Wyoming

From iconic national parks to historic frontier towns, Wyoming offers visitors a true Western experience and access to some of America's most pristine wilderness areas.

Best Time to Visit

• Summer:June-August (peak season)
• Fall:September-October (fewer crowds)
• Winter:December-March (snow sports)

Transportation

• Major Airports:9 (Casper and Jackson being largest)
• Amtrak:No passenger service in state
• Highway System:6,700 miles of state highways

Accommodation

• Hotels:500+
• Camping Sites:2,500+
• Average Hotel Rate:$125/night (higher near national parks)

Tourist Information

• Visitor Centers:20+ statewide
• Tourism Website:Travel Wyoming
• Info Hotline:1-800-225-5996

Popular Attractions

Wyoming is home to some of America's most famous natural landmarks and wilderness areas, drawing millions of visitors annually.

National Parks

• Yellowstone National Park
• Grand Teton National Park
• Devils Tower National Monument
• Fossil Butte National Monument

Natural Features

• Hot Springs State Park
• Wind River Range
• Bighorn Mountains
• Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area

Historical Sites

• Fort Laramie National Historic Site
• Oregon Trail Ruts
• Buffalo Bill Center of the West
• Wyoming Territorial Prison

Popular Cities

• Jackson
• Cody
• Cheyenne
• Sheridan

History

Wyoming's history ranges from ancient indigenous cultures to pioneering Western settlement and its distinction as the first territory to grant women the right to vote.

Early History

• Native Peoples:Arapaho, Cheyenne, Crow, Lakota
• First European:John Colter (1807)
• Fur Trade Era:1810s-1840s

19th Century

• Oregon Trail Migration:1840s-1860s
• Transcontinental Railroad:1868
• Women's Suffrage:1869
• Statehood:1890 (44th state)

20th Century

• Cattle Industry Growth:1900s-1920s
• Energy Development:1960s-1980s
• Tourism Expansion:1970s+

Recent History

• Energy Boom and Bust Cycles
• Conservation Efforts
• Economic Diversification Attempts

State Symbols

Wyoming has adopted various official state symbols that represent its unique cultural heritage, natural resources, and Western identity.

State Animals

• State Mammal:

  American Bison
• State Bird:

  Western Meadowlark
• State Fish:

  Cutthroat Trout
• State Reptile:

  Horned Toad
• State Dinosaur:

  Triceratops

State Plants

• State Flower:

  Indian Paintbrush
• State Tree:

  Plains Cottonwood
• State Grass:

  Western Wheatgrass
• State Lichen:

  Xanthoparmelia wyomingica
• State Plant:

  Wyoming Big Sagebrush

Cultural Symbols

• State Colors:

  Brown and Gold
• State Song:

  "Wyoming"
• State Nickname:

  The Equality State
• State License Plate:

  Bucking Horse and Rider
• State Motto:

  "Equal Rights"

Other Symbols

• State Gemstone:

  Jade
• State Fossil:

  Knightia (fossil fish)
• State Coin:

  Yellowstone Quarter
• State Sport:

  Rodeo
• State Instrument:

  Bucking Horse and Rider

State Facts

Interesting and unique facts about Wyoming that showcase its distinctive character and historical significance.

Geographic Facts

• Highest Point:

  Gannett Peak (13,809 ft)
• Lowest Point:

  Belle Fourche River (3,099 ft)
• Continental Divide crosses the state
• Great Divide Basin (water drains neither to Atlantic nor Pacific)
• More than 50% of land is federally owned

Records & Rankings

• Least Populated State in the US
• Largest Coal Producer in the US
• First National Park (Yellowstone, 1872)
• First National Monument (Devils Tower, 1906)
• Lowest Population Density in Lower 48 States

Notable Firsts

• First Woman Governor in US (Nellie Tayloe Ross, 1925)
• First State to Grant Women Voting Rights (1869)
• First Woman Justice of the Peace (Esther Hobart Morris, 1870)
• First National Forest (Shoshone National Forest, 1891)
• First State with All-Female Jury (Laramie, 1870)

Unique Features

• Contains 2/3 of Yellowstone National Park
• Home to World's Largest Mineral Hot Spring (Thermopolis)
• Has More Pronghorn Antelope than People
• Only State with Borders Forming Perfect Latitudinal/Longitudinal Lines
• Has World's Largest Intact Temperate Ecosystem (Greater Yellowstone)

Government & Politics

Wyoming has a stable state government structure with a historically conservative political landscape.

Governor

• Mark Gordon (as of 2021)

Legislature

• Bicameral:State Senate (30 members) and State House (60 members)

Political Trends

• Historically Republican-leaning state

Key Political Issues

• Energy Policy
• Public Land Management
• Water Rights
• Economic Diversification

Time Zones

Wyoming is located entirely within the Mountain Time Zone.

Standard Time

• Mountain Standard Time (MST, UTC -7)

Daylight Saving

• Mountain Daylight Time (MDT, UTC -6)

Notable Exceptions

• No areas with differing time zones
• Observes DST in accordance with federal law

Education

Wyoming maintains a strong commitment to education despite its rural character, with significant per-student investment.

Major Public Systems

• University of Wyoming (only four-year public university)
• Wyoming Community College System (7 colleges)
• K-12 Public School System (48 school districts)

Notable Institutions

• University of Wyoming
• Central Wyoming College
• Sheridan College
• Wyoming Catholic College (private)

K-12 System

• Approximately 93,000 students in public schools

Key Educational Initiatives

• Hathaway Scholarship Program
• Wyoming Innovations in Learning Conference
• Career and Technical Education
• One of highest per-pupil spending rates in US

Culture & Festivals

Wyoming's cultural identity is deeply rooted in its Western heritage, with numerous celebrations of its cowboy and pioneer traditions.

Major Festivals

• Cheyenne Frontier Days (world's largest outdoor rodeo)
• Cody Stampede
• Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival
• Wyoming State Fair

Cultural Celebrations

• Grand Teton Music Festival
• Jubilee Days (Laramie)
• Wyoming's Big Show (Rock Springs)
• Native American Pow Wows

Regional Traditions

• Rodeo events throughout summer
• Western art exhibitions
• Old West Days (Jackson)
• Cowboy Poetry Gatherings

Seasonal Events

• Winter Carnivals
• Fourth of July Celebrations
• County Fairs
• Christmas Parades

Sports & Teams

While Wyoming has no major professional sports teams, it maintains a strong collegiate and outdoor sports culture.

College Sports

• University of Wyoming Cowboys/Cowgirls (NCAA Division I)
• Wyoming Community College teams

Rodeo

• Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association events
• College Rodeo teams
• High School Rodeo Association

Outdoor Sports

• Skiing and Snowboarding
• Mountain Biking
• Rock Climbing
• Fly Fishing

Notable Sporting Events

• Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo
• Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race
• Wyoming Marathon
• Snowmobile Hill Climb World Championship (Jackson)

Cuisine & Local Specialties

Wyoming cuisine reflects its ranching heritage and Western traditions, with an emphasis on beef, game meats, and hearty fare.

Signature Dishes

• Wyoming Beef Steaks
• Bison/Buffalo Burgers
• Rocky Mountain Oysters
• Trout and Wild Game

Regional Specialties

• Chuckwagon Cooking
• Dutch Oven Dishes
• Jerky and Dried Meats
• Huckleberry and Chokecherry Preserves

Agricultural Products

• Beef Cattle
• Sugar Beets
• Hay and Alfalfa
• Barley and Wheat

Beverage Culture

• Craft Breweries (20+ statewide)
• Small-batch Distilleries
• Wyoming Whiskey
• Local Honey Wines

Infrastructure

Wyoming's infrastructure supports its rural, low-density population with emphasis on highways, energy transmission, and water management.

Highway System

• 6,700+ miles of state highways, including Interstate 80 and Interstate 25

Public Transportation

• Limited urban bus services
• No passenger rail service
• Rural transit services in select areas
• Airport shuttles in tourist regions

Major Facilities

• Jackson Hole Airport
• Casper-Natrona County International Airport
• F.E. Warren Air Force Base
• Major energy transmission corridors

Energy & Water

• Major dams and reservoirs
• Coal-fired power plants
• Wind farms (rapidly expanding)
• Oil and natural gas infrastructure

Notable Historical Figures

Many influential individuals have shaped Wyoming's development and contributed to its unique identity.

Political Leaders

• Nellie Tayloe Ross (first female governor in US)
• Francis E. Warren (first governor of state)
• Joseph M. Carey (senator, governor)
• Esther Hobart Morris (first female justice of the peace)

Historical Figures

• Buffalo Bill Cody (showman, founder of Cody)
• Chief Washakie (Shoshone leader)
• Jim Bridger (mountain man, explorer)
• Tom Horn (controversial range detective)

Cultural Icons

• Jackson Pollock (artist, born in Cody)
• Chris LeDoux (rodeo champion and country music star)
• Ernest Hemingway (wrote in Wyoming)
• Jeremiah Johnson (mountain man portrayed in film)

Modern Notables

• Dick Cheney (US Vice President)
• Matthew Shepard (hate crime victim, catalyst for legislation)
• Harrison Ford (actor with ranch near Jackson)
• Dave Freudenthal (former governor)

State Government Services

Wyoming provides various services to its residents through state agencies designed to meet the needs of a rural, low-density population.

Health Services

• Wyoming Department of Health
• Medicaid Program
• Public Health Nursing
• Mental Health Services

Social Services

• Wyoming Department of Family Services
• SNAP Benefits
• Child Support Services
• Temporary Assistance (TANF)

Environmental Agencies

• Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality
• Wyoming Game and Fish Department
• Wyoming State Forestry Division

Parks & Recreation

• 12 state parks
• Historic sites
• Public hunting and fishing areas
• Recreation areas

Key Historical Documents & Landmarks

Historical documents and sites reflect Wyoming's pioneering past and its unique place in American history.

State Constitution

• Original 1889 Constitution
• First to include women's suffrage
• Current Constitution with amendments

Historic Sites

• Oregon Trail ruts
• Independence Rock
• Fort Laramie
• South Pass (key emigrant trail passage)

Archival Repositories

• Wyoming State Archives
• American Heritage Center (UW)
• Wyoming Historical Society
• Buffalo Bill Center of the West archives

Native American Heritage Sites

• Medicine Wheel
• Bighorn Basin Petroglyphs
• Legend Rock
• Antelope Pit

Environmental Initiatives

Despite its resource extraction economy, Wyoming engages in significant conservation efforts to protect its pristine landscapes and wildlife.

Wildlife Conservation

• Gray Wolf Recovery Program
• Sage Grouse Conservation Strategy
• Wildlife Corridors Protection
• Elk Feedground Management

Land Management

• Public Land Access Initiatives
• Conservation Easement Programs
• Invasive Species Control
• Habitat Improvement Projects

Water Protection

• Watershed Improvement Programs
• Groundwater Monitoring Networks
• Stream Restoration Projects
• Water Quality Monitoring

Energy Initiatives

• Carbon Capture Research
• Wind Energy Development
• Reclamation of Mining Sites
• Integrated Test Center (coal research)

Major Events & Conferences

Wyoming hosts a variety of professional, educational, and industry gatherings throughout the year.

Industry Conferences

• Wyoming Oil and Gas Fair
• Wyoming Mining Association Convention
• Wyoming Economic Development Association Conference
• Wyoming Water Association Annual Meeting

Educational Events

• Wyoming History Day
• Wyoming Education Technology Forum
• Yellowstone Biennial Scientific Conference
• Wyoming Healthcare Symposium

Cultural Gatherings

• Wyoming Writers Conference
• Western Design Conference (Jackson)
• Wyoming Outdoor Weekend
• Wyoming Arts Summit

Tourism Events

• Wyoming Governor's Hospitality & Tourism Conference
• National Outdoor Recreation Conference
• Cowboy Tough Adventure Race
• Photography and Wildlife Viewing Festivals