Wyoming has a lush wilderness, beautiful landscapes, and even breathtaking mountains with jutting rock formations.
This state of the United States has the least population and the 10th biggest state in the United States as per land area. So, people love to drive here for several hours to enjoy nature’s beauty without seeing any other human being in some of its areas.
This 44th state of the United States has many interesting facts to offer.
So, in this article, let us discuss some interesting facts about the state of the U.S., known as Wyoming.
- It is the least populous state in the country
Wyoming is known as the least populous state in the United States, even though it is the 10th largest in the country by area. As per census records, around 586,000 people live within this state’s area of 97,818 square miles.
Depending on this, the smallest state in the United States, Rhode Island, has an area of about 1212 square miles and also is home to 1.055 million people.
- The origin of name “Wyoming” is a Native American word
The name of this state, Wyoming, comes from the Lenape Indian word “Mechewami-ing,” meaning “at the big plains.” Lenape Indians were the first people to use this name for Wyoming Valley.
Also, this state has six bordering states, as in this northern part of Wyoming, you will see Montana.
On the southern part are Colorado and Utah; on the east side, there are South Dakota and Nebraska, while Idaho is located on the west part.
- It was the first state to have a female governor
The first female governor of the United States was elected in Wyoming. After Governor William Bradford Ross, husband of Nellie Tayloe Ross, passed away, his wife was elected to finish his term.
Nellie Tayloe Ross served as the state’s14th governor from 1925 to 1927. Later, she was appointed by FDR to serve as the director of the United States Mint.
Still, Nellie Tayloe Ross is the only female governor that the state of Wyoming has ever had.
- The first state to grant women voting rights
The territory of Wyoming became the first in the nation to permit women the right to right to vote. This happened in 1869, and women over the age of 21 could give their votes.
According to historians, legislation passed this bill for multiple reasons, including a conviction that women must have the same rights as men and a desire to attract several new settlers to the territory just by making it look more modern.
- Within the borders of Wyoming, there lies Yellowstone
The oldest national park in the U.S., Yellowstone, lies within the borders of Wyoming. It was established in 1872.
This popular national park receives over 4 million visitors every year to see its beauty. This famous national park, Yellowstone, has almost five species of amphibians, 16 species of fish, 67 species of mammals, at least five species of reptiles, and also over 250 species of birds.
- Wyoming has plenty of fossils
In the mid-1800s, this state, Wyoming, was a known destination for hunters that are searching for dinosaur bones, especially in the southeastern part.
There were so many fossils that in the late 19th century, a cabin was constructed by a local enterprising using bone fragments. Still today, that cabin remains standing up.
Moreover, Southeastern Wyoming was once claimed by the Spanish Empire until it was ceded to the U.S. in 1848, at the end of the Mexican-American War.
- The Wyoming Range: A part of the Rocky Mountains
The Wyoming Range is a mountain range that is located in western Wyoming. Also, it is a part of the Rocky Mountains, a famous mountain range from British Columbia, Canada, to New Mexico, U.S.
Also, the highest peak of Wyoming is the Gannett Peak, with a height of 13,810 feet or 4210 meters.
This Gannett Peak is located in the Wind River Range, within the Bridger Wilderness of the well-known Bridger-Teton National Forest.
- In Wyoming, there are two of the world’s biggest coal mines
The North Antelope Rochelle and the Black Thunder coal mine are two of the world’s biggest coal mines. In the Equality State, Coal is a huge business. Almost 40% of the United States coal supply comes from Wyoming.
- Wyoming: Famous for the largest recorded swing dance and bison burgers
Laramie, Wyoming, was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records in April, 2015. Over 1000 swing dancers danced all together simultaneously at the University of Wyoming.
Bison Burger is one of the most popular foods in this state, Wyoming.
Compared to beef burgers, bison meat has less fat, fewer calories, and more protein. Its popular delicacies include lambs, elks, jerkies, and chokecherries.
- The Grand Teton National Park, Teton County
A famous national park in Wyoming is the Grand Teton National Park, which is situated in the northwestern part of the state.
Over 1000 species of vascular plants are found in the Grand Teton National Park, including several mammals, 300 bird species, and fish species, along with some species of amphibians and reptiles.
- The state flag of Wyoming
The state flag of Wyoming has a figure of an American bison. This flag has three colors, white, red, and blue.
The color red signifies the Native Americans and the colonists’ blood. The color white represents purity and uprightness, while the color dark blue represents the distant mountains and skies.
- It is a politically conservative state
Since the 1950s, the state of Wyoming has been politically conservative. Wyoming has been carrying a presidential candidate of the Republican Party every election since 1968.
In the presidential election of the year 2016, Donald Trump won in Wyoming with 67.4 percent or 46 points. This turned out to be the best performance in the 21st century as well as the best performance of Trump in any state.
- Wyoming’s flag also symbolizes fidelity, virility, and justice
The state flag of Wyoming also symbolizes fidelity, virility, and justice. The bison is the symbol of the local fauna, which was once the monarch of the Wyoming plains. Also, the seal symbolizes the culture of branding livestock.
Also, the official motto of Wyoming is “Equal Rights,” and one of the nicknames of this state is the Equality State.
- There are 32 islands in Wyoming state
Although Wyoming is famous as one of the most landlocked states of the United States, this state mainly has 32 named islands. Most of these islands are seen in Yellowstone Lake, Green River, and Jackson Lake.
Moreover, some of those islands in Wyoming are inhabited, and one of those uninhabited places is Stevenson Island.
This specific island got its name after Colonel James D. Stevenson, and hence, it is sometimes called Stevenson Island, which lies in Teton County’s Yellowstone Land.
- The University of Wyoming
In 1886, the University of Wyoming was founded, though, at that time, Wyoming was not yet a part of the United States officially.
This University has seven colleges: agriculture and natural resources, arts and sciences, law, education, engineering, applied sciences, business, and health sciences.
- Wyoming’s climate is continental and semi-arid
Generally, the climate of Wyoming is semi-arid, meaning semi-desert climate but not as low as the climate of a desert, and also continental, meaning cold winters and hot summers.
Usually, July is the hottest month in Wyoming, with a temperature of almost 23.9 to 32.2 degrees Celsius and January is the coldest month with a temperature that can drop more than minus 15 degrees Celsius.
- Mathew Fox didn’t born in Wyoming but grew up here
Although the actor Mathew Fox was born on July 14, 1966, in Abington, Pennsylvania, they moved to Wyoming when he was just one year old.
Mathew’s mother worked as a teacher, and his father became a rancher. Mr. Fox had a good career in acting, with almost $20 million net worth.
Some other famous locals from Wyoming are Mildred Harris (actress), John Buck (baseball player), Jackson Pollock (painter), Isabel Jewell (actress), and Curt Gowdy (sportscaster).
- The Supreme Court of Wyoming: State’s highest court
The Supreme Court of this state, Wyoming, is led by the four associate justices and the Chief Justice. All Justices should have experience of nine years in the law, a minimum of 30 years old, and also a lawyer.
They should be a citizen of the U.S. residing in this state for at least three years. Justices of Wyoming will have retirement at the age of 70.
Michael K. Davis is the current Chief Justice of Wyoming, and his four Associate Justices are, Keith G. Kautz, Kate M. Fox, Kari Jo Gray, and Lynne J. Boomgaarden.
- During the 1880s, Cheyenne, Wyoming, one of the world’s richest cities
Cheyenne became wealthy due to its Gold Rush and flourishing cattle industry in the 1880s. In fact, this place was the center of cattle trade due to its railroad convenience. Cheyenne has vast mineral wealth that attracted numerous gold prospectors and miners.
- Wyoming is the second healthiest and happiest state
Wyoming ranked second among the ten healthiest and happiest states in the United States. It scored 64.2 out of 100, while Hawaii is in first place with a score of 64.6.
The other eight states are Alaska, Montana, Utah, Colorado, Vermont, Delaware, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
According to some of its local people, the happiness of this state, Wyoming, comes from its people, landscape, and weather.
- It is one of the states to have the biggest potential for wind power
The geography and high altitude of this state, Wyoming, offer an excellent spot for wind power. In fact, they have the largest facility for industrial wind production in the entire United States, which is called the Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Energy project.
So, Wyoming is a state of the United States with its own political history, wildlife, beautiful landscape, famous national park, and many more.
At the end of this article, we learned 21 interesting facts that offer us a clear picture of this state, Wyoming. You can see our website if you want to know some additional facts.
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