Wyoming. The Equality State. CultureGrams. 44th State. Climate. Geography. States Edition. Established 1890

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1 States Edition 2014 The Equality State Established th State The whole state of has fewer residents than many U.S. cities. Cody is named after Buffalo Bill Cody. Before became a state, France, Great Britain, Mexico, Spain, and the United States all claimed parts of it. was acquired as part of the Louisiana Purchase in Yellowstone National Park has more geysers (hot springs that periodically shoot steam and hot water into the air), than any other place in the world. Cheyenne Frontier Days is one of the oldest and largest outdoor rodeos in the country. It began in Some of the largest coal reserves in the United States are found in. Fires in 1988 burned more than 1 million acres of Yellowstone. Between 1942 and 1945, around 11,000 Japanese Americans were sent to the Heart Mountain Relocation Center near Cody. The federal government owns about half of the land in. Climate Because of its elevation, the second highest in the United States, has relatively cool temperatures. The climate is dry, but it varies depending on location. The mountains in northwestern tend to be colder than the Great Plains region. January temperatures in the mountains average about 12 F (-11 C). And average July temperatures in the northwest are around 59 F (15 C). By contrast, in the city of Casper, on the Great Plains, the average January temperature is 22 F (-6 C), and the average July temperature is 71 F (22 C). Annual precipitation in the state varies from as little as 5 inches (13 cm) to as much as 45 inches (114 cm), some in the form of rain and some in snow. The mountains receive most of s precipitation. Average Seasonal High and Low Temperatures Spring: 56/31 F Summer: 82/51 F Fall: 58/32 F Winter: 36/14 F Geography 1

2 is the tenth largest state, with a total area of 97,818 square miles (253,347 sq km). There are two main geographic regions in. In the northwest and central part of the state are the Rocky Mountains, a group of mountain ranges that extends from Alaska to New Mexico. The Middle Rocky Mountains are in northwestern. The Wind River and Teton Ranges are located in this group. Farther south and east are the Southern Rocky Mountains. In between the mountain ranges are valleys or basins. To the east is the Great Plains region. In fact, the name was adopted from a Native American word, meche-weami-ing, which means at the big plains. The grasslands of the plains provide rangeland for cattle and sheep. Resources and Economy The state s economy relies heavily on three major industries mining, agriculture, and tourism. is one of the leading producers of coal in the United States. Oil, natural gas, and uranium are valuable economic resources as well. The majority of the state s agricultural income comes from livestock, primarily cattle and sheep. Most of the crops raised in are used to feed livestock. Lumber is also an important agricultural product. The state s scenic beauty attracts millions of visitors each year. Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks are two of the state s most popular tourist destinations. Time Line Long before the arrival of white explorers and settlers, what is now is inhabited by various Native American tribes AD 1800 AD 1803 The French sell the Louisiana Territory, including part of, to the United States 1807 John Colter explores for the first time and visits Yellowstone 1834 Fort William (now Fort Laramie), the first permanent trading post, is built 1835 The first rendevous of fur trappers is held at the Green River 1843 Jim Bridger and Louis Vásquez open Fort Bridger 1867 The Union Pacific Railroad comes to 1868 becomes a U.S. territory 1869 Territory gives women the right to vote 1872 Yellowstone National Park is established 2

3 1890 becomes the 44th state Nellie Tayloe Ross becomes the first female governor in the United States 1929 Grand Teton National Park is established 1951 Uranium is discovered in 1988 Forest fires burn more than a million acres in Yellowstone National Park 1995 Wolves are reintroduced in Yellowstone National Park faces one of its worst fire seasons in recent years 2002 More than 6 million people visit s national parks and monuments PRESENT Native American Inhabitants 3

4 By the time the first whites arrived in what is now, various Native American tribes occupied the area. These tribes included the Shoshone, Crow, Blackfoot, Sioux, Bannock, Cheyenne, and Arapaho. These peoples tended to be nomadic, which means that they traveled from place to place in search of food instead of living in permanent homes. One of the most important resources to native peoples was the buffalo, or bison. Buffalo were not only a food source but also a source of clothing, blankets, and tools for the native inhabitants. The Plains Indians frequently killed the bison by herding them over cliffs. Hunting became much easier when horses were introduced into the region in the mid-17th century. Horses allowed the tribes to travel farther and faster. Colter and Company Early visitors to came in search of beaver. Beaver hats were popular in the early 1800s in both America and Europe, so trappers and traders could make money selling beaver pelts (skins). One of these early visitors was John Colter, who had been a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. In 1807, the Missouri Fur Company sent Colter into what is now to explore the area and make trade agreements with Native American tribes. During his travels, Colter became the first white man to see the geysers (hot springs that periodically shoot steam and hot water into the air) and spectacular scenery of Yellowstone. Other trappers would come to soon afterward. Once a year, the trappers, mountain men, and some of the Native Americans in the area would meet near Green River to get supplies, tell stories, and trade. Western Trails Many of the pioneers who were headed out west to Oregon, Utah, Washington, and California in the mid-1800s traveled through. Between 1841 and 1868, more than 400,000 people crossed the region on four major trails the Oregon, Mormon, Overland, and California trails. These early pioneers often followed routes discovered by trappers and explorers and relied on information they provided about the area. Women s Rights in After became a U.S. territory in 1868, the territorial legislature (lawmaking body) met and passed laws giving women the right to vote. was the first state in the country to do this! While women in other states still couldn t vote, women in could also hold office, serve on juries, own property, and earn wages equal to men. By giving women these rights, leaders hoped to attract female settlers to the area. Two months after these laws were passed, Esther Hobart Morris was appointed as the first female judge in the country. In 1870, Eliza Swain became the first woman in American history to vote in a general election. And in 1924, became the first state to have a female governor. Cowboys and Cattle Ranching s plains are ideal for grazing cattle, so in the 1870s, cattle ranchers began driving huge herds of cattle from Texas to to take advantage of the wide-open rangeland before the cattle were sent to market. Some ranchers became very wealthy and powerful because of their control over the cattle industry. But having hundreds of thousands of cows on the land caused problems. Cattle rustling (stealing cattle), overgrazing, and drought were serious concerns. There were also people who wanted to use the land for other things besides cattle. Despite the ups and downs of the ranching industry, it still survives today. In fact, one of s nicknames is the Cowboy State, in honor of its cowboys, past and present. Heart Mountain 4

5 After Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941, many began to view people of Japanese ancestry living in the United States as potential enemies. As a result, nearly 120,000 Japanese and Japanese Americans living on the west coast were forced to go to relocation centers (like prison camps) further inland. Many people lost their homes and businesses in the process. Close to 10,000 of these people were sent to Heart Mountain Relocation Center in. Conditions at Heart Mountain were difficult. There was no running water and little protection from the cold weather. The camp remained open until the end of the war in In 1988, the U.S. government apologized for forcing people into the relocation centers and paid money to the victims. Population Of all 50 states, has the fewest people living there. Because of its relatively large size and small population, has a lot of wide-open spaces. On average, there are around 5 people per square mile (2 per sq km) in compared to a national average of 78 persons per square mile (30 per sq km). Only Alaska is less densely populated. Around two-thirds of residents live in cities or towns. The two largest cities are Cheyenne and Casper. Government Capital: Cheyenne State Abbreviation: WY Governor: Matt Mead (Republican) U.S. Senators: 2 Michael Enzi (Republican) John Barrasso (Republican) U.S. Representatives: 1 Republicans: 1 State Senators: 30 State Representatives: 60 5

6 Counties: 23, plus Yellowstone National Park has three electoral votes in presidential elections. In 1920, the mayor, town council, and town marshal of Jackson were all women the first all-female town government in the United States. Famous People Buffalo Bill Cody Jim Bridger Trapper and guide Dick Cheney U.S. vice president Buffalo Bill Cody Frontiersman Willis Van Devanter Supreme Court justice Rulon Gardner Olympic champion wrestler Patricia MacLachlan Newbery Medal winning author of Sarah, Plain and Tall Esther Hobart Morris First female judge in the United States Red Cloud Oglala Sioux leader Washakie Shoshone leader Jackson Pollock Painter Nellie Tayloe Ross First female governor in the United States Allen K. Simpson U.S. senator Owen Wister Author Rulon Gardner Red Cloud Jackson Pollock Native America 6

7 Native tribes inhabited what is now for thousands of years before European settlers arrived. As more and more settlers arrived in the East, several tribes moved further west to what is now. The Cheyenne and Arapaho were allies and lived in the east along with the Sioux. The Blackfoot tribe lived along the Snake River, while the Bannock and Shoshone occupied the western mountain region. As mountain men and fur trappers began passing through the area, the tribes met and traded with them. Once the United States gained control of the area, Fort Laramie became a central gathering location for trade. The steady stream of settlers and pioneers disrupted the tribal way of life so much that attacks and raids broke out between the two groups over control of land and hunting rights. The government negotiated several treaties with various tribes, but kept decreasing the amount of land the tribes could have until most of them were forced to leave. Almost 2 percent of the state s population is Native American. There are two federally recognized tribes in today, the Northern Arapaho and the Eastern Shoshone. The two tribes share a reservation located in central between the Owl Creek and Wind River mountain ranges. The Wind River Reservation covers more than two million acres, making it one of the largest reservations in the United States. The reservation is home to a combined population of about 12,000 Arapaho and Shoshone. They share the land, water, and resources equally between them. Both tribes enjoy holding celebrations such as powwows, rodeos, dance competitions, and other cultural events. Yellowstone In 1872, Congress established Yellowstone National Park, the first and largest national park in the country. The park is located mainly in but also extends into Montana and Idaho. The park is famous for its hot springs and geysers, which periodically shoot steam and hot water into the air. The most famous of these is Old Faithful, which was the first geyser in the park to receive a name. Old Faithful got its name from the regularity of its eruptions. The popular geyser shoots thousands of gallons of boiling water over 100 feet into the air with every eruption. The scenic forests, rivers, lakes, and wildlife also draw millions of visitors. Wildfires in 1988 burned nearly one-fourth of the park, but the plant and animal life have made a rapid recovery. Frontier Days The people of are proud of their distinctly western heritage. Cheyenne Frontier Days is a celebration of all things western and all things. Every year for more than one hundred years, the capital city hosts the outdoor festival and rodeo. Festival events include a chuck wagon cook-off, Wild West reenactments, a traditional Native American village, a carnival, and an air show performed by the United States Air Force Thunderbirds squadron. Known as the Daddy of em All, the Frontier Days rodeo is considered the top event on the professional rodeo circuit, with a top prize of one million dollars. Bronc riding, steer wrestling, and barrel racing are a few of the popular rodeo events. Hundreds of thousands of visitors descend on Cheyenne every July to get in on all of the action and enjoy a slice of culture. 7

8 State Symbols State Bird Western meadowlark This popular songbird is the state bird of six states. State Tree Cottonwood Adopted as the state tree in 1947, this tree is found near creeks and rivers. State Flower Indian paintbrush This brightly colored red flower gets its nourishment from the roots of other nearby plants. State Animal Bison Millions of bison once roamed the Great Plains, but by 1883 they had been nearly wiped out from overhunting. Other Symbols Dinosaur: Triceratops Fish: Cutthroat trout Fossil: Knightia Mammal: Bison Reptile: Horned toad Song: Stone: Jade State Motto Equal Rights The motto refers to the political rights given to women in the state. Pro Sports Teams There are currently no professional sports teams in. For More Information See or contact the Travel and Tourism, 5611 High Plains Road, Cheyenne, WY 82007; phone (800) ; web site 8

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