Wyoming

Wyoming
State
Flag Seal
Nicknames: Equality State (official); Cowboy State; Big Wyoming [1]
Motto: Equal Rights
Anthem:"Wyoming"
Map of the United States with Wyoming highlighted
Country	United States
Before statehood	Wyoming Territory
Admitted to the Union	July 10, 1890[2](44th)
Capital (and largest city)	Cheyenne
Largest county or equivalent	Laramie
Largest metroandurbanareas	Cheyenne
Government
•Governor	Mark Gordon(R)
•Secretary of State	Chuck Gray(R)
Legislature	Wyoming Legislature
•Upper house	Senate
•Lower house	House of Representatives
Judiciary	Wyoming Supreme Court
U.S. senators	John Barrasso(R) Cynthia Lummis(R)
U.S. House delegation	Harriet Hageman(R)(list)
Area
• Total	97,813[3][4]sq mi (253,335 km2)
• Rank	10th
Dimensions
• Length	371.8 mi (599 km)
• Width	279 mi (451 km)
Elevation	6,700 ft (2,040 m)
Highest elevation ( Gannett Peak [5] [6] [a])	13,809 ft (4,209.1 m)
Lowest elevation ( Belle Fourche Riverat South Dakotaborder [6] [a])	3,101 ft (945 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	576,851
• Rank	50th
• Density	5.97/sq mi (2.31/km2)
• Rank	49th
•Median household income	$62,268[7]
• Income rank	19th
Demonyms	Wyomingite, Wyomingian
Language
•Official language	English
Time zone	UTC−07:00(Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−06:00(MDT)
USPS abbreviation	WY
ISO 3166 code	US-WY
Traditional abbreviation	Wyo.
Latitude	41°Nto45°N
Longitude	104°3'W to 111°3'W
Website	wyo.gov
Symbols of Wyoming
Bird	Western meadowlark(Sturnella neglecta)
Fish	Cutthroat trout(Oncorhynchus clarki)
Flower	Wyoming Indian paintbrush(Castilleja linariifolia)
Grass	Western wheatgrass(Pascopyrum smithii)
Mammal	American bison(Bison bison)
Reptile	Horned lizard(Phrynosoma douglassi brevirostre)
Tree	Plains cottonwood(Populus sargentii)
Dinosaur	Triceratops
Fossil	Knightia
Mineral	Nephrite

Wyoming(/waɪˈoʊmɪŋ/^ⓘwye-OH-ming)^[8]is a landlockedstatein theMountain Westsubregion of theWesternUnited States. It bordersMontanato the north and northwest,South DakotaandNebraskato the east,Idahoto the west,Utahto the southwest, andColoradoto the south. With a population of 576,851 in2020,^[9]Wyoming is theleast populous statedespite being the10th largest by area, with thesecond-lowest population densityafterAlaska. Thestate capitalandmost populous cityisCheyenne, which had a population of 65,132 in 2020.^[10]

Wyoming's western half consists mostly of the ranges and rangelands of theRocky Mountains; its eastern half consists of high-elevationprairie, and is referred to as theHigh Plains. Wyoming's climate issemi-aridin some parts andcontinentalin others, making it drier and windier overall than other states, with greater temperature extremes. Thefederal governmentowns just under half of Wyoming's land, generally protecting it for public use. The state ranks sixth in the amount of land—and fifth in the proportion of its land—that is owned by the federal government.^[11]Its federal lands include two national parks (Grand TetonandYellowstone), two national recreation areas, two national monuments, and several national forests, as well as historic sites, fish hatcheries, and wildlife refuges.Indigenous peoplesinhabited the region for thousands of years. Historic and currently federally recognized tribes include theArapaho,Crow,Lakota, andShoshone. Part of the land that is now Wyoming came under American sovereignty via theLouisiana Purchase, part via theOregon Treaty, and, lastly, via theMexican Cession. With the opening of theOregon Trail, theMormon Trail, and theCalifornia Trail, vast numbers of pioneers traveled through parts of the state that had once been traversed mainly by fur trappers, and this spurred the establishment of forts, such asFort Laramie, that today serve as population centers.^[12]TheTranscontinental Railroadsupplanted the wagon trails in 1867 with a route through southern Wyoming,^[13]bringing new settlers and the establishment of founding towns, including the state capital of Cheyenne.^[14]On March 27, 1890, Wyoming became the union's 44th state.^[1]Farming and ranching, and the attendantrange wars, feature prominently in the state's history. Wyoming's economy is largely based on tourism and the extraction of minerals such ascoal,natural gas,oil, andtrona. Its agricultural commodities include barley, hay, livestock,sugar beets, wheat, and wool. Wyoming does not require the beneficial owners ofLLCsto be disclosed in the filing, which creates an opportunity for atax haven. Wyoming levies no individual or corporateincome taxand no tax on retirement income. Wyoming is known for having a political culture that leans towardslibertarian conservatism.^[15]TheRepublicanpresidential nominee has carried the state in every election since1968.^[16]It is one of theleast religious statesin the country.^[17]Wyoming was the first state to allow women theright to vote(not countingNew Jersey, which had allowed it until 1807), and the right to assume elected office, as well as the first state to elect a female governor. In honor of this part of its history, its most common nickname is "The Equality State" and its official state motto is "Equal Rights".^[1]

SeveralNative Americangroups originally inhabited the region today known as Wyoming. TheCrow,Arapaho,Lakota, andShoshonewere but a few of the original inhabitants European explorers encountered when they first visited the region. What is now southwestern Wyoming was claimed by theSpanish Empire, which extended through the Southwest and Mexico. With Mexican independence in 1821, it was considered part ofAlta California. U.S. expansion brought settlers who fought for control. Mexico ceded these territories after its defeat in 1848 in theMexican–American War.

From the late 18th century,French-Canadiantrappers from Québec and Montréal regularly entered the area for trade with the tribes. French toponyms such as Téton andLa Ramieare marks of that history.^[18]

AmericanJohn Colterfirst recorded a description in English of the region in 1807. He was a member of theLewis and Clark Expedition, which was guided by French CanadianToussaint Charbonneauand his young Shoshone wife,Sacagawea. At the time, Colter's reports of theYellowstonearea were considered fictional.^[19]On a return fromAstoria,Robert Stuartand a party of five men discoveredSouth Passin 1812.^[18]

TheOregon Traillater followed that route as emigrants moved to the west coast. In 1850, mountain manJim Bridgerfirst documented what is now known asBridger Pass.^[20]Bridger also explored Yellowstone, and filed reports on the region that, like Colter's, were largely regarded at the time astall tales. TheUnion Pacific Railroadconstructed track through Bridger Pass in 1868.^[20]It was used as the route for construction ofInterstate 80through the mountains 90 years later.^[21]

After the Union Pacific Railroad reachedCheyennein 1867, population growth was stimulated. The federal government established theWyoming Territoryon July 25, 1868.^[22]Lacking significant deposits of gold and silver, unlike mineral-richColorado, Wyoming did not have such a population boom. ButSouth Pass Cityhad a short-lived boom after the Carissa Mine began producing gold in 1867.^[23]Copper was mined in some areas between theSierra Madre Mountainsand the Snowy Range nearGrand Encampment.^[24]

Once government-sponsored expeditions to the Yellowstone country began, Colter's and Bridger's descriptions of the region's landscape were confirmed. In 1872,Yellowstone National Parkwas created as the world's first, to protect this area. Nearly all of the park lies within the northwestern corner of Wyoming.

On December 10, 1869, territorial GovernorJohn Allen Campbellextended the right to vote to women, making Wyoming the first territory to do so, and upon statehood became the first state to grantwomen's suffrage.^[25]Women first served on juries in Wyoming (Laramiein 1870). Wyoming was also a pioneer in welcoming women into electoral politics.^[26]It had the first female court bailiff (Mary Atkinson, Laramie, in 1870), and the first femalejustice of the peacein the country (Esther Hobart Morris, South Pass City, in 1870). In 1924, Wyoming was the first state to elect a female governor,Nellie Tayloe Ross, who took office in January 1925.^[27]Due to its civil-rights history, one of Wyoming's state nicknames is "The Equality State", and the official state motto is "Equal Rights".^[1]

Wyoming's constitution also included a pioneering article onwater rights.^[28]Bills for Wyoming Territory's admission to the union were introduced in both theU.S. SenateandU.S. House of Representativesin December 1889. On March 27, 1890, the House passed the bill and PresidentBenjamin Harrisonsigned Wyoming's statehood bill; Wyoming became the 44th state in the union.^[1]

Wyoming was the location of theJohnson County Warof 1892, which erupted between competing groups of cattle ranchers. The passage of theHomestead Actled to an influx of small ranchers. Arange warbroke out when either or both of the groups chose violent conflict over commercial competition in the use of the public land.

The region had acquired the nameWyomingby 1865 when RepresentativeJames Mitchell AshleyofOhiointroduced a bill to Congress to provide a "temporary government forthe territory of Wyoming". The territory was named after theWyoming Valleyin Pennsylvania.Thomas Campbellwrote his 1809 poem "Gertrude of Wyoming", inspired by theBattle of Wyomingin theAmerican Revolutionary War. The name ultimately derives from the LenapeMunseewordxwé:wamənk("at the big river flat").^[29][30]

Wyoming's climate is generallysemi-aridandcontinental(Köppen climate classificationBSk) and is drier and windier in comparison to most of the United States with greater temperature extremes.^[31][32]Much of this is due to the topography of the state. Summers in Wyoming are warm with July high temperatures averaging between 80 and 90 °F (27 and 32 °C) in most of the state. With increasing elevation, however, this average drops rapidly with locations above 9,000 feet (2,700 m) averaging around 70 °F (21 °C). Summer nights throughout the state are characterized by a rapid cooldown with even the hottest locations averaging in the 50–60 °F (10–16 °C) range at night. In most of the state, most of the precipitation tends to fall in the late spring and early summer. Winters are cold but are variable with periods of sometimes extreme cold interspersed between generally mild periods, withChinook windsproviding unusually warm temperatures in some locations.

Wyoming is a dry state with much of the land receiving less than 10 inches (250 mm) of rainfall per year. Precipitation depends on elevation with lower areas in theBig Horn Basinaveraging 5–8 inches (130–200 mm), making the area nearly a truedesert. The lower areas in the North and on the eastern plains typically average around 10–12 inches (250–300 mm), making the climate theresemi-arid. Some mountain areas do receive a good amount of precipitation, 20 inches (510 mm) or more, much of it as snow, sometimes 200 inches (510 cm) or more annually. The state's highest recorded temperature is 114 °F (46 °C) atBasinon July 12, 1900, and the lowest recorded temperature is −66 °F (−54 °C) atRiversideon February 9, 1933.

The number ofthunderstormdays varies across the state with the southeastern plains of the state having the most days of thunderstorm activity. Thunderstorm activity in the state is highest during the late spring and early summer. The southeastern corner of the state is the most vulnerable part of the state totornadoactivity. Moving away from that point and westwards, the incidence of tornadoes drops dramatically with the west part of the state showing little vulnerability. Tornadoes, where they occur, tend to be small and brief, unlike some of those that occur farther east.

Casperclimate:Average maximum and minimum temperatures, and average rainfall.
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average max. temperature °F(°C)	32 (0)	37 (3)	45 (7)	56 (13)	66 (19)	78 (26)	87 (31)	85 (29)	74 (23)	60 (16)	44 (7)	34 (1)	58 (14)
Average min. temperature °F (°C)	12 (−11)	16 (−9)	21 (−6)	28 (−2)	37 (3)	46 (8)	54 (12)	51 (11)	41 (5)	32 (0)	21 (−6)	14 (−10)	31 (-1)
Average rainfall inches (mm)	0.6 (15.2)	0.6 (15.2)	1.0 (25.4)	1.6 (40.6)	2.1 (53.3)	1.5 (38.1)	1.3 (33.0)	0.7 (17.8)	0.9 (22.9)	1.0 (25.4)	0.8 (20.3)	0.7 (17.8)	12.8 (325.1)
Source:[33]

Jacksonclimate:Average maximum and minimum temperatures, and average rainfall.
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average max. temperature °F(°C)	24 (−4)	28 (−2)	37 (3)	47 (8)	58 (14)	68 (20)	78 (26)	77 (25)	67 (19)	54 (12)	37 (3)	24 (−4)	49 (9)
Average min. temperature °F (°C)	-1 (−18)	2 (−17)	10 (−12)	21 (−6)	30 (−1)	36 (2)	41 (5)	38 (3)	31 (−1)	22 (−6)	14 (−10)	0 (−18)	20 (-7)
Average rainfall inches (mm)	2.6 (66.0)	1.9 (48.3)	1.6 (40.6)	1.4 (35.6)	1.9 (48.3)	1.8 (45.7)	1.3 (33.0)	1.3 (33.0)	1.5 (38.1)	1.3 (33.0)	2.3 (58.4)	2.5 (63.5)	21.4 (543.6)
Source:[34]

As specified in the designating legislation for theTerritory of Wyoming, Wyoming's borders are lines oflatitude41°Nand45°N, andlongitude104°3'W and 111°3'W (27 and 34 west of theWashington Meridian)—ageodesicquadrangle.^[35]Wyoming is one of only three states (the others beingColoradoandUtah) to have borders defined byonly"straight" lines. Due to surveying inaccuracies during the 19th century, Wyoming's legal border deviates from the truelatitudeandlongitudelines by up to one-half mile (0.80 km) in some spots, especially in the mountainous region along the45th parallel.^[36]Wyoming is bordered on the north byMontana, on the east bySouth DakotaandNebraska, on the south byColorado, on the southwest byUtah, and on the west byIdaho. It is the tenth largest state in the United States in total area, containing 97,814 square miles (253,340 km²) and is made up of 23 counties. From the north border to the south border, it is 276 miles (444 km); and from the east to the west border is 365 miles (587 km) at its south end and 342 miles (550 km) at the north end.

TheGreat Plainsmeet theRocky Mountainsin Wyoming. The state is a greatplateaubroken by manymountain ranges. Surface elevations range from the summit ofGannett Peakin theWind River Mountain Range, at 13,804 feet (4,207 m), to theBelle Fourche Rivervalley in the state's northeast corner, at 3,125 feet (952 m). In the northwest are theAbsaroka,Owl Creek,Gros Ventre,Wind River, and theTetonranges. In the north central are theBig Horn Mountains; in the northeast, theBlack Hills; and in the southern region theLaramie,Snowy, andSierra Madreranges.

The Snowy Range in the south-central part of the state is an extension of the ColoradoRockiesboth in geology and in appearance. The Wind River Range in the west central part of the state is remote and includes more than 40 mountain peaks in excess of 13,000 ft (4,000 m) tall in addition toGannett Peak, the highest peak in the state. The Bighorn Mountains in the north-central portion are somewhat isolated from the bulk of the Rocky Mountains.

The Teton Range in the northwest extends for 50 miles (80 km), part of which is included inGrand Teton National Park. The park includes theGrand Teton, the second-highest peak in the state.

TheContinental Dividespans north–south across the central portion of the state. Rivers east of the divide drain into theMissouri River Basinand eventually theGulf of Mexico. They are theNorth Platte,Wind,Bighorn, andYellowstonerivers. TheSnake Riverin northwest Wyoming eventually drains into theColumbia Riverand the Pacific Ocean, as does theGreen Riverthrough theColorado RiverBasin.

The Continental Divide forks in the south-central part of the state in an area known as theGreat Divide Basinwhere water that precipitates onto or flows into it cannot reach an ocean—itallsinks into the soil and eventually evaporates.

Several rivers begin in or flow through the state, including the Yellowstone River, Bighorn River, Green River, and the Snake River.

Much of Wyoming is covered with large basins containing different eco-regions, from shrublands to smaller patches of desert.^[37]Regions of the state classified as basins contain everything from large geologic formations to sand dunes and vast unpopulated spaces.^[38]Basin landscapes are typically at lower elevations and include rolling hills, valleys, mesas, terraces and other rugged terrain, but also include natural springs as well as rivers and artificial reservoirs.^[39]They have common plant species such as various subspecies ofsagebrush,juniperand grasses such aswheatgrass, but basins are known for their diversity of plant and animal species.^[37]

Wyoming has 32 named islands; the majority are inJackson LakeandYellowstone Lake, withinYellowstone National Parkin the northwest portion of the state. TheGreen Riverin the southwest also contains a number of islands.

The state of Wyoming has 23counties.

The 23 counties of the state of Wyoming ^{[10] [b]}

Rank	County	Population	Rank	County	Population
1	Laramie	100,512	13	Converse	13,751
2	Natrona	79,955	14	Goshen	12,498
3	Campbell	47,026	15	Big Horn	11,521
4	Sweetwater	42,272	16	Sublette	8,728
5	Fremont	39,234	17	Platte	8,605
6	Albany	37,066	18	Johnson	8,447
7	Sheridan	30,921	19	Washakie	7,685
8	Park	29,624	20	Crook	7,181
9	Teton	23,331	21	Weston	6,838
10	Uinta	20,450	22	Hot Springs	4,621
11	Lincoln	19,581	23	Niobrara	2,467
12	Carbon	14,537	Wyoming Total		576,851

Wyoming license plateshave a number on the left that indicates the county where the vehicle is registered, ranked by an earlier census.^[40]Specifically, the numbers are representative of the property values of the counties in 1930.^[41]The county license plate numbers are:

License Plate Prefix	County	License Plate Prefix	County	License Plate Prefix	County
1	Natrona	9	Big Horn	17	Campbell
2	Laramie	10	Fremont	18	Crook
3	Sheridan	11	Park	19	Uinta
4	Sweetwater	12	Lincoln	20	Washakie
5	Albany	13	Converse	21	Weston
6	Carbon	14	Niobrara	22	Teton
7	Goshen	15	Hot Springs	23	Sublette
8	Platte	16	Johnson

The State of Wyoming has 99incorporated municipalities.

Most populous Wyoming cities and towns ^{[10] [b]}

Rank	City	County	Population
1	Cheyenne	Laramie	65,132
2	Casper	Natrona	59,038
3	Gillette	Campbell	33,403
4	Laramie	Albany	31,407
5	Rock Springs	Sweetwater	23,526
6	Sheridan	Sheridan	18,737
7	Green River	Sweetwater	11,825
8	Evanston	Uinta	11,747
9	Jackson	Teton	10,760
10	Riverton	Fremont	10,682
11	Cody	Park	10,028
12	Rawlins	Carbon	8,221
13	Lander	Fremont	7,546
14	Powell	Park	6,419
15	Douglas	Converse	6,386
16	Torrington	Goshen	6,119

In 2020, 51.1% of Wyomingites lived in one of the 12 most populous Wyoming municipalities.

TheUnited States Census Bureauhas defined twometropolitan statistical areas(MSA) and eightmicropolitan statistical areas(MiSA) for the state. In 2020, 31.3% of Wyomingites lived in either of the metropolitan statistical areas, and 80.4% lived in either a metropolitan or a micropolitan area.

Metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas

Census Area	County	Population
Cheyenne	Laramie	100,512
Casper	Natrona	79,955
Gillette	Campbell	47,026
Rock Springs	Sweetwater	42,272
Riverton	Fremont	39,234
Laramie	Albany	37,066
Jackson	Teton County, Wyoming	23,331
	Teton County, Idaho	11,630
	Total	34,961
Sheridan	Sheridan	30,233
Cody	Park	29,624
Evanston	Uinta County, Wyoming	20,450
	Rich County, Utah	2,510
	Total	22,960

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	9,118		—
1880	20,789		128.0%
1890	62,555		200.9%
1900	92,531		47.9%
1910	145,965		57.7%
1920	194,402		33.2%
1930	225,565		16.0%
1940	250,742		11.2%
1950	290,529		15.9%
1960	330,066		13.6%
1970	332,416		0.7%
1980	469,557		41.3%
1990	453,588		−3.4%
2000	493,782		8.9%
2010	563,626		14.1%
2020	576,851		2.3%
2023 (est.)	584,057	[42]	1.2%
Sources: 1910–2020[43]

The2020 United States censuscounted 576,851 people living in Wyoming.^[9]Thecenter of populationof Wyoming is inNatrona County.^[44][45]Sparsely populated, Wyoming is the least populous state of the United States. Wyoming has the second-lowest population density in the country (behindAlaska) and is the sparsest-populated of the 48contiguous states. It is one of only two states with a population smaller than that of the nation's capital; the only other state with this distinction isVermont.

According toHUD's 2022Annual Homeless Assessment Report, there were an estimated 648homelesspeople in Wyoming.^[46][47]

According to the 2020 census, the population's racial composition was 84.7%white(81.4% non-Hispanic white), 2.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% Black or African American, 0.9% Asian American, and 0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 3.5% from some other race, and 7.5% from two or more races.^[48]As of 2011, 24.9% of Wyoming's population younger than age1 were minorities.^[49]According to data from theAmerican Community Survey, as of 2018, Wyoming was the only U.S. state where African Americans earn a higher median income than white workers.^[50]

As of 2015, Wyoming had an estimated population of 586,107, which was an increase of 1,954, or 0.29%, from the prior year and an increase of 22,481, or 3.99%, since the2010 census. This includes a natural increase since the last census of 12,165 (33,704 births minus 21,539 deaths) and an increase from net migration of 4,035 into the state. Immigration resulted in a net increase of 2,264 and migration within the country produced a net increase of 1,771. In 2004, the foreign-born population was 11,000 (2.2%). In 2005, total births in Wyoming were 7,231 (birth rate of 14.04 per thousand).^[51]

According to the 2000 census, the largest ancestry groups in Wyoming were:German(26.0%),English(16.0%),Irish(13.3%),Norwegian(4.3%), andSwedish(3.5%).^{[52][failed verification]}

In 2018, The top countries of origin for Wyoming's immigrants wereMexico,China,Germany,EnglandandCanada.^[53]

Note: Births in table do not add up, because Hispanics are counted both by their ethnicity and by their race, giving a higher overall number.

Live Births by Single Race/Ethnicity of Mother

Race	2013[54]	2014[55]	2015[56]	2016[57]	2017[58]	2018[59]	2019[60]	2020[61]	2021[62]	2022[63]
White:	7,090 (92.7%)	7,178 (93.2%)	7,217 (92.9%)	...	...	...	...	...	...	...
>Non-Hispanic White	6,136 (80.3%)	6,258 (81.3%)	6,196 (79.8%)	5,763 (78.0%)	5,426 (78.6%)	5,078 (77.4%)	5,158 (78.6%)	4,762 (77.7%)	4,882 (78.3%)	4,622 (76.4%)
Native American	305 (4.0%)	294 (3.8%)	294 (3.8%)	200 (2.7%)	206 (3.0%)	219 (3.3%)	198 (3.0%)	176 (2.9%)	179 (2.9%)	185 (3.1%)
Asian	124 (1.6%)	108 (1.4%)	135 (1.7%)	100 (1.3%)	79 (1.1%)	72 (1.1%)	73 (1.1%)	58 (0.9%)	67 (1.1%)	64 (1.1%)
Black	125 (1.6%)	116 (1.5%)	119 (1.5%)	63 (0.9%)	45 (0.7%)	57 (0.9%)	61 (0.9%)	55 (0.9%)	48 (0.8%)	46 (0.8%)
Hispanic(of any race)	926(12.1%)	895(11.6%)	963(12.4%)	973(13.2%)	892(12.9%)	851(13.0%)	839(12.8%)	818(13.3%)	749(12.0%)	835(13.8%)
Total Wyoming	7,644(100%)	7,696(100%)	7,765(100%)	7,386(100%)	6,903(100%)	6,562(100%)	6,565(100%)	6,128(100%)	6,237(100%)	6,049(100%)

• Since 2016, data for births ofWhite Hispanicorigin are not collected, but included in oneHispanicgroup; persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

In 2010, 93.39% (474,343) of Wyomingites over age 5 spokeEnglishas theirprimary language; 4.47% (22,722) spokeSpanish, 0.35% (1,771) spokeGerman, and 0.28% (1,434) spokeFrench. Other common non-English languages includedAlgonquian(0.18%),Russian(0.10%),Tagalog, andGreek(both 0.09%).^[64]

In 2007, theAmerican Community Surveyreported 6.2% (30,419) of Wyoming's population over five spoke a language other than English at home. Of those, 68.1% were able to speak English very well, 16.0% spoke English well, 10.9% did not speak English well, and 5.0% did not speak English at all.^[65]

Surveys have consistently ranked Wyoming amongthe most irreligious states.^[17][66]According to the 2020American Values Atlassurvey, Wyoming was the least religious state in the country.^[66]

In 2020, thePublic Religion Research Institutedetermined that about 55% of Wyoming's adult population wasChristian, primarilyevangelicalandmainline Protestant,Roman Catholic, andMormon.^[66]The Public Religion Research Institute survey documented a decrease in religiosity from a 2014 separatePew Research Centerstudy;^[68]according to the Public Religion Research Institute, the irreligious made up 40% of the state population by 2020. According to a 2013 Gallup poll, Wyomingites' religious affiliations were 49% Protestant, 23%nonreligiousor other, 18% Catholic, 9%Latter-day Saint(Mormons), and less than 1%Jewish.^[69]

A 2010Association of Religion Data Archives(ARDA) report recognized as Wyoming's largest denominationsthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints(LDS Church), with 62,804 (11%); the Catholic Church, with 61,222 (10.8%); and theSouthern Baptist Convention, with 15,812 (2.8%). The report counted 59,247 evangelical Protestants (10.5%), 36,539 mainline Protestants (6.5%), 785 Eastern Orthodox Christians; 281 Black Protestants; 65,000 adhering to other traditions; and 340,552 claiming no religious tradition.^[70]In 2020, ARDA reported the state's largest individual denominations as the following: the Catholic Church (69,500); the LDS Church (67,729); and the Southern Baptist Convention (11,082). Non-denominational Protestants were 23,410 in number.^[71]

According to ARDA's 2020 report, the Roman Catholics had an adherence rate of 120.48 per 1,000 people, Mormons 117.41 per 1,000 people, and Southern Baptists 19.21 per 1,000 people. Non-denominational Protestants had an adherence rate of 40.58 per 1,000 people; these trends reflected the separate 2014 Pew study's varying attendance at religious services. In 2014, 38% visited a religious service at least once a week, 28% once or twice a month, and 32% seldom/never.^[68]A 2018 research article by theNational Christian Foundationcited non-churchgoing Christians nationwide did not attend religious services often through practicing the faith in other ways, not finding a house of worship they liked, disliking sermons and feeling unwelcomed, and logistics.^[72]

According to a 2012 United States Bureau of Economic Analysis report, Wyoming'sgross state productwas $38.4 billion.^[73]As of 2014, the population was growing slightly with the most growth in tourist-oriented areas, such asTeton County. Boom conditions in neighboring states, such asNorth Dakota, were drawing energy workers away. About half of Wyoming's counties showed population loss.^[74]The state makes active efforts through Wyoming Grown, an internet-based recruitment program, to find jobs for young people educated in Wyoming who have emigrated but may wish to return.^[75]

The mineral-extraction industry and travel and tourism sector are the main drivers of Wyoming's economy.^[76]The federal government owns about 42.3% of its landmass, while the state controls 6%.^[76]The total taxable value of mining production in Wyoming in 2007 was over $14.5 billion. In 2018,tourism industryaccounted for over $3.8 billion in revenue.^[76]

In 2002, more than six million people visited Wyoming'snational parksand monuments. Wyoming's main tourist attractions includeGrand Teton National Park,Yellowstone National Park,Devils Tower National Monument,Independence RockandFossil Butte National Monument. Yellowstone, the world's first national park, receives three million visitors each year.

Historically, agriculture has been an important component of Wyoming's economy. Its overall importance to the economy has waned, but it is still an essential part of Wyoming's culture and lifestyle. The main agricultural commodities Wyoming produces include livestock (beef),hay,sugar beets, grain (wheat and barley), andwool. More than 91% of Wyoming's land is classified as rural.

Wyoming is the home of only a handful of companies with a regional or national presence.Taco John'sandSierra Trading Post, both in Cheyenne, are privately held.Cloud Peak Energyin Gillette and U.S. Energy Corp. (NASDAQ: USEG) in Riverton are Wyoming's only publicly traded companies.

Various initiatives have been put in place and legislation adopted to encourage the use of blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies in the state.^[77]Tyler Lindholm, a former state legislator, claimed that 500 member-owned limited liability companies built on blockchain had been established and that 17,000 businesses with "crypto" in their name registered by 2023.These included the blockchain platformsCardanoand Tacen.^[78]

Wyoming's mineral commodities include coal, natural gas,coalbed methane,crude oil,uranium, andtrona.

Wyoming produced 277 millionshort tons(251.29 million metric tons) of coal in 2019, a 9% drop from 2018.^[81]Wyoming's coal productionpeaked in 2008, when 514 million short tons (466.3 million metric tons) were produced.^[81]Wyoming has a reserve of 68.7 billion tons (62.3 billion metric tons) of coal. Major coal areas include thePowder River Basinand theGreen River Basin. CBM is methane gas extracted from coal bed seams andcoalbed methane extraction(CBM) boomed in the mid-1990s.^{[citation needed]}There has been substantial CBM production in thePowder River Basin.^{[citation needed]}In 2002, the CBM production yield was 327.5 billion cubic feet (9.3 km³).^{[citation needed]}In 2016, Wyoming produced 1.77 trillion cubic feet (50.0 billion m³) of natural gas, ranking the state ranked 6th nationwide in natural gas production.^[82]

Wyoming produced 53.4 million barrels (8.49×10^⁶m³) of crude oil in 2007, ranking fifth nationwide in oil production.^[83]

Because of its geography and altitude, the potential forwind power in Wyomingis one of the highest of any U.S. state. TheChokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Projectis the largest commercial wind generation facility under development in North America.^[84]Carbon Countyis home to the largest proposed wind farm in the nation. Construction plans have been halted because of proposed new taxes on wind power energy production.^[85]

TheKelsey Lake Diamond Minein Colorado, less than 1,000 feet (300 m) from the Wyoming border, produced gem-quality diamonds for several years.^{[citation needed]}TheWyoming craton, which hosts thekimberlitevolcanic pipesthat were mined, underlies most of Wyoming. Wyoming possesses the world's largest known reserve oftrona,^[86]a mineral used in manufacturing glass, paper, soaps, baking soda, water softeners, and pharmaceuticals. In 2008, Wyoming produced 46 million short tons (41.7 million metric tons) of trona, 25% of the world's production.^[86]Althoughuranium mining in Wyomingis much less active than in previous decades, recent increases inuranium's price have generated new interest in prospecting and mining.^{[citation needed]}Rare earth metals.^[87]

Unlike most other states, Wyoming levies no individual or corporateincome tax. It also assesses no tax on retirement income earned and received from another state. Wyoming has a statesales taxof 4%. Counties have the option to collect an additional 1% tax for general revenue and a 1% tax for specific purposes, if approved by voters. Food for human consumption is not subject to sales tax.^[88]A county lodging tax varies from 2% to 5%. The state collects ause taxof 5% on items purchased elsewhere and brought into Wyoming. Allproperty taxis based on the property's assessed value; Wyoming's Department of Revenue's Ad Valorem Tax Division supports, trains, and guides local government agencies in the uniform assessment, valuation and taxation of locally assessed property. "Assessed value" means taxable value; "taxable value" means a percentage of the fair market value of property in a particular class. Statutes limit property tax increases. For county revenue, the property tax rate cannot exceed 12mills(or 1.2%) of assessed value. For cities and towns, the rate is limited to eightmills(0.8%). With very few exceptions, state law limits the property tax rate for all governmental purposes.

Personal propertyheld for personal use is tax-exempt. Inventory held for resale, pollution control equipment, cash, accounts receivable, stocks and bonds are also exempt. Other exemptions include property used for religious, educational, charitable, fraternal, benevolent and government purposes and improvements for handicapped access. Mine lands, underground mining equipment, and oil and gas extraction equipment are exempt from property tax, but companies must pay a gross products tax on minerals and aseverance taxon mineral production.^[89][90]

Wyoming does not collectinheritance taxes. There is limitedestate taxrelated to federal estate tax collection.

In 2008, theTax Foundationreported that Wyoming had the most "business-friendly" tax climate of any U.S. state.^[91]Wyoming state and local governments in fiscal year 2007 collected $2.242 billion in taxes, levies, and royalties from the oil and gas industry. The state's mineral industry, including oil, gas,trona, and coal, provided $1.3 billion in property taxes from 2006 mineral production.^[83]As of 2017, Wyoming receives more federal tax dollars as a percentage of state general revenue than any state exceptMontana.^[92]

As of 2016, Wyoming does not require the beneficial owners ofLLCsto be disclosed in the filing, which creates an opportunity for a tax haven, according toClark Stithof Clark Stith & Associates.^[93]If fact, Wyoming was the first state to enact a statute authorizing the creation of LLCs.^[94]

Wyoming's largest airport isJackson Hole Airport, with more than 500 employees.^[95]Three interstate highways and 13 U.S. highways pass through Wyoming. TheWyoming state highway systemalso serves the state.

Interstate 25enters Wyoming south of Cheyenne and runs north, intersecting Interstate 80 immediately west of Cheyenne. It passes through Casper and ends at Interstate 90, nearBuffalo.Interstate 80crosses the Utah border west ofEvanstonand runs east through the southern third of the state, passing through Cheyenne before entering Nebraska nearPine Bluffs.Interstate 90comes into Wyoming nearParkmanand cuts through the northeastern part of the state. It servesGilletteand enters South Dakota east ofSundance.

U.S. Routes14,16, andthe eastern section of U.S. 20have their western terminus at the eastern entrance to Yellowstone National Park and pass throughCody. U.S. 14 runs eastward before joining I-90 atGillette. U.S. 14 then follows I-90 to the South Dakota border. U.S. 16 and 20 split off of U.S. 14 atGreybulland U.S. 16 turns east atWorlandwhile U.S. 20 continues southShoshoni.U.S. Route 287runs fromFort Collins, Colorado, toLaramie, Wyoming, through a pass between theLaramie Mountainsand theMedicine Bow Mountains, then merges with US 30 and I-80 until it reaches Rawlins, where it continues north, passing Lander. Outside ofMoran, U.S. 287 is part of a large interchange with U.S. Highways 26, 191, and 89, before continuing north to Yellowstone's southern entrance. U.S. 287 continues north of Yellowstone, but the park separates the two sections.

OtherU.S. highwaysthat pass through Wyoming are18,26,30,85,87,89,189,191,212, and287.

Wyoming is one of only two states (the other isSouth Dakota) in the48 contiguous statesnot served byAmtrak.^[96]It was once served by Amtrak'sSan Francisco ZephyrandPioneerlines.^[97]While no passenger trains roll through Wyoming today, intercity buses continue to connect residents across the state. Intercity bus carriers in the state includeExpress Arrow,Greyhound Lines, andJefferson Lines.^{[98][99][100]}

Local transit map
Casper Area Transit Cheyenne Transit Goose Creek Transit START Bus Roundup WRTA class=notpageimage| Local Transit Systems (Only systems with fixed-route services are shown)

• I-25(300.5 mi) connectsDenver,Cheyenne,CasperandBuffalo. Most of the highway is connected withUS 87. Major junctions includeInterstate 80,US 30,US 85,US 26, US Routes18&20andUS 16before its northern terminus atInterstate 90in Buffalo.
• I-80(402.8 mi) connectsEvanston,Rock Springs,Rawlins,LaramieandCheyenne. Major junctions includeUS 191,US 287,I-25, andUS 85&I-180.
• I-90(208.8 mi) connectsSheridan,BuffaloandGillette. Primarily in northeastern Wyoming. Major junctions includeUS 14,I-25andUS 16.

TheEastern ShoshoneandNorthern Arapahotribes share the Wind RiverIndian Reservationin central western Wyoming, nearLander. The reservation is home to 2,500 Eastern Shoshone and 5,000 Northern Arapaho.^[101]

Chief Washakieestablished the reservation in 1868^[102]as the result of negotiations with the federal government in theFort BridgerTreaty,^[103]but the federal government forced the Northern Arapaho onto the Shoshone reservation in 1876 after it failed to provide a promised separate reservation.^[103]

Today the Wind River Indian Reservation is jointly owned, with each tribe having a 50% interest in the land, water, and other natural resources.^[104]It is a sovereign, self-governed land with two independent governing bodies: the Eastern Shoshone Tribe and the Northern Arapaho Tribe. Until 2014, the Shoshone Business Council and Northern Arapaho Business Council met jointly as the Joint Business Council to decide matters that affect both tribes.^[102]Six elected council members from each tribe served on the joint council.

The federal government owns nearly half of Wyoming's land (about 30,099,430 acres (121,808.1 km²)); the state owns another 3,864,800 acres (15,640 km²).^[11]Most of it is administered by theBureau of Land ManagementandU.S. Forest Servicein numerousnational forestsand anational grassland, not to mention vast swaths of "public" land and anair force basenear Cheyenne.

There are also areas managed by theNational Park Serviceand agencies such as theU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

National parks

• Grand Teton National Park
• Yellowstone National Park—first designated national park in the world^[105]

Memorial parkway

• TheJohn D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkwayconnects Yellowstone and Grand Teton.

National recreation areas

• Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
• Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area(managed by the Forest Service as part ofAshley National Forest)

National monuments

• Devils Tower National Monument—first national monument in the U.S.^[105]
• Fossil Butte National Monument

National historic trails, landmarks and sites

• California National Historic Trail
• Fort Laramie National Historic Site
• Independence Rock National Historic Landmark
• Medicine Wheel/Medicine Mountain National Historic Landmark
• Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Wyoming
• Oregon National Historic Trail
• Pony Express National Historic Trail

National fish hatcheries

• Jackson National Fish Hatchery
• Saratoga National Fish Hatchery

National wildlife refuges

• National Elk Refuge
• Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge

• 
  Yellowstone National Park
• 
  Devils Tower National Monument
• 
  Thunder Basin National Grassland
• 
  Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge

The state superintendent of public instruction, an elected state official, directspublic education. The State Board of Education, a nine-member board appointed by the governor, sets educational policy. The constitution prohibits the state from establishing curriculum and textbook selections; these are the prerogative of local school boards. TheWyoming School for the Deafwas the only in-state school dedicated to supportingdeafstudents before it closed in the summer of 2000.^[106]

Wyoming has a public four-year institution, theUniversity of WyominginLaramie, and a private four-year college,Wyoming Catholic College, inLander. There are also seven two-yearcommunity colleges.

Before the passing of a new law in 2006, Wyoming had hosted unaccredited institutions, many of them suspecteddiploma mills.^[107]The 2006 law requires unaccredited institutions to make one of three choices: move out of Wyoming, close down, or apply for accreditation. TheOregon State Office of Degree Authorizationpredicted in 2007 that in a few years the problem of diploma mills in Wyoming might be resolved.^[108]

Wyoming's media market consists of 16 broadcast TV stations, radio stations and dozens of small to medium-sized newspapers.^{[109][110][111]}There are also a few small independent news sources such as the nonprofit news site Wyofile.com^[112]and Oil City News.^[113]

Wyoming's Constitution established three branches of government: theexecutive,legislative, andjudicialbranches. Thestate legislaturecomprises aHouse of Representativeswith 60 members and aSenatewith 30 members. The executive branch is headed by thegovernorand includes asecretary of state,auditor, treasurer, and superintendent of public instruction. As Wyoming does not have alieutenant governor, the secretary of state is first in the line of succession.

Wyoming's sparse population warrants the state only oneat-largeseat in theU.S. House of Representatives, and hence only three votes in theElectoral College.

The Wyoming State Liquor Association is the state's sole legal wholesale distributor of spirits, making it analcoholic beverage control state. With the exception of wine, state law prohibits the purchase of alcoholic beverages for resale from any other source.^[114]

Wyoming's highest court is theSupreme Court of Wyoming, with five justices presiding over appeals from the state's lower courts. Wyoming is unusual in that it does not have an intermediateappellate court, like most states. This is largely attributable to the state's population and correspondingly lower caseload. Appeals from the state district courts go directly to the Wyoming Supreme Court. Wyoming also has state circuit courts (formerly county courts), of limited jurisdiction, which handle certain types of cases, such as civil claims with lower dollar amounts, misdemeanor criminal offenses, andfelonyarraignments. Circuit court judges also commonly hear small claims cases as well.

Before 1972, Wyoming judges were selected by popular vote on a nonpartisan ballot. This earlier system was criticized by the state bar which called for the adoption of theMissouri Plan, a system designed to balance judiciary independence with judiciary accountability. In 1972, an amendment to Article5 of theWyoming Constitution, which incorporated a modified version of the plan, was adopted by the voters. Since the adoption of the amendment, all state court judges in Wyoming are nominated by the Judicial Nominating Commission and appointed by the Governor. They are then subject to aretention voteby the electorate one year after appointment.^[115]

Voter registration and party enrollment As of August 1, 2024 ^{[update] [116]}

Party		Number of voters	Percentage
	Republican	187,574	80.77%
	Democratic	25,827	11.12%
	No party affiliation	17,084	7.36%
	Libertarian	1,148	0.49%
	Constitution	381	0.16%
	Other/No labels	208	0.09%
Total		232,222	100.00%

Wyoming's political history defies easy classification. The state was the first to grant women the right to vote and to elect a woman governor.^[117]On December 10, 1869,John Allen Campbell, the first Governor of the Wyoming Territory, approved the first law in United States history explicitly granting women the right to vote. This day was later commemorated as Wyoming Day.^[117]On November 5, 1889, voters approved the first constitution in the world granting full voting rights to women.^[117]

While the state elected notableDemocratsto federal office in the 1960s and 1970s, politics have become decidedly more conservative since the 1980s as theRepublican Partycame to dominate the state's congressional delegation. Today, Wyoming is represented in Washington by its two Senators,John BarrassoandCynthia Lummis, and its one member of the House of Representatives, CongresswomanHarriet Hageman. All three are Republicans; a Democrat has not represented Wyoming in the Senate since 1977 or in the House since 1978. The state has not voted for a Democrat for president since 1964, one of only eight times since statehood. In the 2004 presidential election,George W. Bushwon his second-largest victory, with 69% of the vote. Former Vice PresidentDick Cheneyis a Wyoming resident and represented the state in Congress from 1979 to 1989.

The last time a Democrat won a statewide election in Wyoming was in2006, when Democratic governorDave Freudenthalwas re-elected to a second term by a wide margin, winning every county in the state. For 19 of Wyoming's 23 counties, 2006 marked the last time that they voted for the Democratic nominee in a statewide race. Of the remaining 4,Sweetwater Countylast voted Democratic in the2008 U.S. House raceandLaramie Countylast voted Democratic in the2014 Superintendent of Public Instruction race, leavingTetonandAlbanyas the only counties that Democrats are able to win. Teton, which is composed of affluent resort communities, is reliably Democratic, except in Republican landslides like the2022 gubernatorial election; Albany, which contains the college town ofLaramie, is more competitive.

Republicans are dominant at the state level. They have held a majority in the state senate continuously since 1936 and in the state house since 1964, though Democrats held thegovernorshipfor all but eight years between 1975 and 2011. Uniquely, Wyoming elected DemocratNellie Tayloe Rossas the first woman in United States history to serve as state governor. She served from 1925 to 1927, winning a special election after her husband,William Bradford Ross, unexpectedly died a little more than a year into his term.^[118]

Wyoming retains thedeath penalty. Authorized methods of execution include thegas chamber.^[119]

Due to its sparse population, Wyoming lacks any major professional sports teams; theGillette Mustangs, anindoor footballteam based in Gillette that began play in 2021 prior to their departure from the city in 2023, were previously the only professional team in the state. However, theWyoming Cowboys and Cowgirls—particularly thefootballand basketball teams—are quite popular; their stadiums in Laramie are about 7,200 feet (2,200 m) above sea level, the highest inNCAA DivisionI. TheWyoming High School Activities Associationalso sponsors twelve sports and there are threejunior ice hockeyteams, all of which are members of theNA3HL.Casperhas hosted theCollege National Finals Rodeosince 2001.

List of all Wyoming state symbols:^[1]

• State bird:western meadowlark(Sturnella neglecta)
• State coin:Sacagawea dollar
• State dinosaur:Triceratops
• State emblem:Bucking Horse and Rider
• State fish:cutthroat trout(Oncorhynchus clarki)
• State flag:Flag of the State of Wyoming
• State flower:Wyoming Indian paintbrush(Castilleja linariifolia)
• State fossil:Knightia
• State gemstone:Wyoming nephrite jade
• State grass:western wheatgrass(Pascopyrum smithii)
• State insect:Sheridan's green hairstreak butterfly(Callophrys sheridanii)
• State mammal:American bison(Bison bison)
• State motto:Equal Rights
• State nicknames: Equality State; Cowboy State; Big Wyoming
• State reptile:horned lizard(Phrynosoma douglassi brevirostre)
• State seal:Great Seal of the State of Wyoming
• State song: "Wyoming" byCharles E. Winter& George E. Knapp
• State sport:rodeo
• State tree:plains cottonwood(Populus sargentii)

• Bibliography of Wyoming history
• Index of Wyoming-related articles
• Outline of Wyoming

• State of Wyoming government official website
• Official Wyoming State Travel Website
• Wyoming State Facts from USDA
• WyomingatCurlie
• Geographic data related toWyomingatOpenStreetMap

Preceded by Idaho

List of U.S. states by date of statehood Admitted on July 10, 1890 (44th)

Succeeded by Utah

43°N107°W / 43°N 107°W /43; -107 (State of Wyoming)