What Wyoming is known for

Wyoming is one of the United State's northwestern states, located between Montana, Idaho, Utah, and Colorado. The reason for Wyoming's name is not defined; however experts theorize that the name may have come from the Delaware Indian, which means "mountains and valleys." Another theory is that the name comes from the Munsee and Algonquin languages meaning a "large prairie place".[7] Wyoming is also nicknamed "The Equality State". The reason for this nickname is because Wyoming was the first state to grant women the right to vote and serve in public office or juries. [8]

The state is known to be home to some of the United States' most visited natural wonders and Old West history. Major cities within Wyoming include the state capital of Cheyenne, and the cities of Casper, Gillette, and Laramie. The population of the entire state is around 578,759 residents. Cheyenne supports the most permanent residents in Wyoming, with a population of 63,607.[1] The small town of Jackson at the entrance to Yellowstone National Park has millions of visitors annually. [3]

Yellowstone National Park is located within the state's borders and is the main tourist attraction to the state. Established in 1872, Yellowstone is a geothermal park with hundreds of geysers, mud pots, hot springs, waterfalls, ravines, and rivers. An extensive network of trails are spread throughout the park, and the Old Faithful geyser is also located within the park. The Grand Teton National Park is also located in Wyoming. The park features the Teton Mountain Range and has many different hikes, lookout points, and scenic driveways. The park is filled with wildlife, including over 300 species of birds and 60 animal species. Additional attractions in Wyoming include the National Elk Refuge (which hosts the largest herd of wintering elk in the world), the Snake River, Hot Springs State Park, and Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area. [2]

Over 8 million individuals visit the state of Wyoming every year, and the tourism industry profits from this number, raising over 3.8 billion dollars annually. Most of the money made through tourism is used for the upkeep of the national and state parks in Wyoming. Visitors come from all around the world. Over 50% of Wyoming's visitors are from the United States, but the other half come from Canada, Europe, and Asia. Typically visitors spend an average of one to two days in the state and have come to visit Yellowstone National Park or to explore the Grand Tetons. [3]

The peak season for tourism in Wyoming is during the summer months from June to September. These months are popular for outdoor activities when the weather is warm, and the skies are clear. The winter months in Wyoming, however, are also very popular amongst tourists.[3] During the cold season, visitors will often visit the area for its many ski resorts. Two of the most popular snow resorts in Wyoming include the Grande Targhee Ski Resort and the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.[2] 

Besides tourism, mining is the primary source of income in Wyoming. The state produces the most coal in the entire United States. In addition, the state does mining and extractions of petroleum, natural gases, bentonite, natural clay, coalbed methane, and uranium[4]. Agriculture is another significant point of industry in Wyoming. The main crops within the state include hay, barley, wheat, beans, and corn. Another large part of the state's industry is beef cattle production, bison, and sheep farms.[5] 

Geography

Wyoming is located on the western side of the United States. The state is located in the country's northern corner and touches borders with six other states. To the north of Wyoming, there is Montana, Idaho, and South Dakota; to the south, there is Nebraska, Colorado, and Utah. The biggest city in Wyoming is Cheyenne, located in the southeastern corner of the state. The state bird is the meadowlark, and the state flower is the Indian paintbrush. [8]

The state of Wyoming is divided into three regions. The Great Plains is the largest and spreads across the eastern part of the state. This region is covered in mostly short grasses and shrubs, containing the Black Hills and Devils Tower National Monument. The second region is the Rocky Mountain Range. This range runs north to south through the state and includes the Grand Teton Mountain Range and Yellowstone National Park. The third geographical region is the Intermontane Basins. This region runs between the mountain ranges in the state and includes the Red Desert, the largest living dune system in the United States. [9]

Wildlife in Wyoming is one of its most popular features. There are several different mammals living in the state, such as buffalo, pronghorn sheep, black bears, grizzlies, and all manner of deer and elk. Many of these animals are viewed by the public often. Birds in the area include red-tailed hawks, prairie falcons, pinyon jays, and mountain bluebirds. The state also has many reptiles and amphibians within its borders such as the earless lizard, Columbia spotted frogs, and western painted turtles.[10] 

Plantlife thrives in the state due to its weather conditions and water flow. Several types of grasses, shrubs, and desert plants cover the state, such as sagebrush and Rocky Mountain juniper. Trees that can be found growing in the more forested area of the state include Douglas firs, lodgepole pines, and ponderosa pines. Flowers that grow well in the Wyoming area are the yarrow, sticky purple geranium, pink fairies, and the Indian paintbrush. [11]

The weather in Wyoming fluctuates drastically throughout the year. The summer season is warm with clear skies and an average temperature around 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The warm season lasts for three months. Winters in Wyoming are cold, snowy, windy, and partly cloudy. This season lasts for around four months. The average temperature during the winter is around 40 degrees Fahrenheit. The rainy season in Wyoming can last up to eight months, from April to September. The season brings about fourteen inches of rain annually. During the winter months from November to March, Wyoming can receive around fifty inches of snow.[6] 

History

The first recorded inhabitants of Wyoming date back more than 12,000 years ago. Their signs of life include stone shrines and writings. Native American tribes were next to live in the land. These tribes include the Arapaho, Cheyenne, Crow, Shoshone, and Ute, tribes. It is undefined who the first European was to arrive in Wyoming.[1] However, many historians believe it was an explorer by the name of Francois Louis Verendrye. Francois came to the land in 1742. Over one hundred years later in 1868 Wyoming became a United States territory. For years there were battles over the land between the United States Army and the land's natives. [7]

Common draws to the area in its early years were the state's ample wildlife and hunting grounds. Wyoming had many highly trafficked trading posts in the early 1800s when beaver hides, bison skins, and other animals were in high demand. Many travelers on their way to California for the California Goldrush passed through Wyoming and created small boomtowns.[4] It is rumored that many of the Old West's greatest cowboys and criminals spent much of their time in Wyoming. Some of these celebrities include Buffalo Bill, Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid, and Wild Bill Hickok. [8]

In 1872, while Wyoming was still a territory, Yellowstone National Park was declared the first national park in the world. Wyoming was incorporated into the United States as a state in 1890 and became the 44th established state in the country. Soon after its establishment, the Shoshone National Forest was set aside as part of the Yellowstone Timberland Reserve. This was the country's first national forest. Wyoming was home to Jackson Pooloc, a famous painter, and Patricia Maclachlan, a popular children's book author. The state of Wyoming is the least populated state in the Union.[7]