I’ve been to Wyoming. And I have to say, I liked it a lot. Granted, I didn’t seem much of the state. But, my favorite National Park, Yellowstone, sits right there in the northwest corner.
Other than my visits to Yellowstone, I haven’t given the state much thought.
The history of Wyoming dates back to an early civilizations that occupied the open plains 12,000 to 20,000 years ago.
It was the home to several Native American tribes like the Arapaho, Shoshone, Cheyenne, and the Crow. Believe it or not, some of these tribes still live in Wyoming today.
Most people don’t care one way or the other about Wyoming. It is ranked the lowest in population in the United States with only 584,057 residents in 2023. But WY has become very diverse. People from around the world live there.
But those who are last shall be first. So here are some interesting facts about Wyoming you may not have heard about.
1. Wyoming was the First State to Grant Women the Right to Vote
As true as can be. Wyoming granted women the right to vote on December 10, 1869. Bam! It was also the first to allow women to hold public offices and even serve on juries, and it was named Equality State.
Here’s another thing. Giving women these rights was a problem for Wyoming when they applied to join the US. Congress denied their application following Wyoming’s stance to maintain and uphold women’s rights. The authorities representing the region insisted they would rather remain locked out of the Union than revoke their women’s right to vote.
2. At Least Half of the Cities in Wyoming Have a Population of Less than 500
Hello? Anybody home?
There are 186 cities in Wyoming. At least 50% have a population of less than 500.
It gets worse: statistics done by the World Population Review show that some cities in Wyoming, like Lost Springs and Fox Park, have a population of 4 and 5 people, respectively. There’s a lot of room to breathe there.
3. There are Only Two Escalators in Wyoming
Oh, the ups and downs of it all. The residents of Wyoming can only access two escalators within the entire state. One is at the First Interstate Bank branch, and the other is at the Hilltop National Bank. The two available escalators operate in both directions.
4. There are Nuclear Silos in Wyoming
Bombs away. Built in the 1960s as a means of defense against the Soviet Union, nuclear silos were positioned in various states, including Wyoming. These missile silos are still in operation, and there are missileers working inside the underground bunkers. It is still an active launch site / state.
5. Wyoming has the Lowest Black Population in The United States
According to the World Population Review, the state of Wyoming has a black population of 11,306, making it the state with the least African Americans in the United States. It is followed by Montana, which has 12,007, and Vermont, with 12,936. Another FYI. There are almost 2 million black Americans living in New York City.
6. Women Can Now Legally Go Topless in Wyoming
I always thought I should be allowed to go without a shirt when I was a little girl. My brothers and all the neighborhood boys took their shirts off when it was hot outside. Why shouldn’t I? Well. Apparently WY feels the same way.
As of 2019, a federal court ruling lifted the ban on women being topless in public in six states, one of them being Wyoming. The others are Utah, Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas and New Mexico. This lawsuit was brought by two women who were advocating for the #freethenipple movement on social media. The pair stated that this move was a win in the fight against gender inequality.
For the record. I tried this as a kid, but my mom put an end to it. Quickly. These days, I keep my shirt on. For good reason.
7. A Town in Wyoming Was Sold for $900,000
In 2016, the town of Buford in Wyoming was sold to an unknown businessman for $900,000. The town, which had a population of 1 person, was sold by its sole resident to an unknown Vietnamese businessman. It measured 4 hectares and had a gas station, a home, and a convenience store.
I didn’t know towns could be bought and sold. I wonder if Camden is on the market.
8. The Tallest Building in Wyoming Only Has 12 Floors
This seems unbelievable to me. I was floored. LOL.
Anyway, here it is. At the University of Wyoming lies the White Hall, which is the tallest building in the state. It only has 12 floors, which stretches it 146 feet high. It was built in the 1900s.
So there are some little-known facts about good old Wyoming, The Cowboy State. The state flower is the Indian Paintbrush. The state bird is the Meadowlark.
I wonder if there are more Meadowlarks than people.
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“Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning.” – William Arthur Ward
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“Every fact is a clue, but not every clue is a fact.” – Robert H. Jackson
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“The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don’t know.” – Albert Einstein
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A little “Why” in Wyoming
