Wyoming Facts and Trivia

Historical Facts about the State of Wyoming

  • Wyoming’s license plates feature a man on a bucking bronco.
  • Wyoming was the first state to give women the right to vote.
  • WY is the Two-letter or Postal Abbreviation and Wyo. is the Traditional or Standard Abbreviation for the State of Wyoming.
  • Yellowstone is the first official National Park (1872)
  • Devils Tower was designated as the first National Monument (1906)
  • The Horse on the Wyoming license plate has a name, “Old Steamboat”. It is named after a bronc that could not be ridden back in the oughts or the teens.
  • Find out the interesting facts about the famous people born in Wyoming
  • Wyoming has the lowest population of all 50 United States.
  • Cody Wyoming is named after William “Buffalo Bill” Cody.
  • Wyoming quarter was issued on September 4, 2007.
  • The largest coal mine in the USA is Black Thunder located near Wright.
  • Wyoming leads the country in coal production in 1994 with 3 million tons per week
  • Cloud Peak, Grand Teton Peak and Gannett Peak as part of Rocky Mountain Range (among others) exist in the state of Wyoming

Fun Facts about Wyoming State’s Geography

  • City Guide: Visit Wyoming City Guide for a look at geography, local history, architecture, and culture.
  • The majority of Yellowstone Park lies within the boundaries of Wyoming.
  • The Red Desert in south central Wyoming drains neither to the east nor to the west. The continental divide splits and goes around the desert on all sides leaving the basin without normal drainage.
  • The Wind River actually changes its name in the middle of the stream becoming the Big Horn River at a site at the north end of the Wind River Canyon, where each year the Native Americans hold a ceremony depicting the “Wedding of the Waters.”
  • Wyoming map outline

Wyoming State Symbols Trivia

  • Wyoming State Bird is called the Western Meadowlark-Sturnella neglecta
  • The official state flower of Wyoming Indian is Paintbrush
  • Plains Cottonwood is the official state tree of Wyoming
  • The city of Gillette has the largest High School in the state (Campbell County High School)
  • On July 10, 1890 Wyoming was the 44th state to enter the union.
  • The official state motto of Wyoming is ‘Equal Rights’
  • Wyoming state flag was officially adopted on January 31, 1917
  • The first coal mine in Wyoming was in Carbon in 1867
  • Adopted in 1893 by the 2nd legislature and revised in 1921 by the 16th legislature, the great seal of the state of Wyoming  has two dates impressed upon it, 1869 and 1890.
  • The JCPenney stores were started in Kemmerer.
  • Wyoming is known as the “Equality State” because of the rights women have traditionally enjoyed there.
  • The official song of the state of Wyoming is called ‘Wyoming’
  • The first Dude Ranch in Wyoming was the Eaton Ranch, near Wolf. The Eaton’s also came up with the term “dude”