Wyoming

"Wy" redirects here. For the Australian micronation, see Principality of Wy.

This article is about the U.S. state of Wyoming. For other uses, see Wyoming (disambiguation).

Wyoming
State
Country	United States
Before statehood	Wyoming Territory
Admitted to the Union	July 10, 1890 (44th)
Capital (and largest city)	Cheyenne
Largest metro and urban areas	Cheyenne Metro Area
Government
• Governor	Matt Mead (R)
• Secretary of State	Max Maxfield (R)
Legislature	Wyoming Legislature
• Upper house	Senate
• Lower house	House of Representatives
U.S. senators	Mike Enzi (R) John Barrasso (R)
U.S. House delegation	Cynthia Lummis (R) (list)
Population
• Total	(2,010)563,626
• Density	5.4/sq mi (2.08/km2)
Language
• Official language	English
Latitude	41°N to 45°N
Longitude	104°3'W to 111°3'W

Wyoming /waɪˈoʊmɪŋ/ is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High Plains. Wyoming is the least populous U.S. state, with a U.S. Census population of 563,626 in 2010. This is a 14.1% increase since 2000. It is the tenth largest U.S. state by area. Cheyenne is the capital and the most populous city of Wyoming with a population of nearly 60,000 people within its city proper.

Geography and climate

Location and size

As specified in the designating legislation for the Territory of Wyoming, Wyoming's borders are lines of latitude, 41°N and 45°N, and longitude, 104°3'W and 111°3'W (27° W and 34° W of the Washington Meridian), making the shape of the state a latitude-longitude quadrangle. Wyoming is one of only three states (along with Colorado and Utah) to have borders along only straight latitudinal and longitudinal lines, rather than being defined by natural landmarks. Due to surveying inaccuracies during the 19th century, Wyoming's legal border deviates from the true latitude and longitude lines by up to half of a mile (.8 km) in some spots, especially in the mountainous region along the 45th parallel. Wyoming is bordered on the north by Montana, on the east by South Dakota and Nebraska, on the south by Colorado, on the southwest by Utah, and on the west by Idaho. It is the tenth largest state in the United States in total area, containing 97,818 square miles (253,350 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.

Mountain ranges

The Great Plains meet the Rocky Mountains in Wyoming. The state is a great plateau broken by many mountain ranges. Surface elevations range from the summit of Gannett Peak in the Wind River Mountain Range, at 13,804 feet (4,207 m), to the Belle Fourche River valley in the state’s northeast corner, at 3,125 feet (952 m). In the northwest are the Absaroka, Owl Creek, Gros Ventre, Wind River and the Teton ranges. In the north central are the Big Horn Mountains; in the northeast, the Black Hills; and in the southern region the Laramie, Snowy and Sierra Madre ranges.

The Snowy Range in the south central part of the state is an extension of the Colorado Rockies in both geology and 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 to Gannett Peak, the highest peak in the state. The Big Horn Mountains in the north central portion are somewhat isolated from the bulk of the Rocky Mountains.

Wyoming terrain

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

The Continental Divide spans north-south across the central portion of the state. Rivers east of the divide drain into the Missouri River Basin and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. They are the North Platte, Wind, Big Horn and the Yellowstone rivers. The Snake River in northwest Wyoming eventually drains into the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean, as does the Green River through the Colorado River Basin.

The continental divide forks in the south central part of the state in an area known as the Great Divide Basin where the waters that flow or precipitate into this area remain there and cannot flow to any ocean. Instead, because of the overall aridity of Wyoming, water in the Great Divide Basin simply sinks into the soil or evaporates.

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

Islands

Main article: List of islands of Wyoming

Public lands

Map of Wyoming: National Parks and NPS sites

More than 48% of the land in Wyoming is owned by the U.S. Government, leading Wyoming to rank sixth in the U.S. in total acres and fifth in percentage of a state's land owned by the Federal government. This amounts to about 30,099,430 acres (121,808.1 km²) owned and managed by the U.S. Government. The state government owns an additional 6% of all Wyoming lands, or another 3,864,800 acres (15,640 km²).

The vast majority of this government land is managed by the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service in numerous National Forests, a National Grassland, and a number of vast swaths of public land, in addition to the F.E. Warren Air Force Base near Cheyenne.

In addition, Wyoming contains areas that are under the management of the National Park Service and other agencies. They include:

An eruption of Castle Geyser in Yellowstone National Park

Parks

• Yellowstone National Park
• Grand Teton National Park

Recreation areas

• Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
• Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area (Forest Service-Ashley National Forest)

National monuments

• Devils Tower National Monument
• Fossil Butte National Monument

National historic trails and sites

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

National parkways

• John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway between Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park

Wildlife refuges and hatcheries

• Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge
• National Elk Refuge
• Jackson National Fish Hatchery
• Saratoga National Fish Hatchery

Panoramic view of the Teton Range looking west from Jackson Hole, Grand Teton National Park.

Climate

Further information: Climate change in Wyoming

Wyoming state welcome sign on Interstate 80 in Uinta County (at the Utah border).

Wyoming's climate is generally semi-arid and continental (Köppen climate classification BSk), and is drier and windier in comparison to most of the United States with greater temperature extremes. Much of this is due to the topography of the state. Summers in Wyoming are warm with July high temperatures averaging between 85 °F (29 °C) and 95 °F (35 °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, with Chinook winds providing 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 the Big Horn Basin averaging 5–8 inches (130–200 mm) (making the area nearly a true desert). The lower areas in the North and on the eastern plains typically average around 10–12 inches (250–300 mm), making the climate there semi-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 states highest recorded temperature is 114 °F (46 °C) at Basin on July 12, 1900 and the lowest recorded temperature is −66 °F (−54 °C) at Riverside on February 9, 1933.

The climate of any area in Wyoming is largely determined by its latitude, altitude and local topography. When put together, these factors have a lot to do with airflow patterns, temperature variations, precipitation and humidity brought in by the weather systems that migrate eastward. In winter, Wyoming is often beneath the jet stream, or north of it, which accounts for its frequent strong winds, blasts of Arctic air and precipitation, all the necessary ingredients for great snow conditions at Wyoming's northwestern ski areas. In summer, the jet stream retreats northward to Canada, leaving the state's weather mild and pleasant at a time when the majority of Wyoming's visitors choose to arrive. Jackson, located at 6,230 feet (1,900 m) above sea level and surrounded by mountains, can expect a high temperature in July of 80 °F (27 °C). The average is more likely to be 65 °F (18 °C). The closest National Weather Station (in Riverton on the other side of the Wind River Mountains at 4,955 feet (1,510 m)) reports slightly warmer July weather.

The number of thunderstorm days vary 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 to tornado activity. 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 a little further east.

Casper climate: 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:

Jackson climate: 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:

History

Main article: History of Wyoming

A 12 pounder mountain howitzer on display at Fort Laramie in eastern Wyoming.

Several American Indian groups originally inhabited the region now known as Wyoming. The Crow, Arapaho, Lakota, and Shoshone were but a few of the original inhabitants encountered when white explorers first entered the region. What is now southwestern Wyoming became a part of the Spanish Empire and later Mexican territory of Alta California, until it was ceded to the United States in 1848 at the end of the Mexican-American War. French Canadian trappers from Québec and Montréal have ventured into the state in the late 18th century, leaving French toponyms such as Téton, La Ramie, etc. John Colter. A member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, itself guided by French Canadian Toussaint Charbonneau and his young Shoshone wife, Sacagawea, first described the region in 1807. At the time, his reports of the Yellowstone area were considered to be fictional. Robert Stuart and a party of five men returning from Astoria discovered South Pass in 1812. The Oregon Trail later followed that route. In 1850, Jim Bridger located what is now known as Bridger Pass, which the Union Pacific Railroad used in 1868—as did Interstate 80, 90 years later. Bridger also explored Yellowstone and filed reports on the region that, like those of Colter, were largely regarded as tall tales at the time.

The region may have acquired the name Wyoming as early as 1865, when Representative J. M. Ashley of Ohio introduced a bill to Congress to provide a "temporary government for the territory of Wyoming". The name Wyoming derives from the Munsee name xwé:wamənk, meaning "at the big river flat", but also named after the Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania, made famous by the 1809 poem Gertrude of Wyoming by Thomas Campbell.

After the Union Pacific Railroad had reached the town of Cheyenne in 1867, the region's population began to grow steadily, and the federal government established the Wyoming Territory on July 25, 1868. Unlike Colorado to the south, Wyoming enjoyed no significant discovery of such celebrated minerals as gold and silver—nor Colorado's consequent boom in population—although South Pass City experienced a short-lived boom after the Carissa Mine began producing gold in 1867. Moreover, some areas, such as between the Sierra Madre Mountains and the Snowy Range near Grand Encampment, produced copper.

Once government sponsored expeditions to the Yellowstone country were undertaken, the previous reports by men like Colter and Bridger were found to be true. This led to the creation of Yellowstone National Park, which became the world's first national park in 1872. Nearly all of Yellowstone National Park lies within the far northwestern borders of Wyoming.

On December 10, 1869, territorial Gov. John Allen Campbell signed a suffrage act into law, which extended the right to vote to women. And in addition to being the first U.S. state to grant suffrage to women, Wyoming was also the home of other firsts for U.S. women in politics. For the first time, women served on a jury in Wyoming (Laramie in 1870). Wyoming had the first female court bailiff (Mary Atkinson, Laramie, in 1870) and the first female justice of the peace in the country (Esther Hobart Morris, South Pass City, in 1870). Wyoming became the first state in the Union to elect a female governor, Nellie Tayloe Ross, (Wyoming and Texas both elected a female governor at the same time. The Wyoming female Governor took office a few days before the one in Texas did) Source: History of Wyoming by Dr. T. A. Larsonwho was elected in 1924 and took office in January 1925. Because of rights given to women, Wyoming earned the nickname of "The Equality State".

Wyoming's constitution included women's suffrage and a pioneering article on water rights. The United States admitted Wyoming into the Union as the 44th state on July 10, 1890.

Wyoming was the location of the Johnson County War of 1892, on which the controversial 1980 film Heaven's Gate was based, which erupted between competing groups of cattle ranchers. The passage of the federal Homestead Act led to an influx of small ranchers. A range war broke out when either or both of the groups chose violent conflict over commercial competition in the use of the public land.

See: List of counties in Wyoming

Demographics

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%
Source: 1910-2010

Wyoming Population Density Map

Population

The center of population of Wyoming is located in Natrona County.

As of 2005, Wyoming had an estimated population of 509,293, which was an increase of 3,407, or 0.7%, from the prior year and an increase of 15,512, or 3.1%, since the 2000 census. This includes a natural increase since the last census of 12,165 people (that is 33,704 births minus 21,539 deaths) and an increase from net migration of 4,035 people into the state. Immigration from outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 2,264 people, and migration within the country produced a net increase of 1,771 people. In 2004, the foreign-born population was 11,000 (2.2%). In 2005, total births in Wyoming numbered 7,231 (Birth Rate of 14.04). Sparsely populated, Wyoming is the least populous (total number of people) state of the United States, and has the second lowest population density, behind Alaska. It is the only state with a lower population than the nation's capital, Washington, D.C..

Demographics of Wyoming (csv)

By race	White	Black	AIAN*	Asian	NHPI*
2000 (total population)	96.19%	1.01%	3.06%	0.84%	0.13%
2000 (Hispanic only)	6.05%	0.11%	0.32%	0.06%	0.02%
2005 (total population)	96.01%	1.15%	3.06%	0.90%	0.12%
2005 (Hispanic only)	6.38%	0.15%	0.27%	0.05%	0.01%
Growth 2000–05 (total population)	2.95%	17.26%	3.16%	10.32%	-3.47%
Growth 2000–05 (non-Hispanic only)	2.57%	14.20%	4.95%	12.17%	0.18%
Growth 2000–05 (Hispanic only)	8.66%	42.08%	-12.31%	-14.09%	-28.40%
* AIAN is American Indian or Alaskan Native; NHPI is Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

The largest ancestry groups in Wyoming are: German (26.0%), English (16.0%), Irish (13.3%), American (6.5%), Norwegian (4.3%), and Swedish (3.5%).

Religion

The religious affiliations of the people of Wyoming are shown in the table below:

• Christian – 79%
  • Protestant – 53%
    • Lutheran – 8%
    • Baptist – 8%
    • Methodist – 6%
    • Presbyterian – 4%
    • Episcopal – 4%
    • Other Protestant or general Protestant – 21%
  • Catholic – 16%
  • LDS (Mormon) – 11%*
• Other Religions – 1%

• Non-Religious – 18%

The largest denominations by number of adherents in 2000 were the Catholic Church with 80,421; the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recorded 47,129; and the Wyoming Southern Baptist Convention counted 17,101.

Economy

Electricity generating wind farm in Uinta County.

According to the 2005 U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis report, Wyoming’s gross state product was $27.4 billion.

As of January 2010, the state's unemployment rate is 7.6%. Components of Wyoming's economy differ significantly from those of other states.

The mineral extraction industry and travel and tourism sector are the main drivers behind Wyoming’s economy. The Federal government owns about 50% of its landmass, while 6% is controlled by the state. Total taxable values of mining production in Wyoming for 2001 was over $6.7 billion. The tourism industry accounts for over $2 billion in revenue for the state.

In 2002, more than six million people visited Wyoming’s national parks and monuments. The key tourist attractions in Wyoming include Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Devils Tower National Monument, Independence Rock (Wyoming) and Fossil Butte National Monument. Each year Yellowstone National Park, the world's first national park, receives three million visitors.

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

Mineral production

A Wyoming coal mine

Wyoming’s mineral commodities include coal, natural gas, coalbed methane, crude oil, uranium, and trona.

• Coal: Wyoming produced 395.5 million short tons (358.8 million metric tons) of coal in 2004. The state is the number one producer of coal in the U.S. Wyoming possesses a reserve of 68.7 billion tons (62.3 billion metric tons) of coal. Major coal areas include the Powder River Basin and the Green River Basin
• Natural gas: Wyoming produced 2,254 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in 2007. The state ranked 2nd nationwide for natural gas production in 2007. The major markets for natural gas include industrial, commercial, and domestic heating.

A Drilling rig drills for natural gas just west of the Wind River Range in the Wyoming Rockies

• Coal Bed Methane (CBM): The boom for CBM began in the mid-1990s. CBM is characterized as methane gas that is extracted from Wyoming’s coal bed seams. It is another means of natural gas production. There has been substantial CBM production in the Powder River Basin. In 2002, the CBM production yield was 327.5 billion cubic feet (9.3 km³).
• Crude oil: Wyoming produced 53,400,000 barrels (8,490,000 m³) of crude oil in 2007. The state ranked 5th nationwide in oil production in 2007. Petroleum is most often used as a motor fuel, but it is also utilized in the manufacture of plastics, paints, and synthetic rubber.
• Trona: Wyoming possesses the largest known reserve of trona in the world Trona is used for 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.
• Diamonds: The Kelsey Lake Diamond Mine, located in Colorado less than 1,000 feet (300 m) from the Wyoming border, produced gem quality diamonds for several years. The Wyoming craton, which hosts the kimberlite volcanic pipes that were mined, underlies most of Wyoming.
• Uranium: Although uranium mining in Wyoming is much less active than it was in previous decades, recent increases in the price of uranium have generated new interest in uranium prospecting and mining.

Taxes

Unlike most other states, Wyoming does not levy an individual or corporate income tax. In addition, Wyoming does not assess any tax on retirement income earned and received from another state. Wyoming has a state sales tax of 4%. Counties have the option of collecting 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. There also is a county lodging tax that varies from 2% to 5%. The state collects a use tax of 5% on items purchased elsewhere and brought into Wyoming. All property tax is based on the assessed value of the property and 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 percent 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 12 mills (or 1.2%) of assessed value. For cities and towns, the rate is limited to 8 mills (0.8%). With very few exceptions, state law limits the property tax rate for all governmental purposes.

Personal property held for personal use is tax-exempt. Inventory if 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. Minerals are exempt from property tax but companies must pay a gross products tax and a severance tax when produced. Underground mining equipment is tax exempt.

Wyoming does not collect inheritance taxes. Because of the phase-out of the federal estate tax credit, Wyoming's estate tax is not imposed on estates of persons who died in 2005. There is limited estate tax related to federal estate tax collection.

In 2008, the Tax Foundation ranked Wyoming as having the single most "business friendly" tax climate of all 50 states. 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.

Transportation

Template:Ussm The largest airport in Wyoming is Jackson Hole Airport, with over 500 employees. Three interstate highways and thirteen U.S. highways pass through Wyoming. In addition, the state is served by the Wyoming state highway system.

Interstate 25 enters the state south of Cheyenne and runs north, intersecting Interstate 80 in Cheyenne. It passes through Casper and ends at Interstate 90 near Buffalo. Interstate 80 crosses the Utah border west of Evanston and runs east through the southern half of the state, passing through Cheyenne before entering Nebraska near Pine Bluffs. Interstate 90 comes into Wyoming near Parkman and cuts through the northern part of the state. It serves Gillette and enters South Dakota east of Sundance.

The U.S. highways that pass through the state are U.S. Highways 14, 16, 18, 20, 26, 30, 85, 87, 89, 189, 191, 212, and 287.

See also: List of Wyoming railroads, List of airports in Wyoming, State highways in Wyoming.

Wyoming is one of only two States (the other being South Dakota) in the 48 contiguous states not serviced by Amtrak.

Wind River Indian Reservation

Main article: Wind River Indian Reservation

The Wind River Indian Reservation is shared by the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes of Native Americans in the central western portion of the state near Lander. The reservation is home to 2,500 Eastern Shoshone and 5,000 Northern Arapaho.

Chief Washakie established the reservation in 1868 as the result of negotiations with the federal government in the Fort Bridger Treaty. However, the Northern Arapaho were forced onto the Shoshone reservation in 1876 by the federal government after the government failed to provide a promised separate reservation.

Today the Wind River Indian Reservation is jointly owned, with each tribe having a 50% interest in the land, water, and other natural resources. The reservation is a sovereign, self-governed land with two independent governing bodies: the Eastern Shoshone Tribal Government and the Northern Arapaho Tribal Government. The Eastern Shoshone Business Council meets jointly with the Northern Arapaho Business Council as the Joint Business Council to decide matters that affect both tribes. Six elected council members from each tribe serve on the joint council.

State law and government

Wyoming's Constitution established three branches of government: the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

The Wyoming state legislature comprises a House of Representatives with 60 members and a Senate with 30 members.

The executive branch is headed by the governor and includes a secretary of state, auditor, treasurer and superintendent of public instruction. Wyoming does not have a lieutenant governor. Instead the secretary of state stands first in the line of succession.

Wyoming's sparse population warrants it only a single at-large seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, and hence only three votes in the Electoral College. Its low population renders Wyoming voters effectively more powerful in presidential elections than those in more populous states. For example, while Montana had a 2000 census population of 902,195 to Wyoming's 493,782, they both have the same number of electoral votes.

Wyoming is an alcoholic beverage control state.

Judicial system

Wyoming's highest court is the Supreme 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 intermediate appellate court, like most states. This is largely attributable to the state's size 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, and felony arraignments. Circuit court judges also commonly hear small claims cases as well. All state court judges in Wyoming are nominated by the Judicial Nominating Commission and appointed by the Governor. They are then subject to a retention vote by the electorate.

Politics

Presidential elections results

Year	Republicans	Democrats
2008	64.78% 164,958	32.54% 82,868
2004	68.86% 167,629	29.07% 70,776
2000	67.76% 147,947	27.70% 60,481
1996	49.81% 105,388	36.84% 77,934
1992	39.70% 79,347	34.10% 68,160
1988	60.53% 106,867	38.01% 67,113
1984	70.51% 133,241	28.24% 53,370
1980	62.64% 110,700	27.97% 49,427
1976	59.30% 92,717	39.81% 62,239
1972	69.01% 100,464	30.47% 44,358
1968	55.76% 70,927	35.51% 45,173
1964	43.44% 61,998	56.56% 80,718
1960	55.01% 77,451	44.99% 63,331

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. While the state elected notable Democrats to federal office in the 60's and 70's, politics have become decidedly more conservative since the 1980s as the Republican party came to dominate the state's congressional delegation. Today, Wyoming is represented in Washington by its two Senators, Mike Enzi and John Barrasso, and its one member of the House of Representatives, Congresswoman Cynthia Lummis. All three are Republicans. The state has not voted for a Democrat for president since 1964, one of only five times since statehood. At present, there are only two relatively reliably Democratic counties: affluent Teton and college county Albany. In the 2004 presidential election, George W. Bush won his second-largest victory, with 69% of the vote. Former Vice President Dick Cheney is a Wyoming resident and represented the state in Congress from 1979 to 1989.

Republicans are no less dominant at the state level. They have held a majority in the state senate continuously since 1936 and in the state house since 1964. However, Democrats have held the governorship for all but eight years since 1975. Uniquely, Wyoming elected Democrat Nellie Tayloe Ross as the first woman in U.S. history to serve as state governor. She served from 1925 to 1927 after winning a special election after her husband, governor at the time, unexpectedly died.

Further information: [[:Political party strength in Wyoming]]

Juvenile Delinquency

Juvenile delinquency refers to any violation of the law by a minor who falls under the specific age of the state. Each state not only has different ages in which an individual is considered a minor, but also on the approach of deciding to try a youth in the adult court system or the juvenile court system.

There are a couple different types of juveniles in the system and they include: delinquents, status offenders, abused and neglected, and dependant. Delinquents are juveniles that are arrested and convicted of criminal offenses usually of a serious or chronic nature. Status offenders are juveniles who are annually caught doing something wrong only cause it’s outlawed for a young person to do. The abused and neglected are juveniles who are annually involved in reports of child abused and neglected to a state protective agency. And finally, dependent juveniles are Unemancipated youth who are annually put up for abortion or made a ward of the state on account of parental abandonment.

Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act

The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act is a federal law that provides alternatives to detention centers as well as standards on how to treat juveniles. Funding, under Title V from the federal government, is provided to states that participate in this act. The funding is used for alternatives to detention centers such as treatment facilities and community-based programs.

The four main points of this act that participating states are suppose to follow include: (1) Deinstitutionalization of status offenders (2) Sight and sound separation of juveniles from adult detainees and inmates (3) Removal of juveniles from adult jails (4) Disproportionate minority contact reduction

Wyoming is currently the only state in the nation that does not follow theJuvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, but some counties have chosen to participate in 3 main points.

Juvenile Incarceration

The United Sates as a whole has a high juvenile incarceration rate compared to other countries. For example, in 2008 the United States locked up on average 336 juveniles for every 100,000 people. The next closest country was South Africa at 69 juveniles for every 100,000 people.

Juvenile incarceration in Wyoming has recently become a concern for the state. Wyoming continues to have the reputation of having a high juvenile incarceration rate. For example, in 2006 Wyoming locked up 334 youths for every 100,000 people while the national average sat way low at 125 juveniles for every 100,000 people.

There are different pathways that may be taken once the juvenile is apprehended. First, the judge must decide whether to send the youth through the juvenile court system or through the adult court system. In Wyoming, 85% of juvenile cases go through the adult court system and when this happens, the convicted is more likely to be incarcerated for some period of time.

Incarceration Options in Wyoming

There are a couple different options when deciding on where to incarcerate the juvenile although the judge ultimately decides. If the judge chooses in send the juvenile through the adult court system then jail in the option of incarceration. On the other hand, if the juvenile court system is chosen then a detention center is the place of incarceration.

Detention centers are short-term secured facilities where juveniles are placed after committing a criminal act. For the most part they are similar to the jail structure and usually located in rural areas. These usually include a variety of youth offenders who committed different crimes. Juveniles are placed in these facilities while they wait their court date, but some are also locked up here.

Jails are also an option of incarceration when dealing with juvenile offenders. Juveniles are physically confined to their area and usually have limited freedom range. Jails deal with juveniles placed through the adult court system and more times then not are locked up. If even one juvenile is in a pod then no adult inmate is allowed in that area until there is no longer a juvenile present.

Problems with Juvenile Incarceration

Locking up juveniles in detention centers or jails bring up a lot of issues, not to mention it is proven ineffective. Not only does incarcerating a juvenile effect them, but it also effects the people around the community. Out of all the juveniles incarcerated in Wyoming, 74% are being locked up for non-violent offenses such as marijuana abuse and under-age drinking. So locking up juveniles who made a mistake and putting them with more violent offenders is not going to help. Incarceration not only effects the juveniles personally and emotionally, but it also brings up the issues of overcrowding and money spent.

Incarcerating juveniles is hard enough on them and not having family around for support only makes it more difficult for the youth. The non-violent individuals only have other juvenile delinquents, many more violent, to socialize with which can lead to encouraged misbehavior. Also by incarcerating juveniles, the education of the youth is interrupted, which in turn causes a greater difficulty in acquiring a possible job in the future. Also, since Wyoming does not follow the JJDPA they are not provided standards on how to treat juveniles. So staff in the detention centers and jails treat juveniles like adults and can be harsh on them.

Incarceration also brings up the issue of overcrowding which has recently not only become big in Wyoming, but also in the United States. For example, in Wyoming the Frontier Correctional System Facility was originally only suppose to house 112 inmates, but recently hit maximum capacity with 228 inmates. Some of this overcrowding in jails especially is due to the fact that if one juvenile is in a pod, not adult inmate is allowed in that area making it more crowded in other parts. Facilities are required to transfer individuals to other centers causing them to become overcrowded.

The amount of money spent of juvenile correction in Wyoming is outrageous due to the fact that the state has a high reputation of incarcerating juveniles. In 2008, Wyoming spent $66 million on juvenile corrections while Vermont, who is of the same child population, spent only $3.5 million. The money that Wyoming is spending could be better used for treatment facilities or other alternatives such as programs. Recently, Wyoming has spent $15 million on detention centers alone and the taxpayers of the state have to pay more money.

And finally, the recidivism rate in Wyoming has been high simply because the state continues to lock up juveniles even though it is proven ineffective. Studies have shown that juveniles who are incarcerated are not only more likely to reoffend, but they will also reoffend quicker. It showed that 75% of juveniles who are incarcerated are rearrested within three years after being released. And since Wyoming has the highest incarceration rate of juveniles, there continues to be a high recidivism rate and the state will continue to have the reputation of incarcerating a high number of youth.

Juvenile Crime Prevention

It is very important that is a uniform way of recording juvenile crime data to accurately address where the problems are occurring and exactly what crime is being committed. If Wyoming decides to join the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act then the state will be provided with an accurate way of recording juvenile data.

Stopping criminal acts for good committed by the youth is near impossible, but there are many options when looking at preventing crime. The most effective way involves talking and helping the youth early on in their child development. All kids go through different developmental stages so being involved with their life early on will help keep them out of trouble. Some of these options include: families, programs in the community, schools, and rehabilitation programs.

Stopping repeat offenses is also important in prevention. Courts are becoming more susceptible to the high rate of recidivism so they are issuing support services to help once the juvenile is released. Some juveniles who are locked up for a while will need help reintegrating themselves back into society especially if they want to stay out of trouble. Therapy and counseling are the two major options chosen when looking at different support services.

Families

The whole family, especially the parents, are very important in a child’s’ life. It is important that the parents especially stay involved in their child’s life for a couple reasons. It gives the child a sense of belonging and lets them know that people are there for them and they are not alone. A lot of juvenile crime starts through the loneliness of the child because they feel they are not loved and that no one is there for them.

There is a parent-child interaction program, which has been proven to work pretty well. It usually takes about 12 weeks to complete. During these 12 weeks, parents are taught parenting skills and how to interact with their child. Parents are placed in interactive situations with their child in which a therapist evaluates the situation. This program has been shown to reduce hyperactivity, attention deficit, aggression, and anxious behavior in a child.

Programs in the Community

People in the community are always looking to keep their neighborhoods safe and crime free so having community-based programs will be very successful, especially for those non-violent offenders. Some of these programs can include: girl/boy scouts, sports tournaments, volunteer groups, and participation in church activities. These programs will ultimately keep the youth busy and their mind of any misbehavior that may pop into their head if there were sitting around bored. A lot of crime committed by juveniles is also due to the fact that there is nothing to do so they are just bored and looking for something.

Community-based activities not only keep the youth busy, but it also allows them to interact with people in the neighborhoods. Young children can meet good people and form friendships instead of socializing with the wrong crowd where they are most likely going to commit some criminal act.

Schools

Schools and the education system in general play a major role in preventing crime, especially acts committed by the youth. A good amount of juvenile crime is either committed in schools, or originates from the youth being in school. Whether its disrespect from the teachers, bad grades, or students becoming friends with the wrong people, schools are an important place where youth crime starts. That being said, the teachers in schools should educate the students on crime and punishment early in their educational system. There needs to be more classes that teach students about gangs, weapons, drugs, and what consequences their misbehaved actions will have.

After school activities can also be very important in preventing juvenile crime. Schools that provide activities after school such as sports or other organizations will keep the youth off the streets and busy in different ways. Crime committed by juveniles mostly occurs during the hours of 2p.m. to 8p.m. so these after school activities will keep the youth busy during this time.

Rehabilitation Programs

Since incarcerated juveniles will basically have to reintegrate themselves back into society, rehabilitation programs can help this process go smoothly. One of these rehabilitation programs is known as “Juvenile Offenders Learning Tolerance.” This program tries to save juveniles who have committed crimes by educating them and introducing them back into society.

Parents can also save their children by having them participate in the Mountain Homes Youth Ranch program. This beneficial program helps troubled teens grow and learn more about themselves by using their abilities to find their inner self through emotional and physical challenges. This program is divided into three phases including: the beginning phase, the advanced phase, and the ranch phase. Throughout these phases the troubled teens will learn about their independence, responsibility, and how to work with each other.

Counties

The State of Wyoming has 23 counties.

Wyoming Counties Ranked By 2009 Population
Rank	County	Population	Rank	County	Population
1	Laramie County	91,738	13	Converse County	13,578
2	Natrona County	74,508	14	Goshen County	12,319
3	Campbell County	43,967	15	Big Horn County	11,581
4	Sweetwater County	41,226	16	Sublette County	8,792
5	Fremont County	38,719	17	Johnson County	8,531
6	Albany County	33,979	18	Platte County	8,196
7	Sheridan County	29,163	19	Washakie County	7,911
8	Park County	27,976	20	Weston County	7,009
9	Uinta County	20,927	21	Crook County	6,653
10	Teton County	20,710	22	Hot Springs County	4,590
11	Lincoln County	16,995	23	Niobrara County	2,366
12	Carbon County	15,720	Wyoming Total		544,270

Map of Wyoming showing the 23 counties

In 2005, 52.4% of Wyoming residents lived in one of the five most populous Wyoming counties.

Wyoming license plates contain a number on the left that indicates the county where the vehicle is registered. The county license plate numbers are as follows:

Number on License Plate	County	Number on License Plate	County	Number on License Plate	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

Cities and towns

City of Casper, Wyoming

The State of Wyoming has 98 incorporated municipalities.

The 20 Most Populous Wyoming Cities and Towns

Rank	City	County	Population
1	City of Cheyenne	Laramie County	59,466
2	City of Casper	Natrona County	55,316
3	City of Laramie	Albany County	30,816
4	City of Gillette	Campbell County	29,087
5	City of Rock Springs	Sweetwater County	20,905
6	City of Sheridan	Sheridan County	17,461
7	City of Green River	Sweetwater County	12,149
8	City of Evanston	Uinta County	11,781
9	City of Riverton	Fremont County	10,032
10	Town of Jackson	Teton County	9,806
11	City of Cody	Park County	9,309
12	City of Rawlins	Carbon County	8,740
13	City of Lander	Fremont County	7,264
14	City of Douglas	Converse County	5,971
15	City of Powell	Park County	5,524
16	City of Torrington	Goshen County	5,514
17	City of Worland	Washakie County	4,958
18	City of Buffalo	Johnson County	4,832
19	Town of Newcastle	Weston County	3,390
20	Town of Wheatland	Platte County	3,298

In 2005, 50.6% of Wyomingites lived in one of the 13 most populous Wyoming municipalities.

Metropolitan areas

The United States Census Bureau has defined two Metropolitan Statistical Areas and seven Micropolitan Statistical Areas for the State of Wyoming.

U.S. Census Bureau Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas of Wyoming

Census Area	County	Population
Cheyenne, WY, Metropolitan Statistical Area	Laramie County, Wyoming	91,738
Casper, WY, Metropolitan Statistical Area	Natrona County, Wyoming	75,450
Gillette, WY, Micropolitan Statistical Area	Campbell County, Wyoming	46,133
Rock Springs, WY, Micropolitan Statistical Area	Sweetwater County, Wyoming	43,806
Riverton, WY, Micropolitan Statistical Area	Fremont County, Wyoming	40,123
Laramie, WY, Micropolitan Statistical Area	Albany County, Wyoming	36,299
Jackson, WY-ID, Micropolitan Statistical Area	Teton County, Wyoming	21,294
	Teton County, Idaho	8,833
	Total	30,127
Sheridan, WY, Micropolitan Statistical Area	Sheridan County, Wyoming	29,116
Evanston, WY, Micropolitan Statistical Area	Uinta County, Wyoming	21,118

In 2008, 30.4% of Wyomingites lived in either of the Metropolitan Statistical Areas, and 73% lived in either a Metropolitan Statistical Area or a Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Education

Main article: List of high schools in Wyoming

Public education is directed by the state superintendent of public instruction, an elected state official. Educational policies are set by the State Board of Education, a nine-member board appointed by the governor. The constitution prohibits the state from establishing curriculum and text book selections; these are the prerogatives of local school boards. The Wyoming School for the Deaf was the only in-state school dedicated to supporting deaf students in Wyoming, but it closed in summer of 2000.

Higher education

Main article: List of colleges and universities in Wyoming

Wyoming has one public four-year institution, the University of Wyoming in Laramie. In addition, there are seven two-year community colleges spread through the state.

Before the passing of a new law in 2006, Wyoming had hosted unaccredited institutions, many of them suspected diploma mills. The 2006 law is forcing unaccredited institutions to make one of three choices: move out of Wyoming, close down, or apply for accreditation. The Oregon State Office of Degree Authorization predicts that in a few years the problem of diploma mills in Wyoming might be resolved.

Sports

• Wyoming Cavalry, American Indoor Football Association
• University of Wyoming, football, basketball, Swimming, diving, soccer, golf, wrestling, tennis, volleyball, track and field

Miscellaneous information

State flower of Wyoming: Indian Paintbrush

• USS Wyoming was named in honor of this state.

an advertisement promoting Wyoming tourism in Chicago during the January 31–February 2, 2011 North American winter storm

Wyoming was chosen as the official state for the Free State Wyoming project; a splinter of the Free State Project. The purpose of the project is to relocate Libertarians to a single state, making it possible to live a "free life".

In 2008, The first American State Litter Scorecard rated Wyoming a nationally "Best" state for statewide litter/debris eradication from public properties/spaces.

Rooster Teeth's web series Red Vs Blue created a freelancer character bearing the state name.

State symbols

The Bear River flowing through the southwest part of the state.

Though the horned lizard is the Wyoming state reptile, a sign northwest of Thermopolis acknowledges the presence of prairie rattlesnakes, "feared by many and respected by most".

• 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 mammal: American Bison (Bison bison)
• State motto: Equal Rights
• State nicknames: Equality State; Cowboy State; Big Wonderful Wyoming
• State reptile: Horned lizard (Phrynosoma douglassi brevirostre)
• State seal: Great Seal of the State of Wyoming
• State soil: Forkwood (unofficial)
• State song: Wyoming (song) by Charles E. Winter & George E. Knapp
• State sport: Rodeo
• State tree: Plains Cottonwood (Populus sargentii)

Notable Wyomingites

• John Perry Barlow
• John Barrasso
• Eli Bebout
• Charles Belden
• Tom Bell
• James Bridger
• Cale Case
• Dick Cheney
• Lynne Cheney
• William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody
• Barbara Cubin
• Lance Deal
• Mike Enzi
• Matthew Fox
• Dave Freudenthal
• John Frullo
• Rulon Gardner
• Jim Geringer
• Curt Gowdy
• Clifford Hansen
• William Henry Harrison
• Stanley K. Hathaway
• Harold Hellbaum
• Edgar Herschler
• Tom Horn
• Ray Hunkins
• Craig Johnson
• Ralph S. Johnson
• Richard R. "Dick" Jones
• Mike Leach
• Chris LeDoux
• Cynthia Lummis
• Randall Luthi
• Nate Marquardt
• Max Maxfield
• Leonard McEwan
• Gale W. McGee
• Ron Micheli
• Esther Hobart Morris
• Warren A. Morton
• John C. Ostlund
• Gordon L. Park
• Bryan Pedersen
• Jackson Pollock
• Annie Proulx
• Charles E. Richardson
• Nellie Tayloe Ross
• William B. Ross
• George R. Salisbury, Jr.
• Robert Schliske
• Joseph Selby
• Bryan Sharratt
• Matthew Shepard
• Larry D. Shippy
• Alan K. Simpson
• Colin M. Simpson
• Milward Simpson
• Mike Sullivan
• Craig Thomas
• Richard V. Thomas
• Elton Trowbridge
• Thomas E. Trowbridge
• Malcolm Wallop
• Tom Walsh
• Alvin Wiederspahn
• Larry Wilcox

See also

• List of National Register of Historic Places in Wyoming
• List of people from Wyoming
• Rocky Mountains
• U.S. state
• Yellowstone National Park

References

"Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act." Mass.Gov. Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Web. 11 Nov. 2011. <http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eopsterminal>.

McCarthy, Bill. "Kids in Jail: Are We Creating Monsters?" Wyoming Tribune Eagle Online. 12 June 2008. Web. 12 Nov. 2011. <http://www.wyomingnews.com/articles/2008/06/13/local_ ews_updates/20local_06-13-08.txt>.

Mitchell, Josh. "Juvenile Justice System Cries for Help." Wyoming Tribune Eagle Online. 30 Oct. 2011. Web. 13 Nov. 2011. <http://www.wyomingnews.com/articles/2011/10/30/news/ 1top_10-30-11.txt>.

Rule, Juliette. "Discipline Deal Sees Substantial Rate Hike."Wyoming Tribune Eagle Online. 2 Oct. 2006. Web. 13 Nov. 2011. <http://www.wyomingnews.com/articles/2004/10/14/news/ mport-103473.txt>.

Saminsky, Alina. "Preventing Juvenile Delinquency: Early Intervention and Comprehensiveness as Critical Factors Student Pulse." Academic Articles. Online Academic Journal - Student Pulse. 11 Feb. 2010. Web. 12 Nov. 2011. <http://www.studentpulse.com/articles/165/preventingjuvenile-delinquency-early intervention-andcomprehensiveness-as-critical-factors>.

Wilmoth, Melanie. "Lock ‘em Up: Mass Incarceration and the Juvenile Justice System | Friends of Justice." Friends of Justice | Building a Common Peace Consensus to End Mass Incarceration. Annie E. Casey Foundation, 4 Oct. 2011. Web. 14 Nov. 2011. <http://friendsofjustice.wordpress.com/2011/10/04/lock-emup-mass incarceration-and-the-juvenile-justice-system/>.

External links

• State of Wyoming government official website
• Official Wyoming State Travel Website - Forever West
• Wyoming at Curlie
• Geographic data related to Wyoming at OpenStreetMap

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