Wyoming

The State of Wyoming is a  in the  of the. The majority of the state is dominated by the mountain ranges and rangelands of the, while the easternmost section of the state is a high prairie region known as the. While the tenth largest U.S. state by size, Wyoming is the least populous with a estimated population of 515,004 in 2006, a 4.3% increase since 2000. The and the most populous city of Wyoming is. Residents of Wyoming are known as.

Location and Size
Wyoming is bordered on the north by, on the east by and , on the south by , on the southwest by , and on the west by. It is the tenth largest state in the United States in total area, containing 97,818 s (253,348 km²) and is made up of 23 counties. From the north border to the south border it is 276 s (444 km); and from the east to the west border is 375 miles (603 km).

Mountain Ranges
The meet the  in Wyoming. The state is a great broken by a number of mountain ranges. Surface elevations range from the summit of in the, at 13,804 feet (4,207 m), to the  in the state’s northeast corner, at 3,125 feet (952 m). In the northwest are the, , Gros Ventre, Wind River and the ranges. In the north central are the ; in the northeast, the ; and in the southern region the, Snowy and Sierra Madre ranges.]

Wyoming is an arid state with much of the land receiving less than 10 es (25 ) of rainfall per year. Consequently, the land supports few opportunities for farming. Ranching is widespread, especially in areas near the numerous mountain chains. The in the south central part of the state is an extension of the Colorado  in both geology and appearance. The in the west central part of the state is remote and includes more than 40 mountain peaks in excess of 13,000 ft. tall in addition to , the highest peak in the state. The in the north central portion are somewhat isolated from the bulk of the Rocky Mountains.

The in the northwest extends for 50 miles (80 km) and represents the most impressive section of mountains in the state. It is home to, the second highest peak in Wyoming, and to , which preserves the most scenic section of the Teton range.

The spans north-south across the central portion of the state. Rivers east of the Divide drain into the and eventually the. They are the, , and the  rivers. The in northwest Wyoming eventually drains into the  and the, as does the  through the Colorado River Basin.

The Continental Divide forks in the south central part of the state in an area known as the 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 s begin or flow through the state, including the, , , and the.

National Parks
Areas in Wyoming under the management of the include:
 * in the northern part of the state
 * near Devils Tower, Wyoming
 * in southeast Wyoming
 * at
 * near Moose, Wyoming
 * near Moose
 * near Moose

Climate
The climate in Wyoming is generally a  ( BSk) which is drier and windier in comparison to most of the  with temperature extremes. Much of this is due to the topography of the state. Summers in Wyoming are warm with 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 (2,743 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 (10-14°C) range at night. In most of the state, the late spring and early summer is when most of the precipitation tends to fall. Winters are cold, but are variable with periods of sometimes extreme cold interspersed between generally mild periods, with providing unusually warm temperatures in some locations. Precipitation depends on elevation with lower areas in the Big Horn Basin averaging 5-8 inches (125 - 200 mm) (making the area nearly a true ). The lower areas in the North and on the eastern plains typically average around 10-12 inches (250-300 mm), making the climate there. Some mountain areas do receive a good amount of precipitation, 20 inches (510 mm) or more, much of it as, sometimes 200 inches (510 cm) or more annually.

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 somewhere over 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 (1,899 m) above sea level and surrounded by mountains, can expect a high temperature in July of 80˚ F (26.6°C). The average is more likely to be 65˚ F (18.3°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.

Weather and topography in Wyoming both have more contrast than in most other states. Severe weather is not uncommon in Wyoming, with the state being one of the leading states for damage in the United States. The number of 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 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 which occur a little further east.

History
The region known today as the state of Wyoming was originally inhabited by several groups. The name Wyoming is derived from the (Munsee) name xwé:wamənk, meaning "at the big river flat", originally applied to the  in Pennsylvania. The, , , and were but a few of the original inhabitants encountered when  explorers first entered the region. Although French trappers may have ventured into the northern sections of the state in the late 1700s,, a member of the , was probably the first white American to enter the region in 1807. His reports of the area were considered at the time to be fictional. and a party of five men returning from Astoria discovered South Pass in 1812. The route was later followed by the. In 1850, located what is now known as Bridger Pass, which was later used by both the  in 1868, and in the 20th century by. Bridger also explored the Yellowstone region and like Colter, most of his reports on that region of the state were considered at the time to be.

After the reached the town of, which later became the state capital, in 1867, the population began to grow steadily in the , which was established on ,. Unlike to the south, Wyoming never experienced a rapid population boom from any major  discoveries such as  or. was found in some areas of the state.

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, which became the world's first in 1872. It is located in the far northwestern portion of the state. Most of the territory that comprises Yellowstone National Park is located in Wyoming.

Wyoming was admitted to the Union on,. It was named after the of, made famous by the 1809 poem Gertrude of Wyoming by. The name was suggested by Representative J. M. Ashley of.

In 1869, Wyoming extended much to women, at least partially in an attempt to garner enough votes to be admitted as a state. In addition to being the first U.S. state to extend suffrage to women, Wyoming was also the home of many 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,, who was elected in 1924 and took office in January 1925.

Wyoming was the location of the of 1892 which was fought between large  operators and free ranging interest groups. This war was fought because of the new ranchers moving in following the passage of the.

See: 

Demographics
{|
 * [[Image:Wyoming population map.png|thumb|Wyoming Population Density Map]]
 * [[Image:Wyoming population map.png|thumb|Wyoming Population Density Map]]

Population
The of Wyoming is located in. .

As of 2005, Wyoming has an estimated population of 509,294, which is an increase of 3,407, or 0.7%, from the prior year and an increase of 15,512, or 3.1%, since the. 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). 

Wyoming is the least populous of any state (or the ) and has the lowest of the  (  population density is lower although its total population is higher).
 * }

The largest ancestry groups in Wyoming are: (25.9%),  (15.9%),  (13.3%),  (6.5%),  (4.3%),  (3.5%)

Religion
The religious affiliations of the people of Wyoming are shown in the table below:
 * – 78%
 * – 53%
 * – 8%
 * – 8%
 * – 6%
 * – 4%
 * – 4%
 * Other Protestant or general Protestant – 21%
 * – 16%
 * – 11%
 * Other Religions – 1%
 * – 0.1%
 * Non-Religious – 20.9%

Economy
According to the 2005 U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis report, Wyoming’s gross state product was $27.4 billion. Wyoming’s for 2006 was approximately 3.3%, which is lower than the national average of 4.6%. Components of Wyoming's economy differ significantly from those of other states. The mineral extraction industry and the travel and tourism sector are the main drivers behind Wyoming’s economy. The Federal government owns 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, over six million people visited Wyoming’s s and monuments. The key tourist attractions in Wyoming include, , Devil’s Tower National Monument, and Fossil Butte National Monument. Each year Yellowstone National Park receives three million visitors.

Historically, agriculture has been an important component of Wyoming’s economic identity. Its overall importance to the performance of Wyoming’s economy has waned. However, it is still an essential part of Wyoming’s culture and lifestyle. The main agricultural commodities produced in Wyoming include livestock (beef),, , (wheat and barley), and. Over 91% of land in Wyoming is classified as.

Mineral production
Wyoming’s mineral commodities include, , , , , and. Wyoming ranks highest in mining employment in the U.S. In fiscal year 2002, Wyoming collected over $48 million in es from the mining industry. *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 the. In 2002, the CBM production yield was 327.5 billion cubic feet (9.3 billion m3).
 * Coal: Wyoming produced 395.5 million short tons (358.8 tonnes) 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 tonnes) of coal. Major coal areas include the and the
 * Natural Gas: In 2004, natural gas production was 1,929 billion cubic feet (54.6 billion m3). Wyoming ranks 5th nationwide for natural gas production. The major markets for natural gas include industrial, commercial, and domestic heating.
 * Crude Oil: Production of Wyoming crude oil in 2004 was 51.7 million barrels. The state is ranked 7th among producers of oil in the U.S. 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 in the world. Trona is used for manufacturing glass, paper, soaps, baking soda, water softeners, and pharmaceuticals. In 2002 Wyoming produced 17.3 million short tons (15.7 million tonnes) of trona.
 * Uranium: Although is much less active than it was in previous decades, recent increases in the price of  have generated new interest in uranium prospecting and mining.

Taxes
Unlike most other states, Wyoming does not levy an individual or corporate. In addition, Wyoming does not assess any tax on retirement income earned and received from another state. Wyoming has a state of 4%. Counties have the option of collecting an additional 1% tax for general revenue and a 2% tax for specific purposes, if approved by voters. There also is a county lodging tax that varies from 2% to 5%. The state collects a of 5% on items purchased elsewhere and brought into Wyoming. All 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.

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

Transportation
Three interstate highways and seven U.S. highways pass through Wyoming. In addition, the state is served by the.

enters the state south of Cheyenne and runs north, crossing Interstate 80 in Cheyenne. It passes through and ends at Interstate 90 near. crosses the Utah border west of and runs east through the southern half of the state, passing through Cheyenne before entering Nebraska near. comes into Wyoming near and cuts through the northern part of the state. It serves and enters South Dakota east of.

The that pass through the state are U.S. Routes, , , , , , , and.

See also: and 

Law and government
Wyoming law establishes three branches of government: executive,, and branches.

The current governor is (Democrat). The current U.S. Congressional delegation includes Sen. (Republican), Sen. (Republican) and Rep. at-large (Republican).

The Wyoming State Legislature is comprised of a House of Representatives with 60 members and a Senate with 30 members.

Because of its low population, Wyoming only has three votes in the. It is also due to this low population that individuals in Wyoming technically have a more powerful vote in presidential elections than anyone else in the United 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.

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 unique 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 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
Wyoming is predominantly conservative and politically. The state has not voted for a for president since 1964, and there are only two reliably Democratic counties. In the 2004 presidential election, won his second-largest victory, with 69% of the vote. Current  is a Wyoming resident and represented the state in Congress from 1979 to 1989. However, after his term, he resided primarily in Texas, a fact that drew mild criticism from his political opponents when he changed his voter registration back to Wyoming prior to joining 's ticket in the.

Despite Wyoming's clear preference for Republicans in national offices, Democrats have held the for all but eight years since 1975. Governor was elected in 2002 and has one of the highest approval ratings of any governor in the USA. Wyoming in 2006 reelected incumbent Republican Congresswoman by just over 1,200 votes.

Counties
The State of Wyoming has 23.

In 2005, 52.4% of Wyomingites lived in one of the 5 most populous Wyoming counties.

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

Cities & Towns
The State of Wyoming has 98.

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

Metropolitan Areas
The has defined two  and seven  for the State of Wyoming.

In 2005, 30.4% of Wyomingites lived in either of the, and 73% lived in either a or a.

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 in Casper, operated by the State Department of Education, serves approximately 44 students either at the Deaf School or in public schools of the state. Many students attending the school in Casper are residents of other communities who are housed in private residences in Casper during the school year.

Wyoming was also notable in being the only state in the to have only one four-year college, the  until the  was founded in 2007 in.

Sports

 * , Football, Basketball, Soccer, Golf
 * , Football, Basketball, Soccer, Golf
 * , Football, Basketball, Soccer, Golf

Miscellaneous information

 * was named in honor of this state.



State symbols

 * Nickname: Big Wonderful Wyoming, Equality State, Cowboy State
 * "Equal Rights"
 * Plains
 * Cutthroat
 * State coin: Golden
 *  by Charles E. Winter & George E. Knapp
 * State Mythical Creature:
 * State Grass: Western Wheatgrass
 * State Soil: Forkwood
 * State coin: Golden
 *  by Charles E. Winter & George E. Knapp
 * State Mythical Creature:
 * State Grass: Western Wheatgrass
 * State Soil: Forkwood
 * State Grass: Western Wheatgrass
 * State Soil: Forkwood