Capital: Cheyenne

Governor: Jim Geringer, R (to Jan. 2003)

Senators: Michael B. Enzi, R (to Jan. 2003); Craig Thomas, R (to Jan. 2007)

Secy. of State: Joe Meyer, R (to Jan. 2003)

Auditor: Max Maxfield, R (to Jan. 2003)

Supt. of Public Instruction: Judy Catchpole, R (to Jan. 2003)

Treasurer: Cynthia M. Lummis, R (to Jan. 2003)

Atty. General: Gay Woodhouse, R

Organized as territory: May 19, 1869

Entered Union (rank): July 10, 1890 (44)

Present constitution adopted: 1890

Motto: Equal rights (1955)

State Symbols:

Wyoming - Where each person makes a difference

The U.S. acquired the land comprising Wyoming from France as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. John Colter, a fur-trapper, is the first white man known to have entered present Wyoming. In 1807 he explored the Yellowstone area and brought back news of its geysers and hot springs.

Robert Stuart pioneered the Oregon Trail across Wyoming in 1812-13 and, in 1834, Fort Laramie, the first permanent trading post in Wyoming, was built. Western Wyoming was obtained by the U.S. in the 1846 Oregon Treaty with Great Britain and as a result of the treaty ending the Mexican War in 1848.

When the Wyoming Territory was organized in 1869, Wyoming women became the first in the nation to obtain the right to vote. In 1925 Mrs. Nellie Tayloe Ross was elected first woman governor in the United States.

Wyoming's towering mountains and vast plains provide spectacular scenery, grazing lands for sheep and cattle, and rich mineral deposits.

Mining, particularly oil and natural gas, is the most important industry. Wyoming has the world's largest sodium carbonate (natrona) deposits and has the nation's second largest uranium deposits.

Wyoming ranks second among the states in wool production. In January 1998, it ranked third in sheep and lambs, exceeded only by Texas and California; it also had 1,660,000 cattle. Principal crops include wheat, oats, sugar beets, corn, barley, and alfalfa.

Second in mean elevation to Colorado, Wyoming has many attractions for the tourist trade, notably Yellowstone National Park. Cheyenne is famous for its annual "Frontier Days" celebration. Flaming Gorge, the Fort Laramie National Historic Site, and Devils Tower and Fossil Butte National Monuments are other points of interest.

Nickname: Equality State

Origin of name: From the Delaware Indian word, meaning "mountains and valleys alternating"; the same as the Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania

10 largest cities (1999 est.): Cheyenne, 53,925; Casper, 48,233; Laramie, 24,905; Gillette, 19,860; Rock Springs, 19,230; Sheridan, 14,657; Green River, 12,887; Evanston, 11,436; Riverton, 10,782

Land area: 97,105 sq mi. (251,501 sq km)

Geographic center: In Fremont Co., 58 mi. ENE of Lander

Number of counties: 23, plus Yellowstone National Park

Largest county by population and area: Laramie, 78,877 (1999 est.); Sweetwater, 10,426 sq mi.

State parks and historic sites: 23 (58,498 ac.)

Residents: Wyomingite

1999 resident population est.: 479,602

1990 resident census population (rank): 453,588 (50). Male: 227,007; Female: 226,581. White: 427,061 (94.2%); Black: 3,606 (0.8%); American Indian: 9,479 (2.1%); Asian: 2.806 (0.6%); Other race: 10,636 (2.3%); Hispanic: 25,751 (5.7%). 1990 percent population under 18: 29.9; 65 and over: 10.4; median age: 32.0.