| Wyoming
. . .
Wyoming's official flag was
adopted in 1917. The flag has
a deep blue field surrounded
by white and red borders. A
white bison dominates the flag
with the state seal in the center.
The state seal pictures a rancher
and a miner on either side of
a woman. The woman represents
the state's motto "Equal
Rights," is written on
a banner. Wyoming was the first
state in which women had the
right to vote and hold public
office. The words "Livestock",
"Mines", "Grains,"
and "Oil" are on two
columns that are on either side
of the woman which represent
Wyoming's agricultural and mineral
wealth. A shield and an eagle
symbolize support for the United
States. The dates 1869 and 1890
are on either side of the shield
which are the dates when Wyoming
organized as a territory of
the United States and when it
became a state.
Wyoming became a state on July
10, 1890 as the 44th state in
the USA. Wyoming lies about
halfway between the Mississippi
and the Pacific Ocean. To the
north of Wyoming is Montana
and the west is Idaho. Utah
lies to the southwest and Colorado
to the south. To the east of
Wyoming are Nebraska and South
Dakota. The capital and largest
city is Cheyenne. Wyoming is
the least populated state and
ranks 50th with just under 500,000
people.
Wyoming is know as the "Equality
State" because it was the
first in the world to grant
voting rights to women and also
the first state to elect a woman
governor.
The continental divide weaves
across the state and is sometimes
known as the backbone of the
North American continent. In
Wyoming the Great Plains and
the Rocky Mountains meet which
cover two thirds of the western
part of the state. The greatest
width of the Rockies is in Wyoming
with the average elevation of
the state being 6700 ft. which
is 2nd highest after Colorado.
Wyoming has a dry continental
climate with cold winters and
mild summers. The spring and
fall is cool with occasional
fall snow. The temperatures
vary greatly through out the
state because of the elevation
differences. In the desert areas
precipitation is as low as 4
inches while in the mountainous
areas they could get 260 inches
of snow a year! The statewide
average high temperature in
July is just over 60 degrees,
while in January, a 20 degree
high is the average.
Agriculture in Wyoming is limited
because of the lack of moisture
in growing areas and also the
extreme temperatures.
Economy:
Agriculture: Cattle, sugar beets,
sheep, hay, wheat.
Industry: Mining, chemical products,
lumber and wood products, printing
and publishing, machinery, tourism.
Wyoming has 23 counties:
Albany
Big Horn Campbell
Carbon Converse
Crook Fremont Goshen
Hot Springs
Johnson Laramie
Lincoln Natrona Niobrara
Park Platte Sheridan
Sublette Sweetwater
Teton Uinta
Washakie Weston
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state - Wyoming