State of Wyoming
Nicknames: The Equality State, The Cowboy State
Motto(s): “Equal Rights”
Date of Statehood: July 10, 1890 (44th state)
State Song: “Wyoming” by Charles E. Winter and George E. Knapp
Wyoming Flag History
The flag of Wyoming is a symbol of the state’s pride and heritage. The central feature of the flag is the silhouette of an American Bison, which stands as a representation of the local fauna and the state’s history of the westward expansion. The bison bears the state seal, which includes figures symbolizing the agriculture and livestock industries, pillars of Wyoming’s economy. The red symbolizes the Native Americans and the blood of pioneers who gave their lives. The white is a symbol of purity and uprightness. The blue is the color of the skies and distant mountains.
The flag was adopted in 1917 after a state-wide competition to design the flag was won by Verna Keays, a recent graduate of the Art Institute of Chicago. The original design has remained largely unchanged, reflecting the state’s commitment to tradition and its values.
The flag’s design encapsulates Wyoming’s spirit of freedom and its rich natural resources, symbolizing the state’s past and its aspirations for the future.
Wyoming Quick Facts
Capital City: Cheyenne
Abbreviation: WY
Population: Approximately 580,000
Region: Mountain West
Origin of State Name: Derived from the Algonquin words for “large prairie place”
Sports Teams: No major professional teams, but a strong presence in college sports
Bordering States: Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Utah
Area Codes: 307
Highest Point: Gannett Peak at 13,809 feet (4,209 meters)
Lowest Point: Belle Fourche River at 3,101 feet (945 meters)
Geography of Wyoming
Area: 97,814 square miles (253,335 square kilometers), 10th largest
Land: 97,093 square miles (251,470 square kilometers), 9th largest
Water: 721 square miles (1,867 square kilometers), 42nd largest
Coastline: None (landlocked)
Shoreline: None (landlocked)
Largest Cities:
- Cheyenne
- Casper
- Laramie
- Gillette
- Rock Springs
- Sheridan
- Green River
- Evanston
- Riverton
- Jackson
- Cody
- Rawlins
- Lander
- Torrington
- Powell
National Parks:
- Yellowstone National Park
- Grand Teton National Park
- Devils Tower National Monument
- Fossil Butte National Monument
Wyoming State Symbols
Living Insignia
State Bird: Western Meadowlark
State Animal: Bison
State Amphibian: None designated
State Butterfly: Sheridan’s Green Hairstreak
State Fish: Cutthroat Trout
State Flower: Indian Paintbrush
State Horse Breed: None designated
State Insect: None designated
State Mammal: Bison
State Reptile: None designated
Inanimate Insignia
State Fruit: None designated
State Gemstone: Jade
State Soil: None designated
State Tree: Plains Cottonwood
State Quarter: Issued in 2007, featuring a bucking horse and rider
State Beverage: None designated
State Colors: None designated
State Dance: Square Dance
State Food: None designated
State Fossil: Knightia
State Mineral: Nephrite Jade
State Rock: None designated