Download This Sample
This sample is exclusively for KidsKonnect members!
To download this worksheet, click the button below to signup for free (it only takes a minute) and you'll be brought right back to this page to start the download!
Sign Me Up
Table of Contents
Wyoming is the tenth largest state in the United States, with an area of 97,914 square miles and a population of approximately 500,000. Wyoming is a vast plateau broken up by substantial mountain ranges, and it is home to an extensive and diversified animal population. Not only is the state beautiful, but it also has a rich history.
See the fact file below for more information on Wyoming State, or you can download our 34-page Wyoming worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
HISTORICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL BACKGROUND
- At least 12,000 years ago, people lived on the broad open plains of Wyoming. An ancient 245-foot stone shrine near Lovell, Wyoming, was created by these long-ago dwellers and may have been utilized for significant rites.
- Native American groups such as the Arapaho, Cheyenne, Crow, Shoshone, and Ute lived in the area for thousands of years.
- Some historians believe that adventurer François Louis Verendrye was the first European to arrive in 1742. Wyoming became a United States territory in 1868.
- Still, the United States cavalry (US Army service personnel who fought on horseback) and Native Americans continued to fight for control of the region.
- Wyoming became the 44th state in 1890. Shoshone National Forest was set aside in 1891 as part of the Yellowstone Timberland Reserve in northwest Wyoming. It is the first national forest in the country.
- Members of the Shoshone and Arapaho tribes continue to reside in Wyoming.
- Experts still need to find out where Wyoming’s name originated. The name might be derived from a Delaware Indian phrase that means “alternating mountains and valleys,” or “great plains,” or from the Munsee language, which means “at the huge river flat,” or from the Algonquin language, which means “a large prairie location.”
- It is known as the Equality State since it was the first to provide women the right to vote and allow them to serve on juries and occupy public office.
Geography
- Wyoming is bounded to the north by Montana; to the west by Montana, Idaho, and Utah; south by Utah and Colorado; and east by Nebraska and South Dakota. It can be separated into three sections.
- The Great Plains, which encompass the state’s eastern half, are covered in shrubs and short grasses. This region also comprises the Black Hills, where Devils Tower National Monument (the first national monument) sits.
- Devil’s Tower is a butte, a large flat-topped hill with steep slopes.
- The Rocky Mountain ranges span most of the state from north to south. The Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone, the world’s first national park are connected by a scenic road. Yellowstone is famous for Old Faithful, a geyser that erupts around 17 times daily.
- The Intermontane Basins area contains short grasses and few trees and is located between mountain ranges. It includes the Red Desert, the United States’ most extensive live dune system.
Wildlife
- Wyoming’s diverse animals include buffalo, pronghorn, black bears, grizzlies, and bighorn sheep.
- Some species flying overhead are red-tailed hawks, prairie falcons, pinyon jays, and mountain bluebirds.
- Western painted turtles, rubber boas, Great Basin skinks, and Great Plains earless lizards are examples of reptiles found in Wyoming. Columbia spotted frogs, Wyoming toads, and western tiger salamanders are all found here.
Natural Resources
- Wyoming has the most significant coal production in the United States. In addition, the state produces petroleum, natural gas, and bentonite, a natural clay derived from volcanic ash used in meals, construction, detergents, and cat litter.
DEMOGRAPHICS
- More than nine-tenths of Wyoming’s population is of European descent.
- Hispanics make up the majority of Wyoming’s population. African Americans make up less than 1% of the entire population, with the majority residing in the Cheyenne region.
- Even though Chinese immigrants helped build the Union Pacific Railroad, Wyoming’s Asian population is negligible today. Most Asians live in the state’s southern counties, particularly in the cities of Cheyenne, Laramie, and Rock Springs.
- Native Americans, predominantly Arapaho and Shoshone, make up more than 2% of Wyoming’s population. More than half of this population resides on the almost two million-acre (810,000-hectare) Wind River Reservation in Wyoming’s west-central region.
- The locations of military posts such as Fort Laramie (1834-90) and Fort Bridger (1843-90) determined Wyoming’s early pattern of sedentary occupancy by European immigrants and settlers from the eastern United States, both of which protected from Native American attacks as well as trading opportunities.
- The Union Pacific Railroad construction in the late 1860s resulted in the establishment of numerous early communities, including Cheyenne, Laramie, Rawlins, Rock Springs, and Evanston.
- About two-thirds of Wyoming inhabitants were born in the state, while only 2% are foreign-born.
- As young families and employees (many of whom were immigrants) flocked to Wyoming to work in mining and energy development in the early twenty-first century, the average population age declined modestly in the counties where those industries were important.
- Although, in several of the state’s rural counties, up to one-fifth of the population was above 65. (the national average of those over age 65 was about 12%).
- Wyoming’s racial mix, according to the latest current ACS, was:
- Two or more races: 3.91%
- Native Americans: 2.26%
- Other ethnicities: 1.67%
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.10%
- Black or African American: 0.87%
- White: 90.35%
- Asian: 0.84%
ECONOMY
- Mining and agriculture are essential components of Wyoming’s economy (primarily the marketing of beef cattle and sheep).
- The state also boasts a significant and expanding tourism business, which serves millions of visitors to its parks and historic sites.
- Manufacturing is of secondary significance. Wyoming’s income per capita varies due to the state’s reliance on resource production.
- Ranching has always been vital to Wyoming, economically and culturally, as one of the state’s nicknames, the Cowboy State. The state’s rangelands are ideal for livestock farming, and livestock grazing accounts for more than two-thirds of the state’s land area.
- The cattle sector dominates Wyoming’s agricultural economy, accounting for more than two-thirds of the state’s agricultural output. Pig and sheep production is also substantial.
- Wyoming is one of the country’s top coal-producing states. Before 1920, coal was Wyoming’s most important mineral resource, but today it ranks second in economic importance only to petroleum and natural gas production.
- Of the oil and gas resources identified across the state, the largest known are those in the northeast. The southwest also has considerable oil shale deposits.
- The majority of the industry in the state is dedicated to processing raw minerals produced there.
- The chemical facilities in Wyoming manufacture fertilizers and other agricultural chemicals. Construction and farming equipment, foodstuffs, soap, stone, glass, and clay items are also produced.
- Wyoming is one of the top wool-producing states in the country.
- Wyoming’s tourism and leisure businesses are booming. The state government is aggressively promoting Wyoming’s beautiful beauty and recreational activities.
- Among the primary tourist locations are the state’s parks and historic sites, including Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks and such attractions as Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Fort Laramie National Historic Site, Devil’s Tower, and Fossil Buttes national monuments.
Transportation
- The original transcontinental train route is still one of Wyoming’s primary transportation routes.
- The Union Pacific Railroad rails, which continue to transport significant amounts of freight across the state, now share the corridor with Interstate 80, one of the country’s most critical east-west freeways. Interstate 90 is a second east-west transportation line.
- Interstate 25 is Wyoming’s principal north-south transportation artery. The state is served by an extensive network of paved highways and roads, including the picturesque Yellowstone Highway, which connects Casper, Wyoming’s biggest city, with Yellowstone National Park.
GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY
- Wyoming’s 1889 constitution established three parts of state government: a legislature, an executive, and a judiciary.
- The governor, auditor, treasurer, superintendent of public instruction, and secretary of state are the only elected officials; no deputy governor exists.
Health and Welfare
- Although there are quality healthcare facilities in the state’s bigger towns and cities, there is still a need for healthcare experts in many of the state’s rural communities.
- Many rural folks must drive to Cheyenne, Salt Lake City, or Denver for care. The US Indian Health Service serves the Native American communities in the state.
Education
- The state’s population is well-educated, with a higher proportion of high school and college graduates than the national average.
- Wyoming’s schools are tiny and feature low teacher-to-student ratios. Kindergarten through eighth-grade children are still taught in one-teacher schools in some of the state’s most remote districts.
- The great majority of the people in the state have completed high school.
CULTURE
- Wyoming’s culture and customs are deeply rooted in the American West. County fairs, the Wyoming State Fair, held in Douglas in August, and Jubilee Days, held in Laramie in July, are all annual celebrations commemorating the state’s Western history.
- Many of these events take place alongside rodeos. During Frontier Days each summer, Cheyenne hosts the world’s largest rodeo.
- Since 1897, Frontier Days has drawn tourists worldwide to see competitions such as bronco riding, bull riding, calf roping, and barrel racing.
Arts
- Local artists enjoy the yearly Jackson Hole Falls Arts Festival. An arts community was created in Cody by entertainer and marksman William F. Cody (better known as Buffalo Bill Cody), whose Wild West show traveled throughout the United States and Europe and made him a national superstar.
- Jackson Pollock is a dominant figure in the Abstract Expressionist movement, born in Cody.
Cultural Institutions
- The Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra, the Casper Civic Symphony, the Grand Teton Music Festival in Teton Village, and the Wyoming Summer Music Festival in Laramie, which focuses on chamber music, are among the music companies and festivals.
- Wyoming has active theater companies in several cities and communities. It also has a variety of museums, many of which preserve the state’s colorful history.
- Jackson Hole is home to the National Museum of Wildlife Art. The Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody includes a museum and a library, and it is known that every county in Wyoming has at least one library, with the William Robertson Coe Library at the University of Wyoming in Laramie being the state’s largest.
Sports Recreation
- In Wyoming, spectator sports tend to center on local high school teams. On the collegiate level, the University of Wyoming, a Mountain West Conference member, has a solid fan base and a history of success in football and basketball.
- Although the Wyoming basketball program had outstanding teams in the 1980s, its peak was in 1943, when Kenny Sailor (credited by some as the originator of the jump shot) led Wyoming to an NCAA title. Curt Gowdy, another University of Wyoming basketball player, became one of the most well-known American sportscasters of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.
Media and Publishing
- The βCasper Star-Tribuneβ and the βWyoming Tribune Eagleβ are Wyoming’s two major daily newspapers. The Warren Sentinel reports on events at the Francis E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne.
Wyoming Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Wyoming State across 34 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching students about Wyoming, the least populous state in the country located in the western region of the United States.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- Wyoming Facts
- Into the Wilderness
- Wordmoji
- Knowledge Construction
- Government and Society
- State Symbols
- State Flag
- Famous Citizens
- Sports Teams
- W-Y-O-M-I-N-G
- Is It Worthy?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Wyoming known for?
Wyoming is known for its stunning natural landscapes, including the Rocky Mountains, the Great Plains, and the high deserts of the Basin and Range Province. It is also home to several national parks, including Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, and Devils Tower National Monument. In addition, Wyoming is known for its history of cowboy culture and western traditions.
What is the economy of Wyoming like?
The economy of Wyoming is primarily driven by mineral extraction, including coal, natural gas, and oil. The state is the largest coal producer in the country and has significant reserves of natural gas and oil. Agriculture, including cattle ranching and farming, is also an important part of the state’s economy. Tourism is another significant industry, with visitors coming to explore the state’s natural beauty and outdoor recreational opportunities.
What is the population of Wyoming?
As of 2021, the population of Wyoming is approximately 580,000 people, making it the least populous state in the country. The largest city in Wyoming is Cheyenne, with a population of around 64,000 people.
What is the climate like in Wyoming?
Wyoming has a mostly dry continental climate with cold winters and warm summers. Temperatures vary greatly depending on elevation and location, but the state generally experiences low humidity, high wind, and significant seasonal temperature fluctuations.
What is the political climate like in Wyoming?
Wyoming is known for its conservative political climate, with a long history of supporting Republican candidates in national elections. The state has a low tax burden and a business-friendly environment, with a relatively small and limited government.
Link/cite this page
If you reference any of the content on this page on your own website, please use the code below to cite this page as the original source.
Link will appear as Wyoming State Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, February 22, 2023
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.