What is the abbreviation for Wyoming, and what region is it in?

Wyoming's two-letter postal abbreviation is WY. The U.S. Census Bureau places it in the West region, in the Mountain division. About 577,000 people lived there in the 2020 census, the fewest of any state.

When did Wyoming become a state, and what number state was it?

Wyoming became the 44th state on July 10, 1890. Congress created the Wyoming Territory in 1868, from land that had come to the United States through the Louisiana Purchase, the Oregon Country, and the Mexican Cession.

Why is Wyoming called the Equality State?

In December 1869 the Wyoming territorial legislature gave women the right to vote and hold office, the first government in the United States to do so. Wyoming insisted on keeping women's suffrage when it joined the Union in 1890, and in 1925 Nellie Tayloe Ross became the nation's first woman governor.

Where does the name Wyoming come from?

The name comes from a Lenape (Delaware) word usually translated as "at the big river flat" or "large plains." It was first used for the Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania and was later chosen by Congress for the western territory.

What is the capital of Wyoming, and has it always been the capital?

Cheyenne has been the capital since the territory was organized in 1869. The city grew up in 1867 around the Union Pacific Railroad, and the State Capitol was completed in the late 1880s and expanded in 1890 and 1917.

What states border Wyoming?

Wyoming borders six states: Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Colorado to the south, Utah to the southwest, and Idaho to the west.

What was the first national park?

Yellowstone, created by Congress on March 1, 1872, was the first national park in the United States and, by most accounts, in the world. Most of it lies in northwestern Wyoming. Wyoming is also home to the first national monument, Devils Tower, proclaimed in 1906.

What are Wyoming's nicknames, motto, and symbols?

Wyoming is called "The Equality State" and "The Cowboy State." Its motto is "Equal Rights." Its state bird is the western meadowlark, its flower is the Indian paintbrush, its tree is the plains cottonwood, and its mammal is the bison.

How many representatives and electoral votes does Wyoming have?

Based on the 2020 census, Wyoming has 1 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, elected statewide, which gives it 3 votes in the Electoral College, the minimum for any state.

State Guide44th StateEst. 1890

Wyoming WY

"The Equality State"

The least-populated state in the nation and one of its most consequential, the land that gave women the vote, invented the national park, and produces more coal than any state in the country, all beneath the widest sky in the West.

State Debt - FY2024

$1.3 billion

Total state government debt outstanding at the close of fiscal 2024, including long-term bonds and short-term borrowing across state agencies and public universities.

Tax Revenue - FY2024

$2.6 billion

Total Wyoming state tax collections in fiscal 2024. Wyoming has no individual or corporate income tax, so collections are led by mineral severance taxes ($0.8B) and the state sales and use tax ($1.0B).

Borrowing

Wyoming's constitution strictly limits state debt, and the state carries almost none. Capital projects are funded largely with cash from mineral revenue and investment earnings, with occasional revenue bonds issued by state authorities and sold to investors in the municipal market. The state reported about $35 million in interest on its debt in fiscal 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State Government Finances.

580K

Population (Least)

44th

State (1890)

1869

Women's Suffrage

1872

1st National Park

Wyoming's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Hello, Wyoming. On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, you're choosing a new governor, a new U.S. senator, a new member of the U.S. House, your other statewide officials and legislators, and one property tax initiative.

This is a midterm election, halfway through the president's term, and nationally it decides who controls Congress for the next two years.

Here's what makes this year unusual: all three of the big races are open. Gov. Mark Gordon is term-limited, Sen. Cynthia Lummis isn't running again, and Rep. Harriet Hageman is running for that Senate seat, which leaves her House seat open too. So every name at the top of your ballot is new to the job it's running for.

Key dates and how voting works are right below. Use the buttons above to open each race. Facts first; the decision is yours.

Checked against official sources on October 6, 2026

Key Dates

Key Dates
Absentee voting begins and ballots go out (request one from your county clerk any time before Election Day)	Tuesday, October 6
Last day to register by mail or at the county clerk's office (you can still register at your polling place on Election Day)	Monday, October 19
Election Day: polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; absentee ballots must reach your county clerk by 7 p.m.	Tuesday, November 3

How Voting Works in Wyoming

You can register right at your polling place on Election Day, so missing the October 19 deadline doesn't lock you out. Bring proof of identity, and plan for a little extra time.

Bring ID to vote in person. Accepted IDs include a Wyoming driver's license or ID card, a tribal ID, a U.S. passport, a military ID, a driver's license or ID from another state, a University of Wyoming, community college, or public school student photo ID, a Medicare or Medicaid card, or a Wyoming concealed firearm permit.

Any registered voter can vote absentee; no reason needed. Contact your county clerk with your full name, residence address, mailing address, and date of birth. Absentee voting starts 28 days before the election, and your ballot must be back at the clerk's office by 7 p.m. on Election Day. A postmark doesn't count.

Find your county clerk, polling place, and sample ballot through the Secretary of State at sos.wyo.gov.

Sources & Further Reading

…

Wyoming's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

This is a midterm election, halfway through the president's term, and nationally it decides who controls Congress for the next two years.

Key dates and how voting works are right below. Use the buttons above to open each race. Facts first; the decision is yours.

Checked against official sources on October 6, 2026

Key Dates

Absentee voting begins and ballots go out (request one from your county clerk any time before Election Day)

Tuesday, October 6

Last day to register by mail or at the county clerk's office (you can still register at your polling place on Election Day)

Monday, October 19

Election Day: polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; absentee ballots must reach your county clerk by 7 p.m.

Tuesday, November 3

How Voting Works in Wyoming

You can register right at your polling place on Election Day, so missing the October 19 deadline doesn't lock you out. Bring proof of identity, and plan for a little extra time.

Find your county clerk, polling place, and sample ballot through the Secretary of State at sos.wyo.gov.

Wyoming's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Key Dates

How Voting Works in Wyoming

📚 Sources & Further Reading

Wyoming's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Key Dates

How Voting Works in Wyoming

📚 Sources & Further Reading

Sources & Further Reading

Sources & Further Reading