20 Surprising Facts About Wyoming, the Least Populated State

Whether you already live here or you are thinking about a move, Wyoming holds more surprises than most people expect. I am Alisha Collins with the Alisha Collins Real Estate Team, and I put together 20 facts about this state, some famous, some genuinely obscure, that help explain why people keep choosing to live here.

Stick with me to the end. If any of this makes you want to call Wyoming home, our Wyoming relocation guide is where to start, and there is plenty more about the Casper area where I live and work.

A few facts that tend to surprise people:

• The very first JCPenney store opened in Kemmerer, Wyoming, originally called the Golden Rule Store, built on honest values and fair dealing.
• There are only two escalators in the entire state, both in bank buildings in Casper, both built more than 40 years ago.
• Casper was named after Fort Caspar, itself named for Lieutenant Caspar Collins. Other Wyoming towns carry Wild West names, like Cody, founded by the real Buffalo Bill Cody.
• Wyoming was the first place to grant women the right to vote, in December 1869, along with the right to hold office, own property, and more. That is why it is called the Equality State, and Nellie Tayloe Ross became the first female governor in the U.S. here in 1924.

Wyoming's landscape is the headline for a lot of people, and for good reason:

• Yellowstone, established in 1872, was the world's first national park. It is home to more than 500 active geysers, over half the world's total, plus hundreds of animal and bird species, waterfalls, and 1,000 miles of trails.
• Grand Teton National Park holds the dramatic peaks that make Jackson famous, with Jenny Lake, Hidden Falls, and Inspiration Point among the highlights.
• The state has thousands of lakes and reservoirs, so boating, fishing, and paddling are never far, wherever you land.
• Wyoming even has a high-elevation desert, the Red Desert, roughly 361,000 acres of badlands, canyons, sand dunes, and sandstone towers.

Wyoming is the least populated state in the country, home to around 580,000 people. Most communities are small, which is part of the appeal for people seeking space. There are only 19 places large enough to be designated cities by the census, Buffalo, Casper, Cheyenne, Cody, Evanston, Gillette, Green River, Kemmerer, Lander, Laramie, Newcastle, Powell, Rawlins, Riverton, Rock Springs, Sheridan, Torrington, and Worland, with Mills recently joining the list. The rest are towns.

The state mammal is the North American bison, front and center on the flag, and the state bird is the western meadowlark, easy to spot by its yellow underside and black V. Then there is the pronghorn, native and everywhere here, the second-fastest land animal after the cheetah, hitting 60 to 70 miles per hour.

Wyoming's economy leans on two big industries. Mineral extraction is number one, and tourism, thanks to Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and everything in between, is number two.

Cost of living is one of the practical reasons people look here. It varies a lot by county, the Jackson and Teton County area is the most expensive in the state, while places like Worland and Torrington are among the most affordable. Statewide, home prices generally run below the national average, though the exact figures move, so verify current numbers before you plan around them. Wyoming also ranks well nationally for fiscal stability, with a substantial reserve fund and a balanced budget.

We love where we live, and we would love to help you love where you live too, whether that is Casper or any of the surrounding areas. If these facts made you more curious about a move, our complete guide to relocating to Wyoming, our honest take on what it is really like to call Wyoming home, and our walkthrough of Wyoming residency are great next reads. Reach out whenever you are ready to talk.