Wyoming Statehood

Wyoming became the 44th state of the United States on July 10, 1890. Originally part of the Louisiana Purchase, it was sparsely populated until the late 1800s, when mining, cattle ranching, and the transcontinental railroad spurred growth. Wyoming's push for statehood gained momentum because residents wanted local control over laws, including women's suffrage, which Wyoming granted in 1869, making it the first U.S. territory to do so. The state’s entry into the Union helped shape its identity as a frontier region known for open landscapes, natural resources, and pioneering freedoms.