Notable Facts About Wyoming
NAMING THE TERRITORY
The name Wyoming is probably an imprint left by immigrants on their westward trek from Wyoming Valley, Pennsylvania. The word means mountains and valleys alternating, while the Delaware Indian interpretation of it is a corruption of Maugh-wau-wa-ma, meaning “The Large Plains.” The name “Wyoming” was used by J.M. Ashley, of Ohio, who, as early as 1865, introduced into Congress a bill to provide a temporary government “for the territory of Wyoming,” to be formed from portions of Dakota, Utah, and Idaho Territories.
Wyoming Territory came into existence by act of Congress on July 25, 1868, and comprised of Dakota, Utah, and Idaho Territories. The first Territorial Governor, John A. Campbell, appointed by President Ulysses S. Grant, took his oath of office April 15, 1869. The last territorial governor was Francis E. Warren, who continued in office one month after statehood, when he resigned and was elected United States Senator.
Wyoming is renowned as the “Equality State,” having been the first government to grant equal rights to women in the territorial legislature in 1869. Wyoming is more popularly called the “Cowboy State” because of the use of the bucking bronco as its symbol.
STATE SEAL
The great seal of the State of Wyoming was adopted in its present design by the second state legislature, approved on January 10, 1893. The act was amended by the sixteenth legislature, approved February 15, 1921, whereby the width of the seal was reduced from two and one-quarter inches to one and one-half inches.
The two dates on the State seal, 1869-1890, commemorate the organization of the Territorial government and Wyoming’s admission into the Union, respectively. The number, 44, signifies she was the forty-fourth State to be admitted.
The Secretary of State is the Custodian of the Great Seal.
