Wyoming Fast Facts:
Location, Location, Location…: Located in the Western Region of the U.S., Wyoming is the tenth largest state by size.
Cities: The capital and the most populous city of Wyoming is Cheyenne. (1-CB)
Behind the Name: Wyoming is nicknamed the “Equality State” and the “Suffrage State” because it was the first state to formally grant women the right to vote.
A Closer Look: Wyoming's landscape is mostly dominated by the towering mountain ranges of the Rocky Mountains, but the eastern region of the state includes part of a prairie region known as the High Plains. The state also boasts such breathtaking sites as the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone National Park, the Shoshone National Forest and the Eastern Great Plains.
Did You Know? In 1869, Wyoming became the first state to grant women the right to vote and is now nicknamed the “Equality State” and “the Suffrage State.”
Wyoming Careers and Employment:
Population: 532,668 (7.9% increase since 2000) – 49.3% Female, 50.7% Male (2008 U.S. Census Bureau).
Business Environment: Ranked 31st in Forbes Magazine’s “Best States for Business,” 2008.
Top Industries: In terms of paid employees, according to a 2008 U.S. Census Bureau study: (1) retail trade; (2) health care and social assistance; (3) accommodation and food services; (4) mining; and (5) construction.
Taxes: No Income Tax and Sales Tax, 4% (Federation of Tax Administrators).
Cost of Living: 102.4 in relation to the “National Average” of 100 (Federal Cost of Living Index).
Quality of Life: Ranked 5th of 50 states of 50 states by CNBC, 2009.
Weather: Average Temperature (In °F) – Jan: 19.18; Apr: 40.42; July: 66.25; Oct: 43.39 (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).
K-12: Ranked 17th of 50 states in “Academic Achievement” by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 2009.
Wyoming Economics:
In General: The Wyoming economy is maintained primarily through its agriculture, tourism, transportation and utilities industries.
Service Industry: Unlike so many other states, the most prominent services in Wyoming are government services, including public schools, hospitals and military establishments.
Agriculture: Wyoming is cattle country, with over three-fourths of the state’s total agricultural receipts attributed to beef cattle and calves.
Manufacturing: Manufacturing in Wyoming is minimal, but the state’s most important manufactured product is soda ash.
Mining: Mining comprises a larger proportion of Wyoming’s gross state product than that of any other state.
Did You Know? Wyoming is the nation’s leading coal-producing state, while also producing considerable amounts of petroleum and natural gas.
Wyoming Education:
Find Colleges and Universities in Wyoming, here.
Sources: In addition to specific citations noted in this “Career Information” section, supplementary source materials include: the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service; Netstate.com; Education-Portal.com; USCollegeSearch.org; and Wikipedia.com.
