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On this day – Wyoming became our 44th State
July 10, 2022
On July 10, 1890, Wyoming was admitted into the Union as our 44th state. Though it is the most sparsely populated of the 50 states, it has much to offer, with some of the most beautiful wilderness areas in the country, including Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, and Devil’s Tower.
Did you know? Wyoming was both the first territory and first state to allow women to vote (a vital blow for women’s suffrage). One reason was that men outnumbered women 6:1 and government officials hoped to attract more women to the region.
What’s in a name? “Wyoming” is believed to come from the Delaware-Lenape word “mecheweami-ing,” which means “extensive plains.” Surprisingly, the name was first used in reference to a valley in northeastern Pennsylvania. So, how did Wyoming receive a Pennsylvanian name? U.S. Representative James Ashley (a native Pennsylvanian) proposed the name and it stuck.
The Rocky Mountains, Lander’s Peak, Albert Bierstadt, 1863
