Wyoming is known as “The Cowboy State” due to its many ranches and the adoption of a cowboy on a bucking horse as a symbol. The state’s history with cattle and sheep led to the proliferation of cowboys and ranches. Wyoming is also called “The Equality State” for being the first state to grant women the right to vote in 1869.
The state of Wyoming has several nicknames, one of which is “The Cowboy State”. The state earned this name due to the many ranches within its borders. Another reason behind the nickname is the adoption of the image of a cowboy perched on a bucking horse as a symbol of the state. The story behind the proliferation of cattle and, consequently, cowboys is an interesting one. Early emigrants and settlers to the states of Oregon, Utah and California often traveled with all their possessions and livestock with which they hoped to make a new life in the new states.
Not only were the herds of animals meant to help them start a new herd once they reached their destination and settled, but they also provided milk for weary travellers. The path they had to travel took them past what would one day become the state of Wyoming, “The Cowboy State”. These travelers were often on a tight schedule, which meant they had to get where they were going before winter set in and the snow set in. Cattle and sheep slowed them down and soon had to be left behind as the emigrants picked up the pace. The assumption was that the cattle and sheep would not survive the harsh winter, which proved to be false as the animals not only lived but thrived and soon grew abundant throughout the area.
The grasses growing on the highlands were found to be ideal for grazing animals, while the sagebrush range was suitable for sheep. This brought settlers to the area, which eventually came to be known as Wyoming. Numerous ranches sprang up throughout the state and attracted their fair share of cowboys who worked the ranches raising sheep and cattle. This association of cowboys who manage cattle on ranches and the state’s history with cattle and sheep has established a relationship with the nickname “The Cowboy State”.
Besides “The Cowboy State”, Wyoming is also known as “The Equality State”. This particular nickname comes from the fact that the state of Wyoming was the first state in the United States to grant women the right to vote. This happened in 1869 and led to the endowment of the nickname ‘The Suffrage State’ which was eventually changed to ‘The Equality State’. The term “Equality” has also been adopted by the state as a state motto.
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