WYOMING
Wyoming, the COWBOY STATE's name was derived from two Delaware Indian words, MECHEWEAMI - ING, meaning "at the big plains", or "on the great plain".
Wyoming is where the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains meet. The mountain ranges consist of the Absoroka, Owl Creek, Wyoming, Gros Ventre, Wind River and the Teton Ranges.
Wildlife - Wyoming is the center of the continent's pronghorn antelope herd, and has the largest population of any state. Wyoming is also home of the largest elk heard. Mule deer are found in every county, moose are found in the northwest part of the state, and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep are found in the northern part of the state. Wyoming has twenty-two species of game fish, including six kinds of trout; rainbow, brook, cutthroat, brown, golden, and Mackinaw. Wyoming is a hunter's and fisherman's paradise.
Continental Divide - The Continental Divide cuts through Wyoming. The waters east of the divide eventually drain into the Atlantic, with the water west of the divide eventually draining into the Pacific.
Economy - Unlike other states, Wyoming does not have an individual or corportate income tax. Mineral extraction and tourism are the main sources of revenue for the state. Tourism accounts for over $1 billion in state revenue, while mineral extraction provides $14.5 billion In 2007, over 6 million people visited Wyoming's national parks and monuments. The key tourist attractions include Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Devil's Tower National Monument, and Fossil Butte National Monument.
Agriculture - Agriculture is still an important part of Wyoming's economy, with the total value of agriculture prodcution for 2007 totaling $1021.4 million. The main agricultural products include livestock, hay, sugar beets, grain and wool.
Do you want some breathing room? Over 91% of the land in Wyoming is considered rural. The federal government owns 42.3% of Wyoming while the state controls 6%. Wyoming is 276 miles north to south, and 375 miles east to west or 97,914 square miles with a population of less that 500,000.
Wyoming has the second highest mean elevation in the U.S., 6,700' above sea level. Because of the elevation, Wyoming has a relatively cool climate, with summertime highs above 6,000' rarely exceeding 100 F, and nights cooling into the 40's and 50's.