Why Wyoming is the Equality State and a Geodesic Quadrangle of High Plains

Cultures · Published 29 September 2026 · Updated 19 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Wyoming is the least populous state in the contiguous United States, yet it holds a massive legacy in civil rights. Known as the Equality State, it was the first to grant women the right to vote and elect a female governor, all while balancing a rugged, mineral-rich landscape.

Wyoming is a land of extremes and precise geometry. Defined by straight lines of latitude and longitude, the state forms a geodesic quadrangle that spans 97,814 square miles. Its geography is a dramatic collision of the Rocky Mountains and the High Plains, featuring vast basins and high-elevation prairie. While the federal government owns nearly half of the land, including iconic sites like Yellowstone National Park, the state remains sparsely populated. With only 576,851 residents counted in the 2020 census, it holds the second-lowest population density in the country, trailing only Alaska.

The state's nickname, The Equality State, reflects a pioneering history of civil rights. In 1869, Wyoming granted women the right to vote while still a territory, and upon achieving statehood on July 10, 1890, it became the first state to allow women to vote and hold elected office. This legacy continued in 1924 when Nellie Tayloe Ross was elected as the first female governor in the United States. These milestones are deeply embedded in the state's identity, serving as a point of pride that contrasts with its reputation for rugged frontier life and range wars.

Economically, Wyoming has long relied on the extraction of coal, oil, natural gas, and trona. This dependence creates volatility; for instance, a downturn in the mineral industry led to the state's first population decline since 1990 between 2015 and 2016. Despite these fluctuations, the state maintains a unique demographic profile. As of 2018, it stood as the only U.S. state where African American workers earned a higher median income than their white counterparts. Today, the state continues to navigate the balance between its vast, unpopulated natural spaces and the economic realities of its resource-dependent industry.

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