Wyoming Information and Facts

Official Website: http://www.state.wy.us/

Income

The population of Wyoming in 2002 was 498,830. Its rank was 51st in the nation. (The District of Columbia is included for ranking purposes.)

Per Capita Personal Income

In 2002 Wyoming had a per capita personal income of $31,021. This per capita personal income ranked 17th in the United States and was 100 percent of the national average, $30,906. The 2002 per capita personal income reflected an increase of 2.7 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.2 percent. In 1992 the per capita personal income of Wyoming was $19,346 and ranked 27th in the United States. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of per capita personal income was 4.8 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 4.0 percent.

Total Personal Income

In 2002 Wyoming had a total personal income of $15,474,128. This total personal income ranked 51st in the United States. In 1992 the total personal income of Wyoming was $9,020,212 and ranked 51st in the United States. The 2002 total personal income reflected an increase of 3.8 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 2.3 percent. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of total personal income was 5.5 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.2 percent.

Components of Personal Income

Total personal income includes net earnings by place of residence; dividends, interest, and rent; and total personal current transfer receipts received by the residents of Wyoming. In 2002 net earnings accounted for 62.5 percent of total personal income (compared with 65.1 in 1992); dividends, interest, and rent were 24.7 percent (compared with 22.5 in 1992); and personal current transfer receipts were 12.9 percent (compared with 12.3 in 1992). From 2001 to 2002 net earnings increased 4.3 percent; dividends, interest, and rent increased 0.2 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased 8.5 percent. From 1992 to 2002 net earnings increased on average 5.1 percent each year; dividends, interest, and rent increased on average 6.5 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased on average 6.0 percent.

Employment Earnings

Earnings of persons employed in Wyoming increased from $10,386,869 in 2001 to $10,850,957 in 2002, an increase of 4.5 percent. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.5 percent. The average annual growth rate from the 1992 estimate of $6,629,795 to the 2002 estimate was 5.1 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.3 percent.

Area - Wyoming ranks ninth in size among the states of the Union, covering 253,350 sq km (97,819 sq mi), including 1849 sq km (714 sq mi) of inland water. The state has a maximum extent from east to west of 586 km (364 mi) and from north to south of 444 km (276 mi). About one-third of the state is mountainous. Elevations range from 945 m (3099 ft) along the Belle Fourche River in the northeastern corner of the state to 4207 m (13,804 ft) atop Gannett Peak in the Wind River Range, part of the Rocky Mountains. The mean elevation is about 2040 m (about 6700 ft). Nearly one-half of the land is owned by the federal government, much of it in national parks, forests, or preserves.

Climate - Wyoming has a continental climate, characterized by moderately warm summers at low elevations, long and cold winters, and generally low amounts of precipitation. Average July temperatures range from about 17° C (about 63° F) in Yellowstone National Park, in the mountainous northwest, to more than 20° C (more than 68° F) in Cheyenne, in the southeast. January averages are -7° C (19° F) in the national park and -3° C (27° F) in Cheyenne. The basins, which lie in the rain shadow of mountains, are very dry, with an average annual precipitation of about 250 mm (about 10 in) or less; the Great Plains region has an annual average of about 380 mm (about 15 in), and the Black Hills region receives slightly more. Thunderstorms and hailstorms are relatively frequent in summer. The annual snowfall ranges from about 500 mm (about 20 in) in the Bighorn Basin to well over 5100 mm (over 200 in) in the higher mountains, where annual precipitation can be 1140 mm (45 in) or more. A distinctive climate feature is the high and persistent winds of the Wyoming Basin.
The growing season in Wyoming diminishes generally from east to west, from more than 120 days in the Plains region to less than 80 days in the mountainous northwest.

State Flag

State Flower - Indian Paintbrush

State Capitol - Cheyenne
Wyoming's state constitution went into effect in 1890, at the time Wyoming was admitted to the Union. It has been amended many times. Amendments may be proposed in the state legislature or at a special constitutional convention convened with the approval of both the legislature and a majority of the Wyoming electorate. Proposed amendments carry only if more than half the voters at the election vote for them. An amendment approved in 1968 sets procedures for citizens to follow to initiate legislation.

Famous People

Alan Swallow publisher and author
Chief Washakie chief of the Shoshone
Curt Gowdy sportscaster, Green River
Francis E. Warren first state governor
Isabel Jewell actress
Jackson Pollock painter, Cody
James Bridger trapper, guide and storyteller
James G. Watt former secretary of the Interior
John "Portugee" Phillips frontiersman
John Colter trader
June Etta Downey educator
Ted Olson writer
Thomas Fitzpatrick mountain man and guide
Tom Horn detective
Velma Linford writer