Historical Dates

WYOMING'S POPULATION

2000 . . . 493,782

   1990 . . . . . . . . . . 453,588                                         
   1980 . . . . . . . . . . 469,557         1920 . . . . . . . . . . 194,402
   1970 . . . . . . . . . . 332,416         1910 . . . . . . . . . . 145,965
   1960 . . . . . . . . . . 330,066         1900 . . . . . . . . . .  92,531
   1950 . . . . . . . . . . 290,529         1890 . . . . . . . . . .  62,555
   1940 . . . . . . . . . . 250,742         1880 . . . . . . . . . .  20,789
   1930 . . . . . . . . . . 225,565         1870 . . . . . . . . . . . 9,118

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census

GOVERNORS OF WYOMING

Dave Freudenthal, 01-06-2003, Present


    Name                                 Term of Office
TERRITORIAL
   
    John A. Campbell (R)                  04-15-1869, 03-01-1875
    John M. Thayer (R)                    03-01-1875, 05-29-1878
    John W. Hoyt (R)                      05-29-1878, 08-22-1882
    William Hale (R)                      08-22-1882, 01-13-1885
    E.S.N. Morgan (Acting)(R)             01-13-1885, 02-28-1885
    Francis E. Warren (R)                 02-28-1885, 11-11-1886
    George W. Baxter (D)                  11-11-1886, 12-20-1886
    E.S.N. Morgan (Acting)(R)             12-20-1886, 01-24-1887
    Thomas Moonlight (D)                  01-24-1887, 04-09-1889
    Francis E. Warren (R)                 04-09-1889, 10-11-1890

STATE

    Francis E. Warren (R)                 10-11-1890, 11-24-1890
    Amos W. Barber (Acting) (R)           11-24-1890, 01-02-1893
    John E. Osborne (D)                   01-02-1893, 01-07-1895
    William A. Richards (R)               01-07-1895, 01-02-1899
    DeForest Richards                     01-02-1899, 04-28-1903
    Fenimore Chatterton (Acting)(R)       04-28-1903, 01-02-1905
    Bryant B. Brooks (R)                  01-02-1905, 01-02-1911
    Joseph M. Carey (D)                   01-02-1911, 01-04-1915
    John B. Kendrick (D)                  01-04-1915, 02-26-1917
    Frank Houx (Acting)(D)                02-26-1917, 01-06-1919
    Robert D. Carey (R)                   01-06-1919, 01-01-1923
    William B. Ross (D)                   01-01-1923, 10-02-1924
    Frank Lucas (Acting)(R)               10-02-1924, 01-05-1925
    Nellie Tayloe Ross (D)                01-05-1925, 01-03-1927
    Frank C. Emerson (R)                  01-03-1927, 02-18-1931
    Alonzo M. Clark (Acting)(R)           02-18-1931, 01-02-1933
    Leslie A. Miller (D)                  01-02-1933, 01-02-1939
    Nels H. Smith (R)                     01-02-1939, 01-04-1943
    Lester C. Hunt (D)                    01-04-1943, 01-03-1949
    Arthur G. Crane (Acting)(R)           01-03-1949, 01-01-1951
    Frank A. Barrett (R)                  01-01-1951, 01-03-1953
    C.J. "Doc" Rogers (Acting)(R)         01-03-1953, 01-03-1955
    Milward L. Simpson (R)                01-03-1955, 01-05-1959
    J.J. "Joe" Hickey (D)                 01-05-1959, 01-02-1961
    Jack R. Gage (Acting)(D)              01-02-1961, 01-07-1963
    Clifford P. Hansen (R)                01-07-1963, 01-02-1967
    Stanley K. Hathaway (R)               01-02-1967, 01-06-1975
    Ed Herschler (D)                      01-06-1975, 01-05-1987
    Mike Sullivan (D)                     01-05-1987, 01-02-1995
	Jim Geringer(R)                       01-02-1995, 01-06-2003

CHRONOLOGY-Some Events in Wyoming History

1742-43-Francois Louis Verendrye entered area of Wyoming.
1807-John Colter first White American known to enter present Wyoming.
1811 -Wilson Price Hunt party, the first organized expedition through Wyoming, crossed the state on the way to Astoria, in present day Oregon.
1812- Robert Stuart and returning Astorians crossed the Continental Divide in the vicinity of South Pass and built the first known cabin in Wyoming, on North Platte River near Bessemer Bend.
1824-William H. Ashley's men rediscovered South Pass.
1825-Beginning of fur trade rendezvous period.
1827-Ashley's party took first wheeled vehicle, a four-pounder cannon, through South Pass.
1832-Capt. B. L. E. Bonneville took first wagons through South Pass, built Ft. Bonneville near present Daniel.
1834- Ft. Laramie, first permanent trading post in Wyoming, established by William Sublette and Robert Campbell. Military post 1849-1890.
1835- Rev. Samuel Parker held first Protestant service in Wyoming near present Bondurant.
1836- Narcissa Whitmarrand Eliza Spalding, brides of missionaries, first White women to pass over the Oregon Trail to the Far West.
1840-First Catholic Mass celebrated in Wyoming, Father Pierre DeSmet officiating, near present Daniel.
1842- Capt. John C. Fremont's first expedition to Wyoming; named Fremont Peak.
1843- Ft. Bridger, second permanent settlement, established by Jim Bridger and Louis Vasquez. Military post 1858-1890.
1847-Mormon migration to Utah. Mormon ferry established on North Platte River.
1849-U.S. Government purchased Ft. Laramie.
1852-William Vaux, post chaplain, opened first school in Wyoming at Ft. Laramie, assisted by his daughter, Victoria. Peak year for emigration on Oregon Trail.
1853-Ft. Supply, first agricultural settlement, established by Mormons near Ft. Bridger. Deserted and burned in 1857.
1854-Grattan Fight near Ft. Laramie.
1857-Col. Albert S. Johnston Army reached site of Ft. Bridger and established temporary Camp Scott.
1860-Pony Express started. Second school in Wyoming established at Ft. Bridger by Judge William A. Carter, with Miss Fannie Foot as teacher.
1861 -Transcontinental telegraph completed and Pony Express discontinued.
1862-Ft. Halleck (1862-1866) established on Overland Trail. Overland stage line changed route from Oregon Trail to Overland (Cherokee) Trail.
1863-Bozeman Trail established. First newspaper in Wyoming, The Daily Telegraph, established at Ft. Bridger.
1865-Ft. Reno (1865-1868) established. Battle of Platte Bridge, Lt. Caspar Collins killed. Platte Bridge station renamed Ft. Caspar. Powder River Indian Expedition under Gen. Patrick E. Connor. The "Bloody Year on the Plains."
1866-Ft. Phil Kearny (1866-1868) established on Bozeman Trail. Fetterman Fight and John "Portugee" Phillips' ride to carry news to Ft. Laramie. Nelson Story drove first herd of cattle through Wyoming, going north to Montana. Ft. Sanders (1866-1882) established on Overland Trail.
1867-Ft. D. A. Russell and Camp Carlin established. Cheyenne founded. Union Pacific Railroad entered Wyoming. Laramie County created by Dakota Legislature. Wagon Box Fight. Ft. Fetterman (1867-1882) established.
1868-Wyoming Territory created July 25. Wind River Reservation for Shoshone Indians created by treaty. Ft. Fred Steele (1868-1886) established.
1869-Wyoming Territory organized. John A. Campbell, first territorial governor, on December 10, signed the "Female Suffrage" bill giving Wyoming women the right to vote. Camp Augur (later Camp Brown and then Ft. Washakie) established.
1870-Esther Hobart Morris of South Pass City first woman ever to be appointed Justice of the Peace (Feb. 17). Women first empaneled for jury service (March), Laramie. First equal suffrage vote cast by Mrs. Louisa Swain of Laramie (Sept. 6). Ft. Stambaugh founded (1870-1878).
1872-Yellowstone Park, first national park, created.
1876-Cheyenne-Black Hills stage line launched. Ft. McKinney (1877-1894) established. Second Powder River Expedition. Battle of Little Big Horn in Montana.
1877-Agreement made with Shoshone Indians to allow Arapahoes to move onto Wind River Reservation.
1880-Cheyenne Club built by wealthy cattlemen.
1881-Jim Bridger, famous scout and guide, died in Missouri, July 17. Buried at Westport, Missouri.
1883-Electric lights introduced in Cheyenne.
1885-Chinese Massacre at Rock Springs.
1886-Northwestern Railroad reached eastern boundary of Wyoming. Cheyenne and Northern Railroad reached Douglas. First county library law in U.S. enacted by Wyoming Territorial Legislative Assembly. First county library established in Cheyenne. First county fair in state, Johnson County.
1887-University of Wyoming opened.
1888-Capitol building completed.
1889-Wyoming Constitutional Convention.
1890-Wyoming Territory admitted into Union as 44th state, July 10.
1892-Johnson County Invasion.
1894-Mrs. Cort F. Meyer (Estelle Reel) elected State Supertintendent of Public Instruction, first woman in the U.S. elected to a state office.
1898-Jim Baker, scout and mountain man, died May 15.
1900-Chief Washakie buried with full military honors in post cemetery at Ft. Washakie.
1903-Tom Horn hanged in Cheyenne, November 20; buried in Boulder, Colorado.
1906-Devils Tower National Monument, first in U.S., created September 24.
1910-Willis Van Devanter, Wyoming lawyer, named to U.S. Supreme Court. Mrs. Mary G. Bellamy of Laramie first woman elected to Wyoming legislature. First amendment to Wyoming Constitution ratified.
1918-Uranium discovered in Wyoming, near Lusk.
1920-Transcontinental air mail planes crossed Wyoming.
1922-Salt Creek Oil Field opened.
1925-Mrs. Nellie Tayloe Ross (1876-1977), first woman governor in U.S.; first woman director of the U.S. Mint (1933-1954). Teapot Dome scandal.
1930-Ft. D.A. Russell renamed Ft. Francis E. Warren in honor of Senator Warren of Wyoming.
1935-State sales tax adopted.
1939-Trona discovered in Sweetwater County.
1942-Heart Mountain Relocation Center established in Park County.
1945-Junior College enabling legislation passed.
1947-Ft. F.E. Warren became F.E. Warren Air Force Base.
1949-Severe blizzard paralyzed entire state.
1950-First woman jury since 1870.
1954-Wyoming's first TV station opened, Cheyenne.
1958-Warren A.F.B. transferred to Strategic Air Command; first Atlas I.C.B.M. base in the world (Feb. 1).
1965-75th Anniversary of Statehood observed statewide.
1972-Yellowstone National Park Centennial.
1974-Mineral severance tax legislation approved.
1978-Largest radio telescope in the world built on Jelm Mountain. Operated by University of Wyoming.
1979-July 16, Cheyenne hit by tornado.
1979-1980- Cheyenne received record snowfall amount 121 1/2".
1981-Johnson County Centennial, organized 1881.
1982-University of Wyoming Arena-Auditorium completed.
1984-Fremont County Centennial, organized 1884.
1985-Freak rainstorm hits Cheyenne, 12 persons killed.
1987-Cutthroat Trout adopted as Wyoming State Fish; Knightia adopted as Wyoming State Fossil.
1988-Drinking age raised to 21 years. More than one million acres burned during Yellowstone Park Fires.
1989-Richard (Dick) Cheney appointed as U.S. Secretary of Defense. Reorganization of State Government Act passed by Wyoming legislature.
1990-Wyoming Celebrates Centennial. Legislature designates Martin Luther King, Jr./Wyoming Equality Day as a legal holiday (3rd Monday in January)
1992-Voters approve term limitation initiative.
1995-Wolves reintroduced in Yellowstone.
1998-Former Wyoming Governor Mike Sullivan appointed Ambassador to Ireland.
2001-Richard (Dick) Cheney inaugurated as Vice President of the U.S.

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