Discover Why Wyoming Is Called The Equality State

Along with its natural beauty and diverse animal life, Wyoming is well-known for its nickname, The Equality State.

The nickname has a lot to do with the history of democracy, human rights, and suffrage. So, in order to see how Wyoming got it, we need to take a quick walk through history. Let’s dive right in.

Why is Wyoming Called The Equality State?

Wyoming is called The Equality State mainly because it was the first state to permit all women to vote.

The state extended the voting rights to women over 150 years ago, in 1869. This was also 50 years before Congress passed the 19th Amendment that permitted women across the country to vote. It’s not surprising, then, that many still speculate why Wyoming made such a controversial decision at the time.

Some sources say that the state needed to meet the population requirement for statehood. Others say that the lawmakers simply wanted to get some good publicity and attract new settlers, especially women. They were also perhaps counting on the fact that women would continue voting for them as a sign of gratitude. A racial argument was brought up as well, with one legislator allegedly stating that white women should have the right to vote if that same right would be given to Black and Chinese Americans.

Potentially murky motivations aside, Wyoming was the first state to grant all women suffrage rights, regardless of their status. This was a major advancement, considering that women could only vote if they owned enough land or had enough money in other places.

Additionally, Wyoming also granted women the right to hold property and public office. This laid the groundwork for the eventual historic election of the first female governor.

The Suffrage State — The Equality State

Giving women the right to vote first earned Wyoming the nickname The Suffrage State. Later, this nickname would largely be replaced with the one that’s far more popular today, The Equality State.

These nicknames and the ideals they stand for still influence Wyoming in many ways today. Most notably, we find references to gender equality on Wyoming’s two most prominent symbols, the state seal and flag.

Official State Motto: Equal Rights

Wyoming has also adopted the slogan “Equal Rights” as its official motto. Today, the motto appears on both the Wyoming state seal and the state’s flag. 

Wyoming State Seal 

We see a draped figure holding a banner that reads “Equal Rights” in the center of the Wyoming Great Seal. Some interpret the figure to be a woman, with the banner symbolizing Wyoming’s civil rights history.

It may also signify that equality is still at the core of the state’s values. This theory is bolstered by the fact that the banner is placed at the very center of the state seal.

The number 44, which appears upon a five-pointed star, represents the Union’s admission number. On top of the pillars, we see two lamps burning the light of knowledge. Scrolls circling the two pillars contain the words “Oil,” “Mines,” “Livestock,” and “Grain,” which indicate four of Wyoming’s major industries. These are also represented by the two male figures on each side.

The seal also features two important dates, 1869 and 1890. 1869 marks the establishment of the Territorial government, as well as the year when women were granted voting rights. 1890, on the other hand, marks Wyoming’s admission to the Union.

Wyoming State Flag

Wyoming’s flag features the state seal, the national colors, and a bison silhouette representing the state’s native animal.

Women of Wyoming

It is obvious that gender equality and suffrage rights are incredibly important for Wyoming, even today. With that in mind, we need to mention several women who left a lasting mark on the state’s history.

The First Woman to Vote

Louisa Gardner Swain, also known as Louisa Ann Gardner, was the first woman in history to vote in a general election where women had rights equal to men. The historical election took place in 1870 when Louisa was already a grandmother and 69 years old. She would cast her ballot in Laramie, Wyoming, and forever etch her name in history.

Many years later, in 2001, the Louisa Swain Foundation created exhibits at the Wyoming House for Historic Women that celebrate other important women in Wyoming’s unique history. The House is appropriately located in Laramie, with The New York Times listing it as one of the top 52 places to visit in 2019.

We’ll mention some women featured there below.

The First Women in Wyoming Legislature and Judiciary  

A few months after the State of Wyoming recognized women’s rights to vote and hold office, women started assuming judicial and legislative positions — for the first time in history.

• Martha Symons Boies became a bailiff for the grand jury.
• Eliza Stewart was the first woman in the world asked to sit on a jury.
• Esther Morris became the first female Justice of the Peace (a judge for minor cases).
• Estelle Reel was elected as Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction. This makes her the first woman in Wyoming to be elected to a statewide office.
• Mary Godat Bellamy was the first woman legislator, as she was elected to the House of Representatives.

Finally, Nellie Tayloe Ross became Governor of the State of Wyoming and, thus, the first female governor in the world. She also became the director of the Bureau of the Mint, which was responsible for making new bills and coins. It was an important job, and Nellie was the first woman to hold it.

Equality Hall

At the Wyoming Supreme Court, there is an Equity Hall commemorating women’s rights and bravery.

Other State Nicknames

In addition to being known as The Equality State, Wyoming has several other nicknames.

• Open spaces of the state are frequently blanketed with wild sages, which is why many refer to Wyoming as The Sagebrush State. This nickname, however, is not unique to Wyoming — Nevada is also often referred to as The Sagebrush or The Sage State.
• Wyoming has officially adopted a cowboy on a bucking horse as a state symbol, so many refer to it as The Cowboy State.
• Wyoming is also sometimes called Big Wyoming. This is due to its massive size (10th largest state in total area) and disparity in population and square miles.

Official State Animals of Wyoming

Wyoming has a vast and varied landscape and a wide variety of wildlife — so it’s not especially surprising that it has six official state animals, each belonging to a different species.

• State Bird: Western meadowlark (proclaimed in 1927)
• State Fish: Cutthroat trout (proclaimed in 1987)
• State Mammal: American bison (proclaimed in 1985)
• State Butterfly: Sheridan’s green hairstreak (proclaimed in 2009)
• State Reptile: Greater short-horned lizard (proclaimed in 2019)

“The First True Republic the World Has Ever Seen!”

While there are many interesting facts about Wyoming, its impact on women’s rights may be the one we should focus on the most.

Women gaining the right to vote in Wyoming marked a major milestone in women’s suffrage. Its importance may be best demonstrated by the fact that the call to the national suffrage convention in 1891 included the following tribute: “Wyoming, all hail; the first true republic the world has ever seen!”