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More about Wyoming
Since its early settlement in the mid-19th century, Wyoming has had an economy based on its natural resources. Cattle ranching and coal mining became major economic activities in the late 19th century. Farming grew in importance in the early 20th century, and the fossil fuel industry was diversified as new deposits of petroleum and natural gas were discovered. Today, mining is the most important sector of the state economy, followed by transportation and utilities. Of growing importance to many communities, and the state as a whole, is the tourism industry. Visitors are attracted during the summer and fall by the state’s extensive national parks and forests, while in the winter many come to the state’s world-renowned ski resorts. The manufacturing sector, however, remains relatively undeveloped.
In 2000, 267,000 people held jobs in Wyoming. Some 37 percent held jobs in the service industries, which include many people catering to tourists. Another 24 percent worked in wholesale or retail trade; 8 percent in federal, state, or local government, including those in the military; 9 percent in construction; 4 percent in finance, insurance, or real estate; 7 percent in mining; 5 percent in farming (including agricultural services) or forestry; 6 percent in transportation or public utilities; and 5 percent in manufacturing. In 2000, 8 percent of Wyoming’s workers were members of a union.
The federal government owns one-half of the land in Wyoming. About 80 percent of Wyoming’s mineral resources are located on this federal land, which is open to private producers who pay a royalty on the riches they extract. The Wyoming state government receives about one-half of the federal royalties. Ranchers are also allowed to lease, and with special permission even fence, federal land to graze their herds.
Two of the most famous and spectacular parks in the United States are located in Wyoming.
Yellowstone National Park, the largest and oldest in the nation, has most of its acreage in the state.
Grand Teton National Park is located directly south of Yellowstone. The federal government also manages nearly 3.8 million hectares (9.3 million acres) of forestland in Wyoming.
Four national forests, the Shoshone, Medicine Bow, Bridger-Teton, and Big Horn, lie wholly within the state. Five others,
Targhee, Wasatch, Black Hills, Ashley, and Caribou, have additional acreage in other states. All nine forests permit hunting, fishing, picnicking, camping, and boating. In addition,
Wyoming has a number of national recreation areas, wilderness areas, and wildlife preserves, the most famous of which is the
National Elk Refuge in Jackson Hole. The magnificent Bighorn Canyon, near Lovell on the west slope of the
Bighorn Mountains, is missed by many visitors, but is easily viewed from paved highways in the
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area.
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