Absaroka (proposed state) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Absaroka
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proposed U.S. state
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| State of Absaroka | ||
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| Nickname(s):
None
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Location of Absaroka within the United States
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| Country | United States | |
| Admitted to the Union | (Not admitted) | |
| Capital | Sheridan (proposed 1939) | |
| Largest city | Rapid City | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 62,800 sq mi (162,700 km2) | |
| Area rank | 22nd (hypothetical) | |
| Dimensions | ||
| • Length | 460 mi (740 km) | |
| • Width | 210 mi (340 km) | |
| Elevation | unknown ft (unknown m) | |
| Highest elevation | 13,775 ft (4,199 m) | |
| Lowest elevation | unknown ft (unknown m) | |
| Population | ||
| • Total | 367,019 | |
| • Rank | 51st of 51 (hypothetical) | |
| • Density | 5.84/sq mi (5.84/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 50th of 51 (hypothetical) | |
| Language | ||
| Time zone | UTC-07:00 (Mountain) | |
| Latitude | 43° N to 45° 56′ N | |
| Longitude | 102° W to 111°3′ W | |
Absaroka was a proposed new state in the United States. It would have included parts of Montana, South Dakota, and Wyoming. People wanted to create Absaroka in 1939. They hoped it would become its own state. The name "Absaroka" comes from the Crow language. It means "children of the large-beaked bird." This name is also used for the Absaroka mountain range.
Contents
History of Absaroka
Why Absaroka Was Proposed
The idea for Absaroka came from ranchers and independent farmers. They lived in remote areas of the three states. These groups were unhappy with the government's "New Deal" programs. They also disliked the Democratic Party's control in their state governments. Wyoming's government was a big concern for them.
Who Led the Movement?
A man named A.R. Swickard was a key leader of this movement. He was the street commissioner in Sheridan, Wyoming. Swickard declared himself the "governor" of Absaroka. He set up his "capital" in Sheridan. There, he listened to people's complaints about the government.
Tourism and Mount Rushmore
Increasing tourism was another reason for the proposed state. Mount Rushmore was being built from 1927 to 1941. According to some plans, this famous monument would have been inside Absaroka. This would have brought many visitors to the new state.
Public Excitement
There was a lot of public excitement about the idea of a new state. Special car license plates were made with the name "Absaroka" on them. Pictures of "Miss Absaroka 1939" were also shared. This showed how much some people wanted Absaroka to become a reality.
The End of the Movement
The Absaroka movement was not successful. It was also fairly short-lived. Most of what we know about it comes from the Federal Writers' Project. This project collected stories about American life. They included the Absaroka plan as an example of unique ideas from the American West.
See Also
- List of U.S. states
- Proposed states and territories of the United States
