Wyoming Territory facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Territory of Wyoming
Organized incorporated territory of the United States
1868–1890
Coat of arms
The Wyoming Territory in 1872
Capital	Cheyenne
Government
• Type	Organized incorporated territory
• Motto	Cedant arma togae ("Let arms yield to the gown")
History
• Organic act	25 July 1868
• Statehood	10 July 1890
Preceded by Succeeded by Dakota Territory Idaho Territory Utah Territory Wyoming

The Territory of Wyoming was a special area in the United States that was not yet a state. It existed from July 25, 1868, until July 10, 1890. On that date, it became the State of Wyoming and joined the other states in the Union.

Cheyenne was the capital city of the Wyoming Territory. The borders of the Wyoming Territory were exactly the same as the borders of the state of Wyoming today.

How Wyoming Territory Was Formed

The land that became Wyoming has a very interesting past. It was once part of several different land deals and territories. This is because Wyoming is located where three big land purchases met. These were the Louisiana Purchase, the Oregon Country, and the Mexican Cession.

Before it became the Wyoming Territory, this land belonged to many different countries. These included Great Britain, France, Spain, Mexico, and even the independent state of Texas. Over time, parts of Wyoming were also managed by other U.S. territories. These included Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Dakota, Nebraska, and Utah.

The eastern part of what became Wyoming was bought by the U.S. in 1803. This was part of the huge Louisiana Purchase. Later, in 1854, this area became part of the Nebraska Territory. In 1861, some of this land joined the Dakota Territory.

The western part of Wyoming was originally part of the Oregon Country. This land became part of the Oregon Territory in 1848. When Oregon became a state, this area then joined the Washington Territory. In 1863, much of this land became part of the Idaho Territory.

The very southwest corner of Wyoming was gained by the U.S. after the Mexican-American War in 1848. This was called the Mexican Cession. This small area was part of the Utah Territory for a while. By 1863, most of it also became part of the Idaho Territory.

So, before 1868, the land that would be Wyoming was like a puzzle. Pieces of it belonged to different territories at different times. Finally, in 1868, all these pieces came together to form the Wyoming Territory.

Key Moments in Wyoming Territory History

Native American tribes had lived in the Wyoming region for many centuries before settlers arrived. Their history is a very important part of the area's past.

On July 25, 1868, President Andrew Johnson signed a special law. This law was called the Wyoming Organic Act. It officially created the Wyoming Territory. The new territory was made from parts of the Dakota, Idaho, and Utah territories.

The government for the new territory officially started on April 17, 1869. That same year, the Wyoming Territory did something very important. It gave women the right to vote in all elections. This was a big step for women's rights in the United States. Leaders hoped this would encourage more people to move to the territory.

Later, some people in the government tried to take away women's voting rights. But the governor stopped them by using his veto power. The attempt to remove the law failed by just one vote. This showed how important women's suffrage was in Wyoming.

By 1872, the Wyoming Territory was divided into five counties. These were Albany, Carbon, Laramie, Sweetwater, and Uinta. Each county was a long, narrow shape. They each covered about one-fifth of the territory.

The Wyoming Territory existed for 22 years. On July 10, 1890, it officially became the 44th state in the United States. President Benjamin Harrison signed the papers making Wyoming a state. This happened just seven days after the Idaho Territory also became a state.

Images for kids

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  The coat of arms for the Wyoming Territory in 1876.

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  A map showing the Wyoming Territory in 1872.

See also

In Spanish: Territorio de Wyoming para niños