Nicknames are common for people and sports teams, but why would a U.S. state have a nickname? The 50 States in the U.S. all have special and different qualities that they like to highlight, some of which are used to attract people looking to move to the state, while others act as a draw for those looking to vacation in the state. Other nicknames given to a U.S. state are simply part of the long-standing history of the state.
Many states developed an initial nickname after they entered the union 125+ years ago, but not all state nicknames have stuck with each state over the years, and many have developed additional nicknames or primary nicknames that they identify with the most or that set them apart from other states. States take their nicknames from various sources so let’s take a look at the Wyoming nickname.
What is the Wyoming Nickname? It is “The Equality State”.
The Equality State is located in the Mid-West of the United States, North of Colorado and South of Montana. Wyoming boasts the 10th largest area by landmass out of all 50 states, having an area of 97,814 miles².
Wyoming borders a total of 6 other states – Colorado from the South, Montana from the North, Idaho from the West, Utah from the South-West, and finally Nebraska and South Dakota from the East. If you are interested in seeing the US state nicknames for all 50 states, including the date each state was entered into the Union, then head over to our page that lists them in alphabetical order.
The Wyoming nickname, “The Equality State” originates from 1869, when women were given the right to vote for the first time, Wyoming was the first state to allow this, becoming the catalyst for a monumental shift in history. This then prompted the state legislature to adopt the Wyoming nickname, “The Suffrage State” which was then later changed to “The Equality State”.
Wyoming State Nickname
Much like many other states, Wyoming has adopted multiple nicknames over the years, not just one. Although the Wyoming state nickname, “The Equality State” is the official nickname, there are many other nicknames that are associated with Wyoming, let’s digress.
- The Suffrage State – this was the first version of the official Wyoming state nickname, it was adopted in 1869 when Wyoming granted women the right to vote.
- The Sagebrush State – this nickname originates from the abundance of wild sage growing within the state.
- The Cowboy State – Wyoming is often referred to as the Cowboy State due to the cowboy on a bucking horse in the state symbol.
- Big Wyoming – this Wyoming state nickname refers to the size of the state – Wyoming has the 10th largest area out of all 50 states.
Now that you know the Wyoming state nickname and non-official nicknames, it makes sense to take a look at Wyoming’s motto. All states have a unique state motto/slogan, usually derived from an event linked with the state’s historical past, mottos tend to be given to the state as a representation of the people past and present.
Wyoming’s motto, “Equal Rights” shares the exact same origins as the nickname for Wyoming and also features on the famous state seal of Wyoming. With the state being the first to allow women to vote, which subsequently made history and changed the world’s outlook on women, equal rights, and anti-sexism.
If you are interested in learning about the abbreviation for Wyoming, take a look at our page dedicated to this. Unlike some other states, the Wyoming abbreviation is easier to remember. However, knowing these state abbreviations is highly recommended for many different reasons.
