History of Wyoming

Wyoming was the first American state to grant voting rights to women. The history of the state dates back roughly to 13,000 years.

The region of Wyoming was inhabited by Native Americans such as Crow, Arapaho, and Shoshone. The southern region was a territory of the Spanish before it became a part of Mexico, territory of Alta California. The first white American to enter this region was probably John Colter, a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, in 1807.

The immigration of settlers in the region led to many Indian Wars. In 1851, the first Treaty of Fort Laramie was signed between the Native Americans and United States. This treaty ensured the safety of settlers and peace in the region. The subsequent encroachment of American land culminated in a battle against the Arapaho Indians in the Battle of the Tongue River. A year later in 1866, the Red Cloud's War was fought. It was the first major war between the Indian tribes and United States. The second Treaty of Fort Laramie was signed in 1868. This treaty ended the war by closing the Powder River Country to the whites. The violation of this treaty by miners led to the war of Black Hills in 1876.

The region of Wyoming was ceded to the United States of America in 1848. The federal government established the Wyoming Territory on July 25, 1868. Yellowstone National Park was created and it became the world's first national park in 1872. Gov. John Allen Campbell signed a suffrage act into law on December 10, 1869. The law extended the right to vote to women. It was the first US state to grant suffrage to women. The state became the 44th state of the United States on July 10, 1890.