# So, what's the deal with Wyoming? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 13, 2012, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-wyoming/615693 "2012-03-13T22:02:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2012, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-wyoming/615693/41 "2012-03-14T18:24:33Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > Would you rather they name it after an unfriendly ghost? šŸ™‚ North Carolina has a town named [Clyde](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pac-Man#Enemies). Does that count? šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2012, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-wyoming/615693/42 "2012-03-14T18:24:46Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > [nitpick] Pikes Peak [/nitpick] > > This is one of the few times that the possessive form does not take an apostrophe. To nitpick further, I was referring to the Gold Rush, at the time of which the peak was (correctly) known as Pikeā€™s Peak. I am aware that the grammatically incorrect form has been adopted by some official sources. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-wyoming/615693/43 "2012-03-14T18:31:15Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > To nitpick further, I was referring to the Gold Rush, at the time of which the peak was (correctly) known as Pikeā€™s Peak. I am aware that the grammatically incorrect form has been adopted by some official sources. WooHoo!!! Very cool. ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2012, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-wyoming/615693/44 "2012-03-14T18:34:56Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > To nitpick further, I was referring to the Gold Rush, at the time of which the peak was (correctly) known as Pikeā€™s Peak. I am aware that the grammatically incorrect form has been adopted by some official sources. DOWN GOES **Flyer**! šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2012, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-wyoming/615693/45 "2012-03-14T18:36:22Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > WooHoo!!! Very cool. I understand there are proposals on the table to rename The Bronx as Da Bronx and New Orleans as Nawlins. ---
**Author:** ![BlinkingDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2012, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-wyoming/615693/46 "2012-03-14T18:36:55Z")
I lived in WY for 5 years!!! Pity me! Pity me! ā€¦ and I lived in the SCENIC part! Itā€™s DRY Itā€™s BARREN. Itā€™s COLD. Itā€™s WINDY. Itā€™s full of unfriendly people that think they are friendly. Trust meā€¦this is much worse than unfriendly people that donā€™t give a shit. There is a reason WY is sparsely populated. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2012, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-wyoming/615693/47 "2012-03-14T18:37:15Z")
> [@Spiff](#): > > DOWN GOES **Flyer**! > > šŸ˜ƒ Live by the nitpick, die by the nitpick. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![CorneaGenii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@CorneaGenii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CorneaGenii)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2012, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-wyoming/615693/48 "2012-03-14T18:53:33Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > It doesnā€™t seem like it should be so sparsely populated. Itā€™s just north of Colorado and Utah, and lots people seem to live there. And Iā€™ve met plenty of other people (online & at college) who are from Idaho, but Iā€™ve never known _anyone_ who came from Wyoming. Ever. Why not, Wyoming? I learned the [truth](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56uSDQECrRQ) about Wyoming as a child. Iā€™ve not seen nor heard anything since to make me think otherwise. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2012, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-wyoming/615693/49 "2012-03-14T19:03:21Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > Cā€™mon. Say the whole joke: itā€™s the [Butte Hole](http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=1072&bih=648&wrapid=tlif133174832598910&q=butte,+mt&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x535a3f36d0ef3cd1:0xb5cd681d4d4f9799,Butte,+Mt&gl=us&ei=6d1gT-f7OOP_sQKcvMiWCA&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=2&ved=0CE0Q8gEwAQ). No, thatā€™s in Montana. The one in Wyoming is called Jackson Hole. ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2012, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-wyoming/615693/50 "2012-03-14T19:05:10Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > Cā€™mon. Say the whole joke: itā€™s the [Butte Hole](http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=1072&bih=648&wrapid=tlif133174832598910&q=butte,+mt&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x535a3f36d0ef3cd1:0xb5cd681d4d4f9799,Butte,+Mt&gl=us&ei=6d1gT-f7OOP_sQKcvMiWCA&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=2&ved=0CE0Q8gEwAQ). Jackson Hole is in Wyoming, your Butte hole is in Montana šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![Dufus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c77e96/32.png) [@Dufus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dufus)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2012, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-wyoming/615693/51 "2012-03-14T19:12:07Z")
> [@BlinkingDuck](#): > > Itā€™s DRY > > Itā€™s BARREN. > > Itā€™s COLD. > > Itā€™s WINDY. > > Itā€™s full of unfriendly people that think they are friendly. Trust meā€¦this is much worse than unfriendly people that donā€™t give a shit. I wonder what the Arapaho, Shoshone and Cheyenne thought about the place? ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2012, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-wyoming/615693/52 "2012-03-14T20:30:20Z")
> [@Mr.Duality](#): > > The aircraft carrier thing was actually a sarcastic poison-pill amendment attached to a kinda sensible bill which would have appropriated $16,000 to study preparations for the collapse of the national government. Preparing for the collapse of the national government is also whacko. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2012, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-wyoming/615693/53 "2012-03-14T21:50:59Z")
> [@Mr.Duality](#): > > The aircraft carrier thing was actually a sarcastic poison-pill amendment attached to a kinda sensible bill which would have appropriated $16,000 to study preparations for the collapse of the national government. You say that with a straight face. Thatā€™s the best deadpan Iā€™ve ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2012, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-wyoming/615693/54 "2012-03-14T21:54:12Z")
> [@FatBaldGuy](#): > > No, thatā€™s in Montana. The one in Wyoming is called Jackson Hole. Sometimes thereā€™s just not enough room for the requisite number of :smack: > [@Dufus](#): > > I wonder what the Arapaho, Shoshone and Cheyenne thought about the place? ā€œAt least thereā€™s no friggin Apaches around here.ā€ ---
**Author:** ![Iggins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Iggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggins)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2012, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-wyoming/615693/55 "2012-03-14T22:55:12Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Are you sure you donā€™t mean ā€œClose Encounters of the Third Kindā€? The Devils Tower Monument area in the east is very scenic, IMO. Rolling hills and farms, with enough trees to make it interesting. Out west you have part of Yellowstone Park and Grand Teton National Park and beautiful vistas of the Rockies. Most of the state is pretty boring, however, unless youā€™re a rancher, but the same applies to parts of Montana and a whole lot (okay, all) of North Dakota. Winters are harsh and summers can be sweltering. Iā€™ve seen most all of Montana and Wyoming, and enjoyed it, but I wouldnā€™t live there on a bet. I was referring to watching Star Wars for the first time in WY, but yeah, Devils Tower is a great place. I remember hiking up it at least twice. We were also close enough to go to [Bedrock](http://www.flintstonesbedrockcity.com/) a few times. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2012, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-wyoming/615693/56 "2012-03-14T23:01:18Z")
> [@Iggins](#): > > I was referring to watching Star Wars for the first time in WY, but yeah, Devils Tower is a great place. I remember hiking up it at least twice. > > We were also close enough to go to [Bedrock](http://www.flintstonesbedrockcity.com/) a few times. Around it on the path, Iā€™m assuming you mean. Hiking up to the top would be a superhuman feat ;). I couldnā€™t believe all the rock climbers on that thing: itā€™s truly massive and quite vertical. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2012, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-wyoming/615693/57 "2012-03-14T23:10:33Z")
Plus, it sounds like a verb. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2012, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-wyoming/615693/58 "2012-03-14T23:14:39Z")
Another theory is that it is last on an alphabetical list of states, so people trying different states out will arrive there last. Nowā€™s the time to buy real estate there. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2012, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-wyoming/615693/59 "2012-03-15T01:15:37Z")
> [@Iggins](#): > > We lived in Gillette, WY when I was around 4 years old. My sister was born thereā€¦ Everything above is absolutely true - itā€™s cold, flat, WINDY, and sparce. Ehh, Chicago is cold, flat and WINDY. That canā€™t be it. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2012, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-wyoming/615693/60 "2012-03-15T01:50:41Z")
I live in Northwest Montana, and while we make fun of the ranchers in Eastern Montana, we really poke fun at the nuts that live in Wyoming and North Dakota. With the recent oil boom in ND drawing hundreds of Montanans for work, that leaves Wyoming as the state to poke fun at. Itā€™s flat, dry, cold and windy. Except for the very western part, Wyoming is mostly uninhabited prairie with a some great spots to visit, like Devilā€™s Tower, and some really neat old mining townsā€¦ but we sure would want to live there. Why would anyone move to Wyoming except to mine for metals or ranch, and they are both tough ways to make a livingā€¦ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-wyoming/615693.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-deal-with-wyoming/615693.md?page=4)