Nicknames such as "The Cowboy State" and "Big Wyoming" make it clear that Wyoming has retained its frontier character even in the 20th century. This exciting moving destination is a land of big mountains, wide-open plains and endless herds of cattle. Wyoming became part of the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, and the first European known to have entered the region was John Colter, a fur-trapper who explored the area in 1807. Robert Stuart followed in 1812, blazing the Oregon Trail, and cowboys and other settlers soon followed. But settlement was never complete; the many national and state parks have kept Wyoming wild and rugged.

Origin of state's name: The name Wyoming derives from the word mecheweamiing, which means "at the big plains" in the language of the Delaware Indians. They first used it to refer to an area in northeastern Pennsylvania, and the name was adopted when Congress created a new territory at the juncture of Utah, the Dakotas and Idaho.

Capital city: The capital of Wyoming is Cheyenne, which was named for a local group of Alogonquian Indians called the "Shey' an' nah." The city was founded in 1867 when the Union Pacific Railroad came through the area. It was settled so quickly that it was soon called "The Magic City of the Plains" for its spectacular growth. Its first city charter was established in August of 1867, and a permanent charter was granted by the state legislature in the following December.

Population: According to the Census of 2000, Wyoming's population is just over 490,000 residents.

Driving: Driver's license information, applications, testing requirements, driver's manuals and testing locations can all be found on the Wyoming Department of Transportation (DOT) website.

Agriculture and Industry: The most important part of Wyoming's economy is its agriculture, particularly its livestock and feed grains. Mining and petroleum extraction are also important industries. Travel and tourism are also key contributors; fishermen and hunters enjoy the rugged landscape and wild game, and Wyoming is home to several famous landmarks, including Devils Tower Monument, Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Teton National Park.

State Bird: The Wyoming state bird is the meadowlark, a yellow-breasted bird with a black chevron at the base of its throat.

State Tree: The cottonwood is the state tree. It is a fast-growing tree with cotton-like hairs surrounding its seeds.

State Flower: The Wyoming state flower is the Indian Paintbrush, a native plant with vermillion-colored petals.

State Sport: The rodeo is the designated state sport of Wyoming. In a rodeo, riders display skills that are related to the raising of livestock, such as roping animals, riding horses and riding bulls.