OT: Living In Wyoming

[stymeman]

makes me proud thru and thru

 

[Wyovanian]

False.
Cheyenne had first pick, then Laramie, then Cheyenne, then Evanston.
Went east to west.
According to my Wyoming History teacher.

Plus with your argument about Rawlins having first pick, tons of people have the same story in Evanston.
They think that Evanston got first pick, and they chose the state mental hospital over the capital and the University.

Well, your history teacher doesn't know his/her ass from a hole in the ground (as most teachers)

Tell he/she that he/she shouldn't confuse territory (signed in 1868) & statehood (granted in 1890).

Well, according to the way T.A. Larson used to tell it, and there always seemed to me a bit of tongue-in-cheek when he did- Cheyenne was always expected to be the capitol. This was mostly due to the extant railroad facilities and its relative proximity to the east and Denver (which was actually smaller than Cheyenne for a while).
It was decided that the other three state-run civic enterprises would be divvied up along the UP route, since that was the most accessible corridor in the state. Supposedly, both Rawlins and Evanston won a draw for first and second picks over Laramie. According to T.A., the folks in Cheyenne and Laramie were pretty in sync with where they'd prefer the university, with Cheyenne wanting some distance between itself and the sorts of folks that a penitentiary and mental hospital, would, um, "attract". Allegedly, these fine folks from Laramie and Cheyenne undertook a little campaign to convince the Founding Fathers of the two cities to the west that they'd see more immediate economic benefit from the immediacy of the needs of a prison and mental hospital. Now, this always made some sense to me- I could see the possibility of such a thing. Now, whether or not it's the truth, well, Wyoming's oral history has always been a fine example of one being built with one eye to mythology and a good smattering of apocrypha to have a bit of fun with the more credulous easterners as they migrated or visited. At this point, I don't think we'll ever know the "truth", but the story's pretty believable and, well, things are what they are...

 

[joshvanklomp]

This has been some fascinating stuff.

 

[Cowboy Junky]

I've heard the same thing about Rawlins. They had the first choice and chose prison which were big business back then and a new university wouldn't have near the amount of jobs that a prison would.

 

[Pokes Forever]

Great pictorial but I thought the Miner and Stockman bar in Hartville was the states oldest bar?

 

[spindoctor02]

Actually, one of the more interesting tidbits about the distribution of state institutions, is that Cheyenne is only the "temporary capital" of Wyoming, as the last time it came up for vote (1904), it didn't receive the 50%+1 vote total to become the permanent capital. To become the official capital, a vote will have to take place within the state and the winning city will have to reach the 50%+1 vote total.

Vote totals from 1904:
Casper = 3610 (14.6%)
Cheyenne = 11781 (47.8%)
Lander = 8667 (35.2%)
Rock Springs = 429 (1.7%)
Misc. = 141 (0.6%)

http://www.uwyo.edu/robertshistory/contest_for_the_capital.htm

 

[Aaron]

Wheatland is the birthplace of me. Hence the greatest place ever. Plus Steamboat. So there's that

 

[The Virginian]

False.
Cheyenne had first pick, then Laramie, then Cheyenne, then Evanston.
Went east to west.
According to my Wyoming History teacher.

Plus with your argument about Rawlins having first pick, tons of people have the same story in Evanston.
They think that Evanston got first pick, and they chose the state mental hospital over the capital and the University.

Well, your history teacher doesn't know his/her ass from a hole in the ground (as most teachers)

Tell he/she that he/she shouldn't confuse territory (signed in 1868) & statehood (granted in 1890).

Well, according to the way T.A. Larson used to tell it, and there always seemed to me a bit of tongue-in-cheek when he did- Cheyenne was always expected to be the capitol. This was mostly due to the extant railroad facilities and its relative proximity to the east and Denver (which was actually smaller than Cheyenne for a while).
It was decided that the other three state-run civic enterprises would be divvied up along the UP route, since that was the most accessible corridor in the state. Supposedly, both Rawlins and Evanston won a draw for first and second picks over Laramie. According to T.A., the folks in Cheyenne and Laramie were pretty in sync with where they'd prefer the university, with Cheyenne wanting some distance between itself and the sorts of folks that a penitentiary and mental hospital, would, um, "attract". Allegedly, these fine folks from Laramie and Cheyenne undertook a little campaign to convince the Founding Fathers of the two cities to the west that they'd see more immediate economic benefit from the immediacy of the needs of a prison and mental hospital. Now, this always made some sense to me- I could see the possibility of such a thing. Now, whether or not it's the truth, well, Wyoming's oral history has always been a fine example of one being built with one eye to mythology and a good smattering of apocrypha to have a bit of fun with the more credulous easterners as they migrated or visited. At this point, I don't think we'll ever know the "truth", but the story's pretty believable and, well, things are what they are...

Having took Professor's Larson's class back in the day this is how I recall the assignment of the various state institutions. Also, at the beginning of Wyoming Territory there were only five counties: Laramie, Albany, Carbon, Carter, and Unita --all running north to south the width of the Wyoming Territory. Carter County was renamed Sweetwater County in 1869. By the time statehood came in 1890 Wyoming had 13 counties all broken out from the original five.

Wikipedia Link: Click Here

 

[jarhead]

False.
Cheyenne had first pick, then Laramie, then Cheyenne, then Evanston.
Went east to west.
According to my Wyoming History teacher.

Plus with your argument about Rawlins having first pick, tons of people have the same story in Evanston.
They think that Evanston got first pick, and they chose the state mental hospital over the capital and the University.

Well, your history teacher doesn't know his/her ass from a hole in the ground (as most teachers)

Tell he/she that he/she shouldn't confuse territory (signed in 1868) & statehood (granted in 1890).

Hey Peach, easy on the teacher thing a few of us here might take offense to that statement. :lol: I have taught Wyoming History but it was a few years back. One thing people tend to overlook is that the state was populated as the railroad was built. By virtue of the end of the track towns or "Hell on Wheels" towns. Population grew as the rail construction progressed east to west. Now I an not sure how a teacher of Wyoming History could get territory status and statehood status mixed up but I suppose it happens. More likely the, "Student" doesn't remember it quite like it was taught. Which is usually the case. Hell, some of my kids can't remember from a review to a test the next day. HA HA .

 

[McPeachy]

Hey Peach, easy on the teacher thing a few of us here might take offense to that statement. :lol: I have taught Wyoming History but it was a few years back. One thing people tend to overlook is that the state was populated as the railroad was built. By virtue of the end of the track towns or "Hell on Wheels" towns. Population grew as the rail construction progressed east to west. Now I an not sure how a teacher of Wyoming History could get territory status and statehood status mixed up but I suppose it happens. More likely the, "Student" doesn't remember it quite like it was taught. Which is usually the case. Hell, some of my kids can't remember from a review to a test the next day. HA HA .

Apologize. I guess...in a weird sort of way...we are all teachers. Way too many out there giving the rest a bad rap these days.

 

[WyoBrandX]

I've always been of the opinion that SE Wyoming owes its existance to the Gangplank between Buford and Cheyenne.

http://csmsgeologypost.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-gangplank-transcontinental-railroad.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If Grenville Dodge hadn't found that formation, I believe the railroad would have followed the Oregon Trail route. I80 may have followed, or the interstate may have detoured through Denver instead.

I would bet the capitol would have been in Alantic City or Casper. The University probably would have been in one of the older towns in the center of the state. Rawlins probably wouldn't exist.

Just my $0.00000002

 

[WestWYOPoke]

Interesting read. Nice time killer.

 

[WyoBrandX]

Here is a real time killer. Scroll to the bottom. They will tell you just about everything you wanted to know about a highway in WYO.
http://www.aaroads.com/west/wyoming.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I found that site as I always seem to get into a conversation with people about 'when did the interstate go through x city?'

 

[Wyovanian]

Hey Peach, easy on the teacher thing a few of us here might take offense to that statement. :lol: I have taught Wyoming History but it was a few years back. One thing people tend to overlook is that the state was populated as the railroad was built. By virtue of the end of the track towns or "Hell on Wheels" towns. Population grew as the rail construction progressed east to west. Now I an not sure how a teacher of Wyoming History could get territory status and statehood status mixed up but I suppose it happens. More likely the, "Student" doesn't remember it quite like it was taught. Which is usually the case. Hell, some of my kids can't remember from a review to a test the next day. HA HA .

Apologize. I guess...in a weird sort of way...we are all teachers. Way too many out there giving the rest a bad rap these days.

Amen to that, Compadre.

 

[Wyovanian]

I've always been of the opinion that SE Wyoming owes its existance to the Gangplank between Buford and Cheyenne.

http://csmsgeologypost.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-gangplank-transcontinental-railroad.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If Grenville Dodge hadn't found that formation, I believe the railroad would have followed the Oregon Trail route. I80 may have followed, or the interstate may have detoured through Denver instead.

I would bet the capitol would have been in Alantic City or Casper. The University probably would have been in one of the older towns in the center of the state. Rawlins probably wouldn't exist.

Just my $0.00000002

Hard to argue otherwise. Plenty of other watering spots to the north where the railroad could've paused. That being said, I've always suspected there was more to the story of the Dale Creek Bridge than we've been left with.

 

[Wyokie]

I've always been of the opinion that SE Wyoming owes its existance to the Gangplank between Buford and Cheyenne.

http://csmsgeologypost.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-gangplank-transcontinental-railroad.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If Grenville Dodge hadn't found that formation, I believe the railroad would have followed the Oregon Trail route. I80 may have followed, or the interstate may have detoured through Denver instead.

I would bet the capitol would have been in Alantic City or Casper. The University probably would have been in one of the older towns in the center of the state. Rawlins probably wouldn't exist.

Just my $0.00000002

Hard to argue otherwise. Plenty of other watering spots to the north where the railroad could've paused. That being said, I've always suspected there was more to the story of the Dale Creek Bridge than we've been left with.

I never heard of that bridge. I'm interested in hearing/reading about it.

 

[BeaverPoke]

So, like Wyonavian said, we will probably never really know the REAL truth. Unless someone can do some research at a library or courthouse and find documents of what actually happened.

I know people in Evanston still think that Evanston could have had UW, but chose the state hospital.

McPeachy has a different tale. People from all over probably have different tales.

 

[Hayduke]

So, like Wyonavian said, we will probably never really know the REAL truth. Unless someone can do some research at a library or courthouse and find documents of what actually happened.

I know people in Evanston still think that Evanston could have had UW, but chose the state hospital.

McPeachy has a different tale. People from all over probably have different tales.

Ultimately, all were political decisions. Politics were as hazy then as they are now...

 

[Wyovanian]

I've always been of the opinion that SE Wyoming owes its existance to the Gangplank between Buford and Cheyenne.

http://csmsgeologypost.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-gangplank-transcontinental-railroad.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If Grenville Dodge hadn't found that formation, I believe the railroad would have followed the Oregon Trail route. I80 may have followed, or the interstate may have detoured through Denver instead.

I would bet the capitol would have been in Alantic City or Casper. The University probably would have been in one of the older towns in the center of the state. Rawlins probably wouldn't exist.

Just my $0.00000002

Hard to argue otherwise. Plenty of other watering spots to the north where the railroad could've paused. That being said, I've always suspected there was more to the story of the Dale Creek Bridge than we've been left with.

I never heard of that bridge. I'm interested in hearing/reading about it.

Huge bridge built to span Dale Creek Canyon above Laramie. Wildly expensive and not unforeseeable. There were definitely routes to the north that could have avoided its necessity. The big problem to the north was hostile Amer-Indians. The Laramies are the south-western-most of the Black Hills and were considered sacred by the several of the Sioux tribes. The Casements had several episodes of native violence and sabotage along the historic route- I can't imagine how bad it would have been to the north of Telephone Canyon.

 

[McPeachy]

I've always been of the opinion that SE Wyoming owes its existance to the Gangplank between Buford and Cheyenne.

http://csmsgeologypost.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-gangplank-transcontinental-railroad.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If Grenville Dodge hadn't found that formation, I believe the railroad would have followed the Oregon Trail route. I80 may have followed, or the interstate may have detoured through Denver instead.

I would bet the capitol would have been in Alantic City or Casper. The University probably would have been in one of the older towns in the center of the state. Rawlins probably wouldn't exist.

Just my $0.00000002

Hard to argue otherwise. Plenty of other watering spots to the north where the railroad could've paused. That being said, I've always suspected there was more to the story of the Dale Creek Bridge than we've been left with.

I never heard of that bridge. I'm interested in hearing/reading about it.

Huge bridge built to span Dale Creek Canyon above Laramie. Wildly expensive and not unforeseeable. There were definitely routes to the north that could have avoided its necessity. The big problem to the north was hostile Amer-Indians. The Laramies are the south-western-most of the Black Hills and were considered sacred by the several of the Sioux tribes. The Casements had several episodes of native violence and sabotage along the historic route- I can't imagine how bad it would have been to the north of Telephone Canyon.

Google is a wonderful "thing".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dale_Creek_Crossing