Wyoming is a progressive state

On January 27, 1920, Wyoming stepped into the spotlight as a progressive state when they ratified the 19th Amendment, allowing women the right to vote.

One hundred years of women’s voices counting for something in the West.

There are a few theories on why the men of the West allowed such a thing in a time when women were more seen than heard, including they didn’t see women as a threat to their way of life at the time since there were so few of them.

Another theory suggests the men were all for it because allowing women to vote might actually draw more women out West.

With gold mines in South Pass City dwindling, Wyoming lawmakers saw more people leaving the state than coming in so allowing women to vote might be good publicity.

Politically, the party that allowed women to vote, the Democratic Party, was sure women would continue to vote Democrat, after all, they had given them the right to vote in the first place.

Whatever the reason, women in Wyoming have proven to be upstanding and tougher than most, suffering through harsh winters alongside their men and remaining at their side during everything from calving to the ups and downs of the oil fields.

Wyoming women have held political offices and served their country in the military, all with a “can do” attitude passed down to them from the first women to cross this territory.

Here’s to Wyoming’s women!