Why is wyoming called the equality state

Content on WhatAnswers is provided "as is" for informational purposes. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees. Content is AI-assisted and should not be used as professional advice.

Last updated: April 8, 2026

Quick Answer: Wyoming earned the nickname 'The Equality State' by becoming the first U.S. territory or state to grant women the right to vote in 1869. This landmark legislation, known as the Wyoming Suffrage Act, was passed by the territorial legislature on December 10, 1869. Wyoming also elected the first female justice of the peace (Esther Hobart Morris in 1870) and became the first state to have a female governor (Nellie Tayloe Ross in 1925).

Key Facts

Wyoming granted women suffrage on December 10, 1869
Esther Hobart Morris became first female justice of the peace in 1870
Nellie Tayloe Ross became first female U.S. governor in 1925
Wyoming entered Union as first state with women's voting rights in 1890
Wyoming's state motto is 'Equal Rights'

Overview

Wyoming's designation as 'The Equality State' stems from its pioneering role in women's rights during the late 19th century. When Wyoming was still a territory in 1869, its legislature passed the Wyoming Suffrage Act, making it the first government in the United States to grant women full voting rights. This occurred 51 years before the 19th Amendment guaranteed women's suffrage nationwide in 1920. The territory's progressive stance continued when it entered the Union in 1890 as the 44th state, becoming the first state with women's voting rights already established in its constitution. Wyoming's commitment to equality extended beyond suffrage - in 1870, Esther Hobart Morris of South Pass City became the nation's first female justice of the peace, and in 1925, Nellie Tayloe Ross became America's first female governor when she completed her husband's term after his death.

How It Works

The nickname 'Equality State' operates through both historical precedent and ongoing symbolic significance. The original 1869 legislation worked by amending Wyoming's territorial laws to explicitly state that 'every woman of the age of twenty-one years, residing in this territory, may at every election to be holden under the laws thereof, cast her vote.' This legal mechanism established women's voting rights 24 years before Colorado became the second state to grant similar rights in 1893. The nickname functions as a historical marker that distinguishes Wyoming from other states, particularly those in the western frontier where women's rights developed more slowly. Today, the state reinforces this identity through official symbols - Wyoming's state motto is 'Equal Rights,' adopted in 1955, and the state quarter features the slogan 'The Equality State' alongside a bucking horse.

Why It Matters

Wyoming's 'Equality State' designation matters because it represents a crucial milestone in American civil rights history. By granting women suffrage decades before most other states, Wyoming demonstrated that gender equality could be implemented successfully at the governmental level, providing a model for other territories and states. This early commitment to women's rights had practical impacts - women served on juries in Wyoming as early as 1870, and the state's example helped build momentum for the national women's suffrage movement. Today, the nickname serves as both a point of state pride and a reminder of Wyoming's progressive roots, particularly notable given its current political landscape as a reliably conservative state. The designation continues to influence Wyoming's identity and how it's perceived nationally.