Which U.S. State is Known as the 'Equality State'?

Wyoming, known for its remote vistas and rough terrain, has also earned the title of the "Equality State," not just as a nickname, but as an identifier of Wyoming's past.  The equality state is appropriate, as it was a leader in the pursuit of equal rights, particularly for women.  In 1869, during a time when the territory was about to become a state, Wyoming made the bold move to make history as the first government in the world to allow women the right to vote.  This first step in equality for women was the start of improving equality for women across the United States. 

From the first female justice of the peace to the first elected female governor of any state, Wyoming led the way in equality for women, where it was common for all the new settlers to believe the harsh environments of the American West saw the advent of women as a phenomenon severely lacking in their home states.  The legacy is present, and conversations about some improvement in equal rights seem to be present even to this day.

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Wyoming: The Equality State

Known as the Equality State, Wyoming wears this name with pride, and rightly so. As a pioneer in women's rights, Wyoming became the first territory in the United States to allow women to vote in 1869, essentially making it the first place in the world to do so. The movement toward gender equality had begun.

This legacy also led to being the first place in the country to have a woman appointed as justice of the peace and the first place in the country to have an elected female governor. Equality is planted deeper than a name for Wyoming, but rather is a part of the identity of the state that recognizes where it has been and continues to look for ways to further the ongoing fight for equality and representation for its citizens.

Why Is Wyoming Called the “Equality State”?

First State to Grant Women the Right to Vote

In 1869, while still a U.S. territory, Wyoming became the first state to grant women complete voting rights, well before the norm was established elsewhere in the nation or around the world. 

A Leader in Women’s Rights

Wyoming did not stop with voting; it was also the first to appoint a woman judge, allow women to serve as jurors, and later elect the nation's first female governor.  In 1924, Nellie Tayloe Ross was elected as the first female governor in the nation. 

Equality as a State Principle

When Wyoming entered the Union in 1890, it demanded to be able to keep its equal rights laws. This clearly states that gender equality was part of its character. 

A Lasting Legacy

Wyoming's early and bold actions solidified its lasting nickname, "The Equality State." Its legitimacy lies in honoring that title through its history of a continued promise of inclusion and fairness.