The human population of Wyoming is
about 580,000. There are also about 100,000 horses and about
1,300,000 cattle. However, despite being the least densely
populated state among the continental states, (less than six
people per square mile), Wyoming is home of the first official
National Park (Yellowstone), the first National Monument
(Devil’s Tower), the first dude ranch, and the first coal
mine. To its everlasting credit, Wyoming was the first state
to give women the right to vote.
Cheyenne (brown arrow
in the lower right) is in the extreme southeast corner of the
state. It is the state capital and the largest city with a
human population of about 64,000: the metropolitan area
including the rest of Laramie county, might get one close to
100,000 people. As can be seen, the problem is that while
about one human in six lives in or near Cheyenne, locating the
only school there would grossly undercover the bulk of the
state and the vast majority of the population. Obliging
someone with special needs to commute 300 miles from Evanston,
Jackson, Sheridan or Hulett (in winter!) is neither
compassionate nor clever. Walt Longmire would not approve. |