The growth of Wyoming has been slow, as the Indians have been troublesome, and the land is not as easily cultivated as in some of the neighboring territories. Of the pop ulation in 1870, 5,605 were native and 3,513 foreign born, 7,219 were males and 1899 females. Most of the Americans were born in the territory, or in New York, Pennsyl vania, and Ohio; and the foreigners were from Great Britain and Germany. The num ber of families was 2,248, with an average of 4.06 persons to each; of dwellings, 2,379, with an average of 3.83 to each. About 6,600 persons were engaged in occupations, of whom 165 were engaged in agriculture, 3,170 in professional and personal services, 1646 in trade and transportation, and 1660 in manufactures and mining. There were also in 1870 about 1800 Shoshone Indians in the territory, occupying a reservation of 1,520,000 acres in the western part, who maintained tribal relations. By the census of 1880 the total population was 20,788 persons, exclusive of the Indians, showing an increase in 10 years of 11,670, which is chiefly due to new discoveries of gold in the Black hills within the past few years. The territory is divided into 7 counties; and the principal settle ments, all of which are small, are Cheyenne (the capital) in Laramie co. ; Laramie City and Sherman, in Albany co. ; Rawlins and Carbon, in Carbon co. ; South Pass City, Rock Springs, Green River City, and Atlantic City, in Sweetwater co. ; and Evanston, in Uintah co. ; all, excepting South Pass and Atlantic Cities, on the Union Pacific railroad.
The agricultural products of the territory are small. In 1870 there were only 338 acres of land reported under cultivation, and only 4,341 acres were taken up in farms. These were valued at $18,187, and the farm products for that year at $42,706. The latter were chiefly 30,000 lbs. of wool and 3,180 tons of hay. The live stock on farms consisted of 584 horses, 283 mules and asses, 707 milch cows, 922 working oxen, 9,501 other cattle, 6,409 sheep, and 146 swine. That not on farms consisted of 3,169 horses and 25,342 neat cattle. The manufacturing establishments at that date numbered 32, employed 500 hands, had $889,400 capital invested, and produced goods annually valued at $765,424. The mining interests during the past 10 years have been steadily increas ing, especially the mining of coal and the precious metals. For the year 1875 the product
of the former was about 300,000 tons; and the gold yield is about $100,000 annually. The only railroads in the territory are the Union and Central Pacific, which together traverse the southern part for 70 miles; and the Denver Pacific, extending from Cheyenne to Denver, 106• miles. The business and wealth of the territory sustain two national banks, with a joint capital of $125,000.
The territorial finances for the years 1876-77 were reported as follows, showing that there was no debt. Cash on hand at the beginning of 1876, $8,792.37; receipts, $43,698.49; total, $52,490.86; disbursements, $50,635.34; balance, $1855.52. The total valuation of property as assessed for the year 1877 was $9,275,811; the rate of assessment for terri torial purposes was three mills on the dollar; and the amount of tax leyied for the year, $27,837. The public educational advantages during those years were also reported to be in an encouraging condition. There were 14 school districts and 10 school-houses, and a tax of two mills on the dollar was levied at that date for their support. The number of pupils enrolled was 1220; teachers employed, 25; and the total amount paid as salaries, $16,400. In 1870 the number of libraries was 31, with 2,603 volumes, of which 20, with 1500 volumes, were private; and there were 3 daily and 7 weekly newspapers pub lished within the territory. In 1876 the different religious denominations were: Baptist, 2; Congregational, 1; Episcopal, 3; Methodist, 2; Presbyterian, 4; and Roman Catho lic, 4.
The governor and secretary of the territory are appointed by the president of the United States, for four years usually. The legislative assembly consists of a council of la members and a house of representatives of 27 members, each elected for two years. The judicial power is vested in a supreme court of 3 justices, appointed by the presi dent every 4 years; 3 district courts, presided over by the judges of the supreme court; probate courts; and justices of the peace. A peculiarity in the social and political char acter of the territory is the existence of woman-suffrage. Women also sit upon juries, and are eligible to public offices. The territory is entitled to one delegate to congress.