The majority of the state is dominated by the mountain ranges and rangelands of the Rocky Mountain West. Wyoming's towering mountains and vast plains provide spectacular scenery, grazing lands for sheep and cattle, and rich mineral deposits.

Mining, particularly oil and natural gas, is the most important industry. Wyoming has the world's largest sodium carbonate (natrona) deposits and has the nation's second largest uranium deposits. The largest coal mine in the USA is Black Thunder located near Wright.

In 2004 Wyoming ranked second among the states in wool production (exceeded only by Texas) and third in sheep and lambs (exceeded only by Texas and California); it also had 1,400,000 cattle. Principal crops include wheat, oats, sugar beets, corn, barley, and alfalfa.

Wyoming has many attractions, notably Yellowstone National Park. Hikers, campers and skiers are attracted to Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole National Monument in the Teton Range of the Rockies. Cheyenne is famous for its annual “Frontier Days” celebration. Flaming Gorge, the Fort Laramie National Historic Site, and Devils Tower and Fossil Butte National Monuments are other points of interest.

The first Dude Ranch in Wyoming was the Eaton Ranch, near Wolf. The Eaton's also came up with the term "dude." Cody Wyoming is named after William "Buffalo Bill" Cody. The JCPenney stores were started in Kemmerer.

Wyoming has been a leader in many ways:

First State to Have a County Public Library System: The Laramie County Public Library System was organized in August of 1886.

First National Park: In 1872, congress named Yellowstone National Park in northwestern Wyoming as the first national park in the world.

First National Forest: By an Act signed by President Benjamin Harrison in 1891, Shoshone National Forest became the first national forest. Wyoming now has nine national forests.

First Ranger Station: Wapiti Ranger Station was established in the Shoshone National Forest in 1891.

First National Monument: Devils Tower in northeastern Wyoming was designated the first national monument by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906.

Wyoming was the first state to give women the right to vote.