Which State Correctly Matches the Animal That Appears on Its Flag?

Flags with animals are always interesting to watch, yet not all of the animals are native to the land of the country flag they are on. For instance, two-headed eagles are nowhere to be found in nature. This is definitely not the case with one American state. As it appears, the flag of Wyoming completely matches the animal on its flag — the renowned American bison.

Here are a few more details about the Wyoming flag and its features.

Why the Bison & Where Is It Headed

The white silhouette of the bison stands as the representation of the local wildlife. The official state mammal used to be facing the fly, symbolizing the freedom the animal once had, the ability to roam the endless plains. Yet, upon some revision, it was decided that the bison should be facing the flagpole for the sake of symmetry.

A Flag for $20

Similarly to some other state flags[1] , the flag of Wyoming too was chosen via an open flag design competition, in 1917. This is quite late compared to the other American states.

There were 37 designs to choose from and the winner was Verna Keays, who cashed in $20 as a prize for winning the competition.

The White, Red & Blue

The Wyoming flag’s background is blue, which symbolizes both the skies, the mountains, and the virality and fidelity. The red is said to be the blood shed by the pioneers, but also representative of the Native Amerians.

As usual, white stands for purity.

Official State Seal

Right in the middle of the bison’s silhouette is the state seal, showing that branding livestock is absolutely necessary for the state. This is little surprise knowing that the cattle industry is so dominant the agriculture takes up two-thirds of Wyoming's economy.

The seal is older than the state flag and it originates from 1893. The number 44 serves as the reminder that Wyoming was the 44th state to join the Union.

Two Main Industries

The two major industries in Wyoming are represented right in the middle of the state seal. If you look a bit closer, you will notice a cattle rancher and a miner.

Wyoming is appropriately nicknamed the Cowboy State for a good reason. Firstly, the state has excellent conditions for livestock production. As a matter of fact, over two thirds of the state’s land is used for livestock grazing. In much the same fashion, two thirds of the state’s economy are focused on livestock.

Petroleum, natural gas production, coal production — all of these Wyoming abounds in, especially when discussing uranium deposits.

Women’s Rights

The draped central figure between the miner and the rancher holds a banner with the words “Equal Rights”. Wyoming was the first state to allow women to express their political opinion by voting by passing the territorial suffrage amendment in 1869.

Pick up your Wyoming flags here: /state-city/wyoming

Sources:

https://www.wyo.gov/about-wyoming/wyoming-facts-and-symbols

https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-flags/wyoming

https://www.britannica.com/place/Wyoming-state/Economy

https://www.netstate.com/states/symb/flags/wy_flag.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_suffrage_in_Wyoming#:~:text=A%20U.S.%20territory%20in%201869,woman%20suffrage%20bill%20in%201869.&text=In%201890%2C%20Wyoming%20became%20the,its%20woman%20citizens%20to%20vote.