Wyoming, The Slowest Growing State – STILL!

Despite its land size, Wyoming has always been the least populated state. Even though there is so much to offer, growth has been slow at best, no matter what year we look at.

Let's have a look at the history of the Cowboy State's growth cycles over the years.

Some of the ups and downs are due to the boom-bust cycles of our industries, like energy and cattle. But being such a low-tax and regulation state helps to encourage some people and companies to move here.

Wyoming’s population has grown from under 10,000 in 1870 to an estimated 587,618 by 2024, consistently remaining the least populous U.S. state. Early growth was driven by the railroad and mining, followed by 20th-century energy booms that caused significant, often uneven, expansion, including a 50% increase from 1970 to 1983.

Key Historical Population Milestones (Census Data):
1870: 9,118 (Territory established)
1900: 92,531
1950: 290,529
1980: 469,557 (Energy boom era)
1990: 453,588 (Post-boom decline)
2010: 563,626
2024: 587,618

Will Wyoming soon reach the 600K mark? Groth is slow, but it is happening.

Railroad and Mining: The arrival of the Union Pacific Railroad in 1867 spurred the initial non-native population influx, primarily in southern Wyoming.

Energy Booms: The 1970s saw massive growth due to energy development, followed by a decline in the mid-1980s caused by a, global oil-supply glut.

21st Century: Growth has been moderate, with the population rising from 493,782 in 2000 to over 580,000 in the 2020s.

Migration and Economy: Recent growth has been driven by domestic migration, with the economy heavily influenced by mining, logging, and tourism.

Demographics: The state remains largely white (approx. 86%), with a small Native American population centered around the Wind River Reservation.

Wyoming has experienced periods of significant in-migration during energy booms and out-migration during busts, but maintained a long-term trend of slow, steady growth into the 2020s.