Wyoming is not as populated as most states in the United States. But, the state has one of the most enormous land masses in the country.
Historically known as the prime spot for trappers and traders, the Cowboy State houses incredible ranches and exciting conservation projects. Hence, it’s no surprise that the largest landowner owns over 40% of the state land.
How Big Is Wyoming?
Wyoming is the 10th largest state in the United States. The state comprises 97,093.14 square miles of sprawling landscape. Although it has so much land and wildlife experience to offer, Wyoming is the least populated state in the country.
Hence, it may not come as a surprise that the largest landowner in Wyoming isn’t an individual but the government.
How Much of the Land Does the Government Own?
Of the available 63 million acres in the state, the United States federal government owns 29,100,000 acres in Wyoming. Consequently, the federal government controls 46.7 percent of the land in the state.
However, of the land owned by the federal government in Wyoming, the Bureau of Land Management oversees 61 percent. The bureau reportedly manages the vast grounds, mineral estate, and historic trails.
How Many Acres Does the United States Government Own Nationwide?
Overall, the total land area of the United States is 2.27 billion acres. However, the United States federal government owns about 640 million acres or 28 percent of the total land!
Out of all the states in the US, Wyoming ranks 6th for the amount of land federally controlled. Consequently, most people think that is why the state is the least populated in the country.
What Does the Government Do With the Vast Land in Wyoming?
According to reports, some of the government-owned land is public land. Hence, the federal government uses 39 percent of the land as national forests, parks, and wildlife refuges.
In addition, the remaining 61 percent of the government-owned land is a federal mineral estate. The mineral estate contains minerals, oil, and natural gas, managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
Tourism in Wyoming
After the mineral estate, the second-largest industry in Wyoming is tourism. In a 2022 report, 7.5 million tourists, almost 13 times the size of Wyoming’s population, visited the state. Also, approximately 2.9 million of those visitors explored federally-owned public lands, including the Yellowstone National Park.
In addition, Wyoming houses the country’s largest sage grouse population, drawing many out-of-state hunters.
Wyoming’s Historic Trails
Aside from being a tourist attraction for tourists around the world, Wyoming has some historic trails. Some of the longest, intact National Historic Trails wind across Wyoming, including the Oregon, Mormon Pioneer, and Pony Express trails.
In addition, the state has about 1,400 miles of National Historic Trails. Also, an estimated 18,013 visitors annually frequent the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center.
The Federal Mineral Estate
The Bureau of Land Management, Wyoming, is the number one producer of several critical energy and mineral resources. According to reports, Wyoming supplies about 40 percent of the country’s coal.
Also, as one of the top producers in the United States, Wyoming has the largest uranium ore reserves. In addition, the state has the largest deposit of trona in the world, estimated to last for 2,000 years.
Wyoming Also Has Gas and Oil
Aside from being the top producer of Uranium and coal, the BLM Wyoming federal land is number one in national gas production. The state also ranked number two in federal oil production in the United States.
In addition, over 70 percent of the world’s bentonite supply, which farmers use to drill mud and as a carrier for fertilizer and pesticides, is in Wyoming.
Which Other Federal Agencies Manage the Vast Land in Wyoming?
Although BLM Wyoming manages 61.15% of the acres owned by the federal government, other agencies manage the additional 39%. For instance, the United States Forest Service oversees 30.76% of the land.
In addition, the United States National Park Service manages 7.8% of the vast land in the state. Also, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service contains 0.24%, and the United States Department of Defense manages 0.05%.
Who is the Second-largest Landowner in Wyoming?
Besides the federal government, there are nine other significant landowners in Wyoming, including the Office of State Lands and Investments. After Wyoming became a state, by law, the state land had to be in a trust.
This trust, known as the Office of State Lands and Investments, is the second-largest landowner in Wyoming, managing 4.2 million acres to this day.
The Third-Largest Landowner in Wyoming
The third-largest landowner in Wyoming is Stan Kroenke. Aside from being one of the largest landowners in the state, Kroenke is the largest private landowner in the state.
This billionaire reportedly purchased 560,000 acres in 2003 and owns the biggest ranch in the Rocky Mountains. Aside from being the largest private landowner in the state, Kroenke contributes significantly to habitat conservation in Wyoming.
Wildlife on Wyoming’s Federal Lands
Aside from being blessed with minerals, Wyoming is home to more than 100 mammal species and 400 species of birds. These include wolves, bison, mountain lions, bald eagles, grizzly bears, elk, moose, deer, pronghorn antelope, and wild horses.
Hence, the state wildlife agencies work together to protect and monitor federally listed Threatened or Endangered species such as the brown pelican.
