Cheyenne, Wyoming
For a taste of the Old West combined with modern times,
spend a few days exploring Cheyenne. When the Union Pacific
Railroad arrived in 1867, this once small town suddenly
increased by 3,000-in just 5 months. Today, it is the state capital
and is supported by retail trade, agriculture, manufacturing
and tourism.
For an overview of the city’s attractions, take a ride on the Cheyenne Street Railway Trolley or take a walking tour at the Wyoming Transportation Museum which was originally the Union Pacific Depot. As you traverse Cheyenne, you will find many of the red brick storefronts of the 1880’s and opulent Victorian buildings still thriving. Of special interest is the Old Town Square which has shopping boutiques, eateries, and reenactments of Old West activities, as well as a nightly “shoot-out” with gunslingers in period garb.
The Nelson Museum of the West has exhibits on the Old West and Native Americans. The Wyoming State Museum has displays which tell the state’s history from its earliest times to the present. The exhibits on early settlements and the Native Americans are well presented. The Wyoming State Museum is also home to the state’s art collection which includes a wide selection of 19th century Western Art. For a colder look at life in the Old West, check out the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum. You will see collections of clothing, weapons, carriages and Western art.
To get in touch with nature, visit Holiday Park for tennis,
picnicking, a lighted horseshoe pit and the opportunity
to see one of the world’s largest steam locomotives, the
4,000 type Union Pacific Railroad. At the Curt Gowdy State
Park, you can enjoy hiking, boating, trout fishing (no  swimming)
and camping. And if you love flowers, be sure to spend some
time at the Cheyenne Botanical Gardens which boasts wildflowers,
rose gardens, a lily pond, and a community garden.
Other area attractions are the Historic Governor’s Mansion, the State
Capital, warren AFB, the Wyoming Arts Council Gallery, and
Historic Plains Hotel which is home to one of Wyoming’s
oldest restaurants and bars.
Cheyenne Demographics & Information
Cheyenne Population 55,314 as of 2007
Climate : Cheyenne gets 15 inches of rain per year.
The number of days with any measurable precipitation is
100. On average, there are 236 sunny days per year. The
July high is around 83 degrees. The January low is 16. 
Cost of Living / Economy : The unemployment rate
is 4.10%, with job growth of 2.15%. Future job growth over
the next ten years is predicted to be 23.78%. Sales tax
rate is 6.00%. Income tax is 0.00%. The income per capita
is $23,903, which includes all adults and children. The
median household income is $44,556. Compared to the rest
of the country, Cheyenne's cost of living is 13.50% Lower
than the U.S. average.
Education : Schools spend $5,439 per student. There
are 16 pupils per teacher, 557 students per librarian, and
253 children per counselor.
Real Estate / Housing : The median home value is
$200,900. Home appreciation is -3.88% over the last year.
Renters make up 31.65% of the population. 6.08% of houses
and apartments are unoccupied.
Photo Credits: Boot by Cog Dog Blog; Gov.
Mansion by M. Howry;
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