Capital Cheyenne Became a State July 20, 1890 (44h) Location western United States Area 97,814 sq. miles (10th) Population 563,626 (50th) Major Cities Cheyenne, Casper, Laramie, Rock Springs, Sheridan, Gillette Products livestock, hay, sugar beet, wheat, barley, wool, coal, natural gas, coalbed, methane, crude oil, uranium, tourism Climate semi-arid continental climate which is drier and windier in comparison to most of the United States with temperate extremes - summers are warm - winters cold Yearly Precipitation averages 13 inches Professional Sports Teams no professional sports teams Major Waterways Bighorn River, Green River, Belle Fourche River, Powder River, North Platte River Most Famous Citizens Jackson Pollock (painter) Calamity Jane (frontierswoman) Buffalo Bill cody (frontiersman) Crazy Horse (Indian leader)