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History of Laramie, Wyoming, USA
Journey back in time to Laramie, Wyoming, USA
Explore Laramie, Wyoming, USA! Uncover its rich history and discover the stories of the people who once called it home. Dive into old newspaper articles, vintage pictures, postcards, and genealogy to learn more about this fascinating town.Do You Have Laramie Ancestry? Share YOUR Family Story!

In the late 1810’s, a French trapper named Jacques LaRamie disappeared in the mountains of Wyoming and was never heard from again. His name was then given to several things in the area, including a mountain range and a river. Eventually, the town that was founded in the 1860’s as a tent city was named after him as well...
www.laramie.com/ channel/ History-of-Laramie/ 1827
Explore even more about Laramie, Wyoming, USA. Keep reading!
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Discover Laramie: History, News, Travel, and Stories

1866 - Laramie City established
In 1866, planners of the transcontinental railroad chose a route through southern Wyoming. For a while, the route closely followed the Overland Trail, south of present-day Laramie. Congress chose the site of an Overland stage station to place a fort to protect the railroad workers; it was named Fort Buford, but the name was changed to Fort Sanders in 1866. Laramie City was sited a few miles north of the fort.
Like most towns in southern Wyoming, Laramie began as an "end of the tracks" town. As the tracks approached, numerous tent houses and cabins were built so that a fair-sized population was in place when the first train came in.
www.laramiemuseum.org/ historyofthecity.html
In 1866, planners of the transcontinental railroad chose a route through southern Wyoming. For a while, the route closely followed the Overland Trail, south of present-day Laramie. Congress chose the site of an Overland stage station to place a fort to protect the railroad workers; it was named Fort Buford, but the name was changed to Fort Sanders in 1866. Laramie City was sited a few miles north of the fort.
Like most towns in southern Wyoming, Laramie began as an "end of the tracks" town. As the tracks approached, numerous tent houses and cabins were built so that a fair-sized population was in place when the first train came in.
www.laramiemuseum.org/ historyofthecity.html
1870 - First All Woman Jury - The first all woman jury was sworn in March 7, 1870 in Laramie.
www.ereferencedesk.com/ resources/ state-facts/ wyoming.html
www.ereferencedesk.com/ resources/ state-facts/ wyoming.html
In 1886, Territorial Governor F. E. Warren provided for the establishment of the University of Wyoming; it was to be in Laramie.
www.laramiemuseum.org/ historyofthecity.html
www.laramiemuseum.org/ historyofthecity.html
1895 - Laramie
Laramie, the capital of Albany co., Wyoming, is situated near the W. base of the Laramie Range of mountains, on the Great Laramie Plain, and on the Union Pacific Railroad, 57 miles W.N.W. of Cheyenne, and 573 miles from Omaha. It is 7123 feet above the level of the sea, and is surrounded by mountains and beautiful scenery. It contains a court-house, a penitentiary, a Catholic hospital, 5 churches, 3 national banks, a public library, several hotels, 2 high schools, a rolling-mill, a round-house, and machine shops of the railroad company. Two daily newspapers are published here. Pop, in 1890, 6388.
Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott
Laramie, the capital of Albany co., Wyoming, is situated near the W. base of the Laramie Range of mountains, on the Great Laramie Plain, and on the Union Pacific Railroad, 57 miles W.N.W. of Cheyenne, and 573 miles from Omaha. It is 7123 feet above the level of the sea, and is surrounded by mountains and beautiful scenery. It contains a court-house, a penitentiary, a Catholic hospital, 5 churches, 3 national banks, a public library, several hotels, 2 high schools, a rolling-mill, a round-house, and machine shops of the railroad company. Two daily newspapers are published here. Pop, in 1890, 6388.
Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott
1916
Laramie, a city, the capital of Albany co., Wyo., is situated near the W. base of the Laramie Range of mountains, on the Great Laramie Plain and on the Union Pacific R., 57 miles NW. of Cheyenne. It is 7153 feet above the level of the sea and is surrounded by mountains and beautiful scenery. It contains a court-house, penitentiary, hospitals, public library, the Wyoming University, state agricultural college, etc., and has large railway- and ma chine-shops, rolling-mills, and manufactures of glass, leather, flour, etc. Near by is a fish-hatchery. It is an important supply point. Pop. in 1890, 6388 ; in 1900, 8207.
Lippincotts New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns, Resorts, Islands, Rivers, Mountains, Seas, Lakes, Etc., in Every Portion of the Globe, Part 1 Angelo Heilprin Louis Heilprin - January 1, 1916 J.B. Lippincott - Publisher
Laramie, a city, the capital of Albany co., Wyo., is situated near the W. base of the Laramie Range of mountains, on the Great Laramie Plain and on the Union Pacific R., 57 miles NW. of Cheyenne. It is 7153 feet above the level of the sea and is surrounded by mountains and beautiful scenery. It contains a court-house, penitentiary, hospitals, public library, the Wyoming University, state agricultural college, etc., and has large railway- and ma chine-shops, rolling-mills, and manufactures of glass, leather, flour, etc. Near by is a fish-hatchery. It is an important supply point. Pop. in 1890, 6388 ; in 1900, 8207.
Lippincotts New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns, Resorts, Islands, Rivers, Mountains, Seas, Lakes, Etc., in Every Portion of the Globe, Part 1 Angelo Heilprin Louis Heilprin - January 1, 1916 J.B. Lippincott - Publisher
1920 - MAIL PILOT KILLED. BODY OF FLYER IS FOUND IN WRECKAGE OF PLANE.
Cheyenne, Wyo., Nov. 8. - The body of JOHN P. WOODWARD, an air mail pilot was found in the wreckage of his plane at the siding 40 miles west of Cheyenne and fifteen miles southeast of Laramie, Wyo., late this afternoon, according to word brought here Sunday night by railroad men.
WOODWARD was last reported over Laramie at 2:40 o'clock Saturday afternoon.
STRUCK MOUNTAIN IN FOG.
Washington, D.C., Nov. 8 - JOHN P. WOODWARD, air mail pilot, whose body was found yesterday in the wreckage of his plane over Laramie, Wyo., met his death through flying into a mountainside in a dense fog, said a report received today by the post office department. The Lake City landing field reported that a weather bureau warning of fog was received a few minutes after WOODWARD left the field en route to Cheyenne. WOODWARD'S home was in Mitchell, Iowa.
San Antonio Light
San Antonio, Texas
November 8, 1920
Cheyenne, Wyo., Nov. 8. - The body of JOHN P. WOODWARD, an air mail pilot was found in the wreckage of his plane at the siding 40 miles west of Cheyenne and fifteen miles southeast of Laramie, Wyo., late this afternoon, according to word brought here Sunday night by railroad men.
WOODWARD was last reported over Laramie at 2:40 o'clock Saturday afternoon.
STRUCK MOUNTAIN IN FOG.
Washington, D.C., Nov. 8 - JOHN P. WOODWARD, air mail pilot, whose body was found yesterday in the wreckage of his plane over Laramie, Wyo., met his death through flying into a mountainside in a dense fog, said a report received today by the post office department. The Lake City landing field reported that a weather bureau warning of fog was received a few minutes after WOODWARD left the field en route to Cheyenne. WOODWARD'S home was in Mitchell, Iowa.
San Antonio Light
San Antonio, Texas
November 8, 1920
1948 - BLAZE AT LARAMIE RAZES ENTIRE BLOCK.
Laramie, Wyo., April 14. (AP) - A fast spreading fire crackled through an entire business block early today in the downtown section of Laramie, site of the University of Wyoming.
Fifteen of 30 structures were unofficially reported destroyed by flames.
Discovered about 2 o'clock (MST) this morning, the flames were reported under control but not out three hours after they were discovered in the four-story brick W. H. HOLLIDAY Building.
Fire departments sped to Laramie from Cheyenne, Rawlins and Fort Francis E. Warren, in Wyoming, and Fort Collins, Colo., to help overwhelmed Laramie firemen and volunteers battle the blaze.
Troops from Fort Warren, 50 miles east of here at Cheyenne, National Guard members and Wyoming University ROTC students were pressed into service to prevent looting.
There were no early reports of casualties. Fifteen or 20 families lived in hotels in the flaming area. The Red Cross arranged to house them in a university dormitory.
Cause of the fire was... Read MORE...
Laramie, Wyo., April 14. (AP) - A fast spreading fire crackled through an entire business block early today in the downtown section of Laramie, site of the University of Wyoming.
Fifteen of 30 structures were unofficially reported destroyed by flames.
Discovered about 2 o'clock (MST) this morning, the flames were reported under control but not out three hours after they were discovered in the four-story brick W. H. HOLLIDAY Building.
Fire departments sped to Laramie from Cheyenne, Rawlins and Fort Francis E. Warren, in Wyoming, and Fort Collins, Colo., to help overwhelmed Laramie firemen and volunteers battle the blaze.
Troops from Fort Warren, 50 miles east of here at Cheyenne, National Guard members and Wyoming University ROTC students were pressed into service to prevent looting.
There were no early reports of casualties. Fifteen or 20 families lived in hotels in the flaming area. The Red Cross arranged to house them in a university dormitory.
Cause of the fire was... Read MORE...
1983 - April 23 - A mini-blizzard produced sixteen inches of snow at Laramie, WY, including a foot of snow in just eight hours during the night.
The Weather Channel
The Weather Channel
Laramie, Wyoming, might not be the biggest town, but it's got a charm and character that's hard to beat. Here's a list of places to check out and things to do when you find yourself in this gem of the Cowboy State:
University of Wyoming:
Start your Laramie adventure by exploring the University of Wyoming campus. Take a stroll through Prexy's Pasture, the central green space, and soak in the academic vibes.
Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site:
Step back in time at the Wyoming Territorial Prison. Wander through the cells and learn about the history of this once fearsome institution. It's a fascinating glimpse into the past.
Vedauwoo Recreation Area:
If you're into outdoor adventures, Vedauwoo is a must. This unique area features towering rock formations and is a haven for rock climbers and hikers. It's also a great spot for a picnic or some quiet reflection.
Snowy Range Scenic Byway:
Take a drive on the Snowy Range Scenic Byway. The views are spectacular, especially if you're there during the fall when the aspens turn golden. It's a beautiful way to experience Wyoming's rugged beauty.
Laramie Plains Museum:
Delve into Laramie's history at the Laramie Plains... Read MORE...
University of Wyoming:
Start your Laramie adventure by exploring the University of Wyoming campus. Take a stroll through Prexy's Pasture, the central green space, and soak in the academic vibes.
Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site:
Step back in time at the Wyoming Territorial Prison. Wander through the cells and learn about the history of this once fearsome institution. It's a fascinating glimpse into the past.
Vedauwoo Recreation Area:
If you're into outdoor adventures, Vedauwoo is a must. This unique area features towering rock formations and is a haven for rock climbers and hikers. It's also a great spot for a picnic or some quiet reflection.
Snowy Range Scenic Byway:
Take a drive on the Snowy Range Scenic Byway. The views are spectacular, especially if you're there during the fall when the aspens turn golden. It's a beautiful way to experience Wyoming's rugged beauty.
Laramie Plains Museum:
Delve into Laramie's history at the Laramie Plains... Read MORE...
Discover YOUR Roots: Laramie Ancestry
Ancestors Who Were Born or Died in Laramie, Wyoming, USA
We currently have information about 4 ancestors who were born or died in Laramie.View Them Now (sorted by year of birth)
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