Cheyenne

Name: Cheyenne

County: Laramie

Authority Name: Cheyenne (Wyo.)

GNIS Entry

Longitude: 1044913W

Latitude: 410824N

Legal Description:

Elevation: 6086/1855

(ft/m)

Feature Type: Populated Place

Origin of Name:

County seat of Laramie County and Capital of the State. It is now conceded that the Cheyenne, with their kindred tribe, the Arapaho, probably once dwelt about the waters of the St. Croix River, in Wisconsin. Their tribal name (according to Lewis) was Sharha (Shaway), possibly a variant of the Sioux form Shaiela or Shaiena, whence their present name. Apparently they were driven northwestward from their Wisconsin habitat, and first settled upon the Cheyenne River in North Dakota, a tributary of the Red River of the North. It is conjectured that they were forced southwest by the Sioux. The Warreconne, where they made their final stand, is the present Big Beaver in Emmons County, North Dakota. According to Cheyenne tradition, they were formerly an agricultural people, forced into nomadic habits by these various removals.

Source: WPA

Bears the name of an Algonquian tribe of Plains Indians who called themselves Dzitsistas. The word Cheyenne is a corruption of the name given the tribe by the Sioux and is said to signify "aliens."

Source: Annals 14(2)

Other Names: Hell on Wheels

Alternative Spellings:

History:

Between 1867 and 1869, the Union Pacific Railroad was built across Wyoming. "Working in advance of the construction crews Union Pacific officials laid out townsites and encouraged the political organization of those municipalities it was spawning on its way westward. Grenville Dodge platted Cheyenne in late July 1867, and during the first week of August residents held a mass meeting to talk about the formation of a government. Three days later an election was held in which a mayor and councilmen were elected. ... Late in the afternoon of November 13, rails were laid into the city of Cheyenne, followed shortly by a whistle-blowing locomotive that brought people rushing to the newly laid tracks. ... The impact of the road quickly made itself felt upon Cheyenne. Before November was out the town's residents were agitating for the formation of a new territory, ... and the city that expected to become the capital already boasted 200 buildings and 2,000 residents."

Source: Athearn

Cheyenne Post Office was established as Cheyenne City Post Office in August, 1867. Its name was changed to Cheyenne in January, 1888.

Source: Wyoming Post Offices

The capitol and metropolis of Wyoming; the general headquarters of the great cattle and sheep ranges of the West; the commercial center for a large territory. Cheyenne was first settled in 1867 ... . Cheyenne is the commercial center of a rapidly growing agricultural section. The city is beautifully located and has all the modern accessories, electric light, gas, water works owned by the city, 5 public school buildings, 11 churches, 3 daily newspapers and several weekly papers, a public library, a government building and many handsome business blocks and elegant private residences. The Union Pacific, Colorado and Southern and Burlington and Missouri River Railroads give abundant means of transportation. The Union Pacific Railroad has extensive shops located here, as well as division headquarters ... .

Source: Wyoming State Business Directory, 1910-11

Stories:

Maps:

1:24000 Quadrangle: Cheyenne North

Newspapers

More Information:

Official Site of the Cheyenne Area Convention and Visitors Bureau

http://www.cheyenne.org/

Official City of Cheyenne Website

http://www.cheyennecity.org/

Inventors from Cheyenne in the Wyoming Inventors Database

Pictures: