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A Little History About Wyoming License Plates
Source: AARoads
License plates in the state of Wyoming feature the "bucking bronco." This horse has appeared on Wyoming license plates since 1936. The number to the left of the bronco is a code to determine the vehicle's county of origin, while the number to the right of the bronco is the vehicle's identifying number. That number is usually a combination of four numbers or three numbers plus a two-digit letter code. Later versions of the plate have three numbers and a letter or combination of letters. Vanity plates are the county number and a one, two, three, or four-letter word -- of course, some four-letter words are not allowed! Plates are currently silkscreened, but until 2003 they were embossed.
This list shows the county numbers and the county represented by that number. The number represents the ranking of the county according to their total county property valuation. If the counties were re-evaluated today, this order would no longer be true. Note that the clustering of Wyoming state routes is ordered alphabetically, not in the license plate order. Thus, Albany County has State Routes 10-29, but it is County #5 on license plates.
1 Natrona 11 Park 21 Weston
2 Laramie 12 Lincoln 22 Teton
3 Sheridan 13 Converse 23 Sublette
4 Sweetwater 14 Niobrara
5 Albany 15 Hot Springs
6 Carbon 16 Johnson
7 Goshen 17 Campbell
8 Platte 18 Crook
9 Big Horn 19 Uinta
10 Fremont 20 Washakie
In an article dated May 25, 2000 from The Washington Times, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) assailed Wyoming's license plate, asking the governor of Wyoming to remove the bucking bronco from the state's license plate, claiming it "promotes and glorifies" animal cruelty. PETA wants Gov. Jim Geringer to "modernize" the silhouette image of a cowboy atop the bucking animal to "reflect 21st century understanding of the nature of animals."
According to a Kristie Sigmon of PETA, "We are hopeful that when you learn about the lives of animals used in rodeos, you will not wish to promote and glorify these inhumane events on state license plates. Treating 'livestock' like mechanical bulls makes Wyoming a laughing stock."
Senator Craig Thomas, Wyoming Republican, said PETA should focus on more important issues than "maligning license plates." He said PETA was "bucking up the wrong tree. Don't hold your breath for Wyoming to boot the cowboy off the plates to reflect PETA's politically correct campaign." Miss Sigmon said the plates are a promotion of rodeos, although there is no mention of rodeos on the plates, which contain the image, license number and state name.
Most Wyoming residents are proud of the symbol, which has become an icon identifying Wyoming products, objects and people. The symbol was adopted to the state license plate in 1936. It dates back to 1918, when it was the insignia worn by soldiers from Wyoming in World War I, and was designed by George N. Ostrom. It was later adopted by the U.S. Army to identify gun trails, trucks and other equipment, according to information provided by the Wyoming Secretary of State's Office. However, some historians believe the horse in the symbol was modeled after a legendary rodeo horse named Steamboat, which was dubbed "the horse that couldn't be ridden."