Wyoming Is Massive and Rich — So Why Is It Still Empty?

Описание: Wyoming: Massive, Rich, and Empty (Here’s Why)

Wyoming is one of the most fascinating paradoxes in America. It's the 10th largest state in the country—bigger than the entire United Kingdom—yet only 587,000 people call it home.

That makes it the least populated state in the nation, with just 6 people per square mile. You could literally drive for hours without seeing another soul.

But here's where it gets wild: Wyoming is RICH. Like, insanely rich.

It has the 3rd highest per capita income in America at nearly $86,000 per person. The state produces 40% of the nation's coal, leads in natural gas production, and sits on the world's largest trona deposits. Yet despite all this wealth, people just don't move there.

Why? The answer isn't simple. We're talking bone-chilling winters with record lows of -66°F, snowfall reaching over 260 inches in some areas, and wind gusts that regularly hit 50-60 mph.

Nearly half the state is owned by the federal government, meaning you literally can't build on it. Seventeen of Wyoming's 23 counties are classified as "frontier"—fewer than 6 people per square mile.

And get this: Yellowstone National Park alone gets 4.7 million visitors every year—that's 8 times more than Wyoming's entire population. The smallest town, Lost Springs, has just 6 residents. Meanwhile, in Jackson Hole, the average home costs $7.4 million while the state median is only $317,000.
In this video, we dive deep into the data, the history, and the shocking realities of America's emptiest wealthy state.

Sources Referenced:
U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Land Management Wyoming, Wikipedia Wyoming Demographics, Wyoming State Government Economic Data, National Park Service Yellowstone Statistics, Zillow Housing Market Reports, NOAA Wyoming Climate Data, Bureau of Economic Analysis GDP Reports


Timestamps:

0:00 – Wyoming Intro
0:31 – Geography of Wyoming
2:37 – Land Ownership and How It Limits Growth
4:51 – Why the Population Is So Small
6:14 – How Wyoming Is Rich Without the Crowd
8:33 – The Climate Tax
10:29 – Why Isolation Matters
11:37 – Housing
13:41 – Tourism vs Real Life
14:57 – How Infrastructure Shapes Daily Life
16:27 – Culture, Identity, and Why Wyoming Stays Wyoming
18:37 – Can Wyoming Stay This Way? (Future)
20:36 – Outro

DISCLAIMER: All data is current as of January 2026 and sourced from official government databases, academic research, and verified statistical agencies. This video presents factual analysis and is not intended as financial, legal, or relocation advice. Individual experiences may vary. We encourage viewers to conduct their own research before making any major life decisions.

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Fair Use Notice: This video may contain copyrighted material. Such material is made available for informational and entertaining purposes only. This constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 106A-117 of the US Copyright Law.

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