Wyoming Almanac contains numerous entries in which names of people and places are listed. Here are several entries for name changes and nicknames of a few towns.
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1. “Rawlins Springs”
Originally named for Gen. John A. Rawlins by his friend Gen. Grenville Dodge, the “springs” portion of the name was dropped early in the town’s existence. The same thing happened to the “city” behind the names of Laramie and Green River in the 19th century.
2. “Shoshone Dam”
Renamed Buffalo Bill Dam in 1946, the dam was once the highest in the world when it was completed in 1910. Col. Cody was a strong proponent of irrigation and the dam on the Shoshone River was renamed in his honor.
3. “Stinkingwater River”
The name was applied to the river by its first white discoverer, John Colter, in 1807. The river was officially renamed the “Shoshone River” by legislative act in 1901, to the relief of Cody area residents who argued strongly for a change of name, fearing the original might not be healthy for encouraging visitation by tourists.
4. “Carter County”
Originally named in 1867 to honor the Fort Bridger judge and post sutler William A. Carter, it was renamed “Sweetwater County” by the legislature on Dec. 13, 1869, three days after Gov. John A. Campbell signed that legislature’s most famous act, the Suffrage Bill, granting women equal political rights in the new territory.
5. “Pease County”
The county was named in 1875 to honor Dr. E. L. Pease, a Uinta County physician. When young Cheyenne attorney E. P. Johnson died on Oct. 3, 1879, the legislature renamed the county in his memory, effective Dec. 13, 1879.
6. “Home on the Range”
Originally named for postmaster Beulah Peterson’s highway cafe and store, the site was renamed “Jeffrey City” for Dr. Charles W. Jeffrey, Rawlins physician and investor, who owned stock in area uranium companies. For a complete story of the community, see John Egan, “Home on the Range No More: Boom and Bust in Jeffrey City,” in Phil Roberts, ed., Readings in Wyoming History (Laramie, 1993).
Some Wyoming Place Nicknames
1. “Oil Capital of the Rockies”— Casper
2. “Magic City of the Plains” — Cheyenne
Charles V. A. Arnold, editor of the Leader, applied the name in 1867. The nickname indicated how quickly the city of Cheyenne had grown–laid out on the 4th of July 1867, by General Greville Dodge and, by September, an organized city with a mayor and council, a newspaper and a substantial business district. It grew “like magic.”
3. “Gem City of the Plains” — Laramie
The name apparently was originated by James Hayford, Laramie editor in the late 19th century.
4. “Garden City” — Basin
The name originated with an active tree and shrub planting campaign begun by the city in 1910.
5. “City of Roses” — Lovell
Lovell gained its nickname, the “Rose City,” from the rose parks at each end of town. Lovell’s “Rose Doctor,” Dr. W. W. Horsley, began the plantings. He came to Lovell in 1924 and practiced medicine for 45 years. An expert on roses, he was president of the American Rose Society for 12 years and Lovell parks director for 31 years.
6. “Apple City” — Lander (also “Push Root City”)
7. “Switzerland of America” — Star Valley
8. “Upton The Best Town on Earth”–The phrase, used as the town motto and on the signs at each side of town, was first applied by Frank Burdick, a railroad promoter, c. 1901.