A State That Never Was In Wyoming

By Kirk Johnson
The New York Times

This is kind of an interesting story in American history. Back in the 1930s is seems several unhappy Wyomingans, unhappy with the current politics of their area, attempted unsuccessfully to break off parts of Wyoming, South Dakota and Montana to form their new state called Absaroka. The movement was very unsuccessful and forgotten by the majority of people shortly after it was ended, but the people of Sheridan have adopted the strange rebellion as a piece of their celebrated history.

Johnson interviews several Sheridan senior citizens, all over 70, about that strange time when a group of business and political leaders attempted to form their own state. He also interviews two college students, a couple from the University of Wyoming, who are participating in a festival "the Absaroka spirit of can-do and get-through."

Johnson's title is what pulled me into the story, and his lead gets straight to the point detailing in typical NY times lengthy lead fashion what this crazy story would be about. He ends his story with a local Wyoming ranch owner who states he participates in the festival because it helps him keep his ranch noting how the tale of Absakoka, that's accuracy is still debated by historians, has "blown away like dust in the high plains wind."