Wyoming Women: A Legacy of Leadership

Each month, I write a short piece for Sotheby's International Realty's Women Empowered (WE). Here is June's edition.

Women voting in Wyoming.

Did You Know?

Wyoming earned the nickname The Equality State for a reason. In 1869, while still a territory, Wyoming became the first place in the United States to grant women the right to vote, nearly 50 years before the 19th Amendment was ratified nationwide. While historians still debate the motivations behind the decision, the result was groundbreaking: Wyoming women not only voted, they also served on juries and held public office long before it was common elsewhere in America. When Congress later pressured Wyoming to revoke women’s suffrage as a condition of statehood, Wyoming refused.

That independent spirit continues today.

Wyoming, and Jackson Hole in particular, have long attracted remarkable women who have shaped the arts, conservation, business, and public life. Notable names include philanthropist and conservation advocate Laurance Rockefeller’s wife, Mary French Rockefeller, whose family helped preserve many of the landscapes we treasure today. Jackson has also been home to influential artists, entrepreneurs, conservationists, and community leaders who continue to leave their mark on the region.

From pioneering voting rights to leading businesses, protecting wild places, and strengthening communities, Wyoming women have always punched above their weight. More than 150 years later, that legacy of resilience, independence, and leadership remains one of the defining characteristics of the Cowboy State.

Women of Wyoming in Real Estate.

Whether it’s a ranch in Sheridan, a home in Cheyenne, a cabin in the mountains, or a property in Jackson Hole, women are increasingly making purchasing decisions on their own and building wealth through real estate.

According to national housing data, single women now purchase homes at roughly twice the rate of single men. They’re not just buying starter homes. They’re purchasing primary residences, investment properties, recreational properties, and legacy assets intended to be passed down for generations.

As a woman in real estate, I see this firsthand.

Many of the most prepared and decisive buyers I work with are women. They know what they want, they do their homework, and they are willing to make significant financial decisions independently. They aren’t waiting for permission, timing, or someone else’s approval. They are creating the life they want and using real estate as one of the tools to get there.

In a state built on independence and self-reliance, that feels fitting.

The women who fought for the right to vote in Wyoming weren’t waiting for the rest of the country to catch up. They were charting their own course. More than 150 years later, women across Wyoming continue to do the same, whether they’re leading businesses, stewarding ranches, serving their communities, or signing closing documents.

The frontier may look different today, but the Wyoming spirit behind it remains remarkably familiar and I’m happy to be a part of it!