Goshen County

The region that will be Goshen County is part of the Missouri Territory.

Robert Stuart and the returning Astorians are the first recorded white men to pass by what will become Fort Laramie. While camped at the mouth of the Laramie River they leave the first recorded description of the area. They discover what will become the Oregon Trail

The Rocky Mountain fur trappers and traders, including Indians and mountain men, begin holding most of their annual meetings along the Green River.

Rev. Samuel Parker held first Protestant service in Wyoming near present Bondurant.

Rendezvous missionary Dr. Marcus Whitman removes, to the amusement and amazement of the assembled multitudes, a 2-inch arrow or spearhead that had been lodged in Jim Bridger's shoulder for the preceding 3 years.

Fort William is sold to the American Fur Company.

Elizabeth Spaulding and Narcissa Whitman, brides of missionaries, visit Fort Laramie, making them the first white women to pass over the Oregon Trail, and the first known white women in the future state of Wyoming.

The American Fur Company replaces deteriorating log Fort William with a new adobe fort, Fort John (later, Fort Laramie).

The Bidwell-Bartelson party passes Fort Laramie enroute to California, the first true wagon train bound for California.

First Drunk Driving Fatality in Wyoming - the Sioux chief Susu-ceicha fell off his horse and broke his neck after riding back and forth between Fort John and Fort Platte, "receiving strongly drugged liquor."

Capt. John C. Fremont's first expedition to Wyoming. He explored the central portion of the state, discovered the South Pass, named Fremont Peak, and established the Overland Trail.

Gold is discovered in the South Pass district, but the major gold rush will be delayed by the coming Civil War and will start late in the 1860s.

Lieutenant John C. Fremont passes Fort Laramie on his first exploratory trip to the Rockies.

The great migration begins on the Oregon Trail.

The Cow Column passes Fort Laramie. This train represented the first of the wagon trains to Oregon.

Eastern Wyoming part of Nebraska Territory.

The region that will be Goshen County is part of the Nebraska Territory.

Colonel Stephen W. Kearny councils with the Indians at Fort Laramie to insure safe passage for the growing tide of emigrants traveling along the trail. This is the first peace council at Fort Laramie.

The Donner Party passes through Fort Laramie on their fateful trip to the west.

 Brigham Young leads the first of the Mormon emigrants through Fort Laramie in search of their Zion, the valley of the Great Salt Lake. Mormon ferry established on North Platte River.

The high tide of emigration passes Fort Laramie, nearly 50,000 people.

Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851 (Horse Creek Treaty) is signed.

Mormon emigrants pass Fort Laramie using "handcarts," the first of many handcart pioneers.

Pony Express started.

Second school in Wyoming established at Fort Bridger by Judge William A. Carter, with Miss Fannie Foot as teacher.

Transcontinental telegraph completed and Pony Express discontinued.

Fort Halleck (1862 - 1866) established on Overland Trail.

Overland stage line changed route from Oregon Trail to Overland (Cherokee) Trail.

Bozeman Trail established.

First newspaper in Wyoming, The Daily Telegraph, established at Fort Bridger.

Fort Reno (1865 - 1868) established.

Battle of Platte Bridge, Lt. Caspar Collins killed.

Platte Bridge station renamed Fort Caspar.

Powder River Indian Expedition under Gen. Patrick E. Connor.

The "Bloody Year on the Plains."

Fort Phil Kearny (1866 - 1868) established on Bozeman Trail.

Fetterman Fight takes place on December 21, and 81 soldiers die at the battle. John "Portugee" Phillips and Daniel Dixon start their ride to Deer Creek Station. 

Nelson Story drove first herd of cattle through Wyoming, going north to Montana.

Fort Sanders (1 866 - 1882) established on Overland Trail.

Peace Council is held at Fort Laramie to secure the right to use the Bozeman Trail. The peace council fails after Colonel Henry B. Carrington arrives with troops to establish Bozeman Trail forts. Start of Red Cloud's War.

Fetterman Fight takes place. John "Portugee" Phillips rides to Fort Laramie, arriving (so goes the legend) during a Christmas Night party at Old Bedlam.

Fort D.A. Russell and Camp Carlin established.

Union Pacific Railroad enters Wyoming.

Cheyenne founded.

Gold discovered near South Pass, causing a population growth to more than 2,000 seemingly overnight.

Wagon Box Fight.

Fort Fetterman (1867 - 1882) established.

25 July:  Wyoming Territory created.

Wind River Reservation for Shoshone Indians created by treaty.

Fort Fred Steele (1868 - 1886) established.

Red Cloud wins his war with the government and a peace council is held at Fort Laramie, resulting in the signing of the Treaty of 1868, which sets aside the Great Sioux Reservation.

Wyoming Territory organized.

10 Dec:  John A. Campbell, first territorial governor, signs the "Female Suffrage" bill giving Wyoming women the right to vote.

Camp Augur (later Camp Brown and then Fort Washakie) established.

March: Women first empaneled for jury service (Laramie).

06 Sep: First equal suffrage vote cast in the nation by Mrs. Louisa Swain of Laramie.

Fort Stambaugh founded (1870 - 1878).

Wyoming's population is 9,118

William "Buffalo Bill" Cody begins guiding hunting parties and even a Yale paleontologist through the Yellowstone and Big Horn Basin area.

First Wyoming high school opens in Cheyenne.

The Wyoming Stock Growers Association is formed.

First bridge in state of Wyoming - Army constructs an iron bridge over the North Platte River near Fort Laramie.

Black Hills stage line launched (Cheyenne)..

Fort McKinney (1877 - 1894) established.

Second Powder River Expedition.

Battle of Little Big Horn in Montana.

The campaign of 1876 begins, involving troops from Fort Laramie under the command of General George Crook. Fort Laramie troops fight in the Reynolds Fight of March 17th, and the Battle of the Rosebud on June 17th.

Agreement made with Shoshone Indians to allow Arapahoes to move onto Wind River Reservation.

Cantonment Reno is redesignated Fort McKinney.

Chief Joseph leads his Nez Perce people through the "Devil's Doorway" in the Yellowstone area during their attempted escape to Canada.

Cheyenne Club built by wealthy cattlemen.

Wyoming's population is 20,789

Northwestern Railroad reached eastern boundary of Wyoming.

Cheyenne and Northern Railroad reached Douglas.

First county library law in U.S. enacted by Wyoming Territorial Legislative Assembly.

First county library established in Cheyenne .

First county fair in state, Johnson County.

10 July: Wyoming Territory admitted into Union as 44th state. One-fourth of Wyoming's population is foreign born -  originating from England, Germany, Ireland, Scotland, Sweden, Canada, Russia, Denmark, Wales, China, Norway, Italy, Austria, and France.

After using a couple of other names for their town, Buffalo Bill's company picks Cody in the hopes that his reputation will bring in settlers. It works.

Bighorn National Forest is established.

First Cheyenne Frontier Days are celebrated, beginning on September 23rd.

Chief Washakie buried with full military honors in post cemetery at Fort Washakie.

Bloody skirmishes occur between cattle ranchers and sheep raisers, 1900-1910.

Population of Wyoming is 92,531

Cody charms the Burlington Railroad into building a 70-mile-long spur to his town.

Wyoming Frontier Prison in Rawlins opens for prisoners.

J.C. Penney opens his first store in Kemmerer on April 13th.

Yellowstone Forest Reserve (Shoshone National Forest) is the first national forest in the country.

Tom Horn hanged in Cheyenne, November 20; buried in Boulder, Colorado.

Willis Van Devanter, Wyoming lawyer, named to U.S. Supreme Court.

Mrs. Mary G. Bellamy of Laramie first woman elected to Wyoming legislature.

First amendment to Wyoming Constitution ratified.

Buffalo Bill Dam on the Shoshone is completed.

Second Homestead Act provided free land for development

Pathfinder Dam on the North Platte River is completed.

Transcontinental air mail planes crossed Wyoming.

Population of Wyoming is 194,402

Salt Creek oil field opened.

U.S. Secretary of the Interior leases Teapot Dome naval oil reserves in Wyoming.

Mrs. Nellie Tayloe Ross (1876 - 1977), first woman governor in U.S.

Teapot Dome scandal.