In the 1930s, a movement started in parts of northern Wyoming, southeastern Montana and western South Dakota to combine and create a state that would be known as Absaroka. Wyoming would have given up the most.

Why Split the Three States?

Practicality and discontentment were both reasons for forming Absaroka. Roger Clawson, in an article published in the Billings Gazette, said A.R. (Art) Swickard, a Sheridan water commissioner at the time, felt northern Wyoming’s distance from Cheyenne caused neglect. According to a 1939 March 5th edition of The Sheridan Press, Swickard also believed an apparent lack of Republican patronage committee appointments existed in his portion of the state.

For many, Absaroka was a fun joke to get attention; however, the idea may have been well received by some South Dakotans.

The difficulties of western South Dakota are well known. We are never given a square deal by the state legislature which is dominated by eastern South Dakotans. The last straw came when an ore tax was recently proposed which is aimed at Homestake Mining Company, the largest industry in western South Dakota.

-Editorial excerpt from the Queen City Mail in South Dakota

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What would Absaroka Include?

Swickard, the self-appointed governor the potential state, said Absaroka is the real name for either the Crow Indians or the land of the Crows. It is also the name of a Wyoming mountain range. A 1930’s succession plan called for 10 Wyoming counties, four Montana counties, and 12 South Dakota counties to join together to form the new state. This plan would have almost split Wyoming in half.

Absaroka’s economy would have been bolstered by mining and ranching. The proposed map for the new state included a coal-rich landscape. The Black Thunder, Coal Creek, Cordero Rojo and other coal mines would have been located in Absaroka. Some of Montana’s coal mines would have also called the state home.

The new state believed it would be a major tourist attraction. Absaroka would have included the Black Hills, Mt. Rushmore, Devils Tower, the Bighorn and Teton ranges, and Yellowstone. The inclusion of these landmarks had future residents of the would-be state referring to it as “the nation’s playground” as you can see in the image below.

Mrs. Ester Booras and Mrs. Dorothy Wimer with the Absaroka State banner. Photo courtesy of the Sheridan County Public Library System

How Serious Was the Absaroka Idea?

Swickard seemed both fairly serious and jokingly attached to the idea of Absaroka. Continual chatter accompanied by action convinced one man that Absaroka would be the 49th state in the union if he didn’t do something.

According to an article from an unnamed newspaper clipping, Samuel W. King, one of Hawaii’s congressional representatives, stood up and waved his arms during a legislative session and shouted, “Hawaii is entitled by prior claim to be the 49th state. Let Absaroka be the 50th but Hawaii has claim to the 49th!”

You can’t blame King for worrying Hawaii’s place as the 49th state might be taken by this would-be state. Swickard created a state banner, minted coins, made license plates, designed a flag, and chose a miss Absaroka. Swickard even met with Nels H. Smith in Cheyenne at least once, Wyoming’s governor at the time.

Mrs. Ester Booras and Mrs. Dorothy Wimer competing for the title of Miss Absaroka holding the Absaroka state license plate. Photo courtesy of the Sheridan County Public Library System.

An article by Walter Harris, published in a 1976 edition of The Sheridan Press, describes the May 12, 1939, meeting between “governor” Swickard and Governor Smith.

It was just a friendly chat. I told the Governor of our sister state to the south of Buffalo that we had no warlike designs and that rumors we might try to secede by force were eroneous. We Absarodans are a peace loving lot, and while we think we really need the state of Absaroka, we are not inclined to revolution.

-Art Swickard, “governor” of Absaroka

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Serious or not, if Absaroka had been created, it would have drastically impacted the Forever West’s future.

Mrs. Ester Booras and Mrs. Dorothy Wimer with Art Swickard, the proposed governor of Absaroka. Photo by Walter Harris, courtesy of the Sheridan County Public Library System.