COMMUNITY
Around Town
As the state capital and the Union Pacific Railroad’s dividing point, Cheyenne is both the political and economic hub of the state.
The “Magic City on the Plains” is the crossroads of the Old West and the New West, a community where the romance of the western tradition thrives alongside the most modern businesses competing in the global economy.
Most residents agree the city’s greatest asset is its “livability.” Clean air, little traffic congestion, relatively low crime, affordable housing, low taxes and cost of living, good schools, recreational and cultural activities, good health care and yes, even an attractive climate are a few benefits of the Cheyenne community.
The Laramie County Library boasts 94,000 volumes, while the state library has 130,000 volumes and more than 450,000 documents. For the theater-minded, the Cheyenne Little Theater Players have more than 500 volunteers for year-round plays and western melodramas at the historic Atlas Theater. The Cheyenne Civic Center brings in national talent and is host to the Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra.
The city has one of the most active recreational leagues around with baseball, softball, soccer and basketball. There are three 18-hole golf courses and a stock car track with pro and semipro rounds, swimming, tennis, football, handball, bowling, pool, roller and ice skating, ice fishing, picnics and snowmobiling.
Cheyenne attractions include several enjoyable afternoon trips. Guided tours of the Capitol, with its gold dome, include a look at the gleaming marble floors, stately woodwork, stained glass and historic and full-sized wildlife displays. The historic governor’s mansion has turn-of-the-century to 1930s artifacts. The Carriage House Art Center and Big Boy, the world’s largest steam locomotive, are in Holliday Park.
Museums include the state museum downtown and the Old West Museum, which is on Frontier Days grounds.
Municipal Services
The Cheyenne Police Department works to serve the community with many innovative programs, such as a citizen’s police academy. In this program, citizens attend a 13-week class, taught by officers from the department.
The fire department has five divisions that function at the direction and responsibility of the fire chief. The five divisions of the department are: fire administration, fire prevention, public information, training and suppression. The fire department has an “all hazard” emergency response, prevention education and code compliance through the responsible administration and direction of the resources provided.
Government
A mayor and city council govern Cheyenne. As Wyoming’s capital city, Cheyenne is home to large contingents of state, federal and local government employees and a large private service sector based on the government economy. One of every three employees in Cheyenne works for government. The governor of Wyoming calls Cheyenne home.
Education
Cheyenne’s Laramie County School District 1 consists of three high schools, three junior high schools, and 25 elementary schools. All school calendars and curriculums are the same.
School registration occurs in August and details of registration are published in the Warren Sentinel.
Transportation to schools vary. The Warren Youth Center offers a before and after school program with transportation to schools furnished by the Laramie County School District. To resolve bus problems, parents should call the bus garage at 771-2628.
Students residing on base attend Freedom Elementary. Older students attend McCormick Junior High School or Central Senior High School. Students living off base attend the closest school with available classroom space. Call 771-2100 for placement assistance.
Birth certificates and shot records are required for enrollment. Special education records must be requested from previous school and permission given to forward to current school. If the child’s current school has a policy restricting the shipment of school records, then LCSD will request the records and make every effort to place the student at the school closest to the child’s home.
For more information call the LCSD at 771-2188.
There are five private schools in the local area within a five-mile radius from the base.
Colleges in the area include Laramie County Community College, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Park College, University of Phoenix and the University of Wyoming.
Faith
Cheyenne is home to people of all faiths. More than 100 churches and synagogues representing all faiths are dotted throughout the community and offer a wide array of social, educational and community services.
Here in the Equality State, no one religion dominates or predominates, and people of many faiths find a high degree of acceptance and tolerance.
Shopping
Shopping and dining opportunities are numerous: with more than 100 individual businesses, downtown shops include western stores, computer businesses, bookstores, flower shops, antique shops and flea markets.
There are more than 40 dining choices including American, Italian, Chinese, Mexican and Japanese cuisine.
While Cheyenne offers numerous shopping opportunities, Prime Outlets in Loveland, Colo., consists of more than 82 stores with the latest fashions and is located north of Denver off I-25 at U.S. 34 (Loveland exit 257B).
Festivals & Events
Cheyenne Frontier Days is commonly referred to as the “Daddy of ‘em All” and is the world’s largest outdoor rodeo. The phrase was coined in 1919 by T. Joe Cahill, who served as a committeeman that year.
CFD remains a favorite rodeo for PRCA competitors and rodeo fans, and Cheyenne’s champions are known to proudly display their winning belt buckles as status symbols. More than 1,600 contestants compete each year for a purse of more than $1,000,000. CFD offers more rodeo action in one day than many rodeos offer in a whole week; more than 40 bulls and 70 saddle and bareback broncs try to throw rodeo’s best cowboys every day. CFD also features nightly concerts under the stars by top entertainers.
Each year’s CFD celebration includes parades featuring one of the world’s largest collection of horse-drawn, antique carriages and classic automobiles; a carnival midway and free entertainment stage; three free pancake breakfasts held in downtown Cheyenne, which feed 10,000 people at each two-hour meal; an Indian Village featuring Native American dancers, exhibits and food; the Air Force Thunderbirds aerial demonstration and the CFD Old West Museum.
Cheyenne individuals, businesses and associations volunteer their time and resources to stage additional events that enhance the annual CFD celebration. These events include the Cheyenne Gunslingers, who hold gunfights in downtown Cheyenne; Fort D.A. Russell Days, where visitors witness base history and tour Warren and an Old Fashioned Melodrama and Olio Acts staged at the Historic Atlas Theater.
For more information on Cheyenne, visit www.cheyennechamber.org
Day Trips
Fort Collins is a vibrant community of 137,000, including more than 24,000 students at Colorado State University, nestled against the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, 65 miles north of Denver.
Fort Collins offers the convenience of a small town with all the amenities of a larger city.
There are seven golf courses in Fort Collins. The EPIC Center features swimming, figure skating and hockey. Outside the Fort Collins city limits lie ski resorts, cross-country trails, hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking and camping.
The Foothills Fashion Mall has more than 100 nationwide retailers and local stores. Historic downtown Fort Collins boasts local specialty stores and restaurants in an outdoor pedestrian mall.
Cultural events and festivals in Fort Collins include the Canyon Concert Ballet, the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra and the Open Stage Theatre Company. In addition to local groups, nationally acclaimed shows and musicians often perform in Fort Collins. The Historic Old Town District is home to numerous events including the annual New West Fest in August and the free Concert Under the Stars summer series. The Sweatsville Zoo is a sculpture park with more than 100 artistic pieces made entirely from scrap metal.
For more information on Fort Collins, visit the Internet at http://www.fcchamber.org/.
Denver lies in the foothills of the Rocky Mountain region, approximately two hours south of Cheyenne. The Denver area offers an excellent location to serve the entire nation, especially the fast growing western and southwestern regions of the United States.
At an altitude of 5,280 feet, Denver’s proximity to the Rocky Mountains offers visitors an abundance of recreation options. Denver has the largest city park system in the nation, and thousands of acres of open space are located around the city. Denver actively supports the arts and is home to a full-range of cultural attractions. The Denver Center for Performing Arts Complex has a venue for national touring companies, in addition to locally produced plays and attractions. Boettcher Concert Hall is home to the Colorado Symphony Orchestra and features world-class performers in both classical and popular productions. Red Rocks Amphitheater is an outdoor concert site for performers and audiences alike.
Colorado is well represented in the professional sports arena; teams include the Denver Broncos, Colorado Rockies, Colorado Avalanche, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Mammoth, Colorado Crush and Colorado Rapids.
For more information on Denver, visit the Internet at www.denverchamber.org.