Absaroka was a proposed state in the United States, that would have comprised parts of the states of Montana, South Dakota, and Wyoming, that contemplated secession and statehood in 1939. The movement began during the Great Depression as a form of protest against the governments of Montana, South Dakota, and Wyoming, who were criticized for failing to provide New Deal federal aid to rural ranchers and farmers, instead prioritizing urban centers.

Absaroka
proposed U.S. state
State of Absaroka
Flag
Nickname:  None
Map of the United States with Absaroka highlighted
Country	United States
Admitted to the Union	(Not admitted)
Capital	Sheridan (proposed 1939)
Largest city	Rapid City
Area
• Total	62,800 sq mi (162,700 km2)
• Rank	22nd (hypothetical)
Dimensions
• Length	460 mi (740 km)
• Width	210 mi (340 km)
Elevation	unknown ft (unknown m)
Highest elevation (Grand Teton)	13,775 ft (4,199 m)
Lowest elevation	unknown ft (unknown m)
Population
• Total	367,019
• Rank	51st of 51 (hypothetical)
• Density	5.84/sq mi (5.84/km2)
• Rank	50th of 51 (hypothetical)
Language
Time zone	UTC-07:00 (Mountain)
Latitude	43° N to 45° 56′ N
Longitude	102° W to 111°3′ W

A.R. Swickard served as a leader of the movement and later declared himself governor. Swickard hosted a series of public hearings regarding these grievances, receiving substantial media coverage and prompting the state governments to act. This led to broader distribution of federal aid, resulting in the succession movement dying out by the start of World War II. It has been widely debated if the movement was a serious attempt to form a new state.

History

The first propositions for the formation of a new state began in the mid 1930s during the height of the Great Depression.[1] The region's complaints came from ranchers and independent farmers in remote parts of Northern Wyoming, Southern Montana, and Western South Dakota who resented the New Deal.[2] Following the introduction of the New Deal, residents of the proposed state were discontent with the lack of federal aid they were receiving compared to the more urban parts of their respective states. Residents of Wyoming were particularly upset by the Democratic control of the state legislature, believing that their needs were being ignored, and the state was too focused on the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad.[1][3] This discontent led to rural Republicans calling for secession and formation of a new state.[1]

One of the leaders of the secessionist movement was A.R. Swickard, the street commissioner of Sheridan, Wyoming, who appointed himself "governor" and started hearing grievances in the "capital" of Sheridan.[4] Swickard, alongside his supporters drew the initial boarders for the state in the basement of the Sheridan Rotary Club, which would become the de facto headquarters for the movement.[1] Increasing tourism to the region was a motivation for the proposed state because Mount Rushmore (constructed 1927–1941) would be within Absaroka according to some plans.[5]

The name "Absaroka" is derived from the Hidatsa name for the Crow people,[6] meaning "children of the large-beaked bird".[1] In 1939, supporters for the movement crowned Miss Absaroka, emulating the Miss America beauty pageant. Images of Miss Absaroka, alongside state automobile license plates for Absaroka were issued soon after. That same year, the King of Norway toured southeast Montana, and supporters of the succession movement claimed this event as official recognition of the new state.[1]

Following the Miss Absaroka pageant, A.R. Swickard held a series of grievance hearings covering the perceived wrongs committed by the state of Wyoming. These hearings led to an increased media presence, prompting Wyoming, South Dakota, and Montana to spread state revenues more broadly to affected comminutes and, ultimately, rendered the secessionist movement largely defunct by the end of 1939.[7][1] The secessionists' activities ceased entirely following the onset of World War II and were largely forgotten by the time of the Eisenhower presidency.[1]

Reception and Legacy

The movement was unsuccessful and fairly short-lived. The chief record of its existence comes from a 1941 publication by the Federal Writers' Project, which included a story about the plan as an example of Western eccentricity.[8][3] The formation the Absaroka has been widely debated to have been "half serious".[9][1] Other historians have argued that the attempt to succeed was a 'tall-tale".[3] Interviews from people living in the area during the 1930's would later claim that the movement was not widely known, nor perceived to be serious.[1]

See also

• List of United States territories that failed to become states

References

External links

• Eight rebellious U.S. regions and secessionist efforts
• The State of Absaroka, South Dakota Magazine
• "The Great Depression and the New Deal in Wyoming"

Bibliography

• Parker, Watson. Deadwood: The Golden Years. 1981. p220. University of Nebraska Press.