Wyoming 1937: Crime in the Cowboy State

Wyoming in 1937 was a state plagued by outlaw violence and gangland activity, as the nation grappled with the rising tide of organized crime. The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, established in 1930, provided a glimpse into the violent underbelly of America’s heartland during this tumultuous era. According to the UCR’s inaugural report for 1937, Wyoming ranked among the states with the highest rates of burglary and larceny, reflecting the state’s reputation as a lawless frontier.

Nationally, 1937 was a year marked by increasing gang violence and organized crime. The infamous Kansas City Massacre, which took place on June 17, 1933, had set the tone for a wave of brutal gangland killings that continued unabated throughout the decade. The FBI, under the leadership of J. Edgar Hoover, was expanding its efforts to combat organized crime, but the problem persisted. In Wyoming, the open range and sparse population made it an ideal breeding ground for outlaws and gangsters.

The UCR’s 1937 report also highlighted the rising rates of homicide across the country. While Wyoming’s homicide rate was not among the highest, the state’s violent crime rate was disproportionately high, reflecting the state’s reputation for lawlessness. The FBI attributed this trend to the economic hardship and social upheaval of the Great Depression, which created an environment conducive to crime.

As the nation struggled to recover from the Great Depression, the FBI continued to expand its UCR program, collecting data on burglary, larceny, and other crimes. The UCR’s 1937 report provided a snapshot of crime trends in Wyoming and across the country, highlighting the urgent need for law enforcement reform and community-based crime prevention initiatives. The data underscored the need for a coordinated effort to combat organized crime and reduce the incidence of violent crime.

The legacy of 1937’s crime trends in Wyoming can be seen in the state’s ongoing struggles with law enforcement and public safety. While significant progress has been made in reducing crime rates, the state’s reputation for lawlessness persists. The UCR’s 1937 report serves as a reminder of the importance of collecting and analyzing crime data to inform law enforcement strategies and community-based initiatives aimed at reducing crime and promoting public safety.