JACKSON, Wyo. — In recognition of Women’s History Month, Buckrail remembers Jackson’s women pioneers.
Wyoming earned its nickname “The Equality State” by being the first to grant women the right to vote in 1869.
Less than a century later, right here in Jackson, residents elected an all-female town government, including a mayor, town council, town clerk, town treasurer, health officer and marshal. In 1920, Grace Miller served two terms as Mayor, leading the all-woman government, which made national headlines. During this time, Jackson Hole had just over 300 residents, and because of the harsh winters and remoteness, women mended fences and took on more male dominated roles.
More recently, in January 2021, Hailey Morton Levinson was sworn in as the fourth female mayor of Jackson.
Cafe Genevieve, the popular breakfast spot on Broadway, is named after the matron of that historic cabin, Genevieve Van Vleck. Van Vleck served on Jackson’s first all-female town council alongside Rose Crabtree, Grace Miller, Faustina Haight and Mae Deloney. They served on the town council from 1920 until 1923, and would go down in history as “the Petticoat Rulers.”
Visit the Jackson Hole Historical Society & Museum for more stories and photos of women who have shaped this place.
Buckrail runs this story annually.
