Goshen County is the GATEWAY TO THE WEST because it was traversed by the Oregon, Mormon, California and Texas Trails, the Cheyenne to Deadwood Stage Route, The Pony Express and the overland telegraph lines of the 1800's.  The North Platte Valley is a most historic section of the Western United States.  Using the North Platte River as their guide, the first of the emigrants from the East crossed into the present state of Wyoming in 1843.  They camped along the North Platte in southeastern Wyoming in what is now Goshen County.  For two decades, the county served as the GATEWAY TO THE WEST for approximately 350,000 pioneers following the trails to the west.  The pioneer trails sliced diagonally through the county producing some of the most historic sites in Wyoming.  Fort Laramie was one of the most important military posts between the Mississippi River and the Pacific Coast.  The Fort provided a source of necessary provisions for the emigrants and served to protect the travelers along the trails from the Indians.

The valley has been agriculturally oriented for centuries, because it escapes many of the severe winter storms.  Indian tribes lived in the valley growing crops along the North Platte River and hunting in the uplands.  They were driven out by nomadic tribes and eventually trappers and traders occupied the valley.  Present day residents still enjoy pleasant, mild winters, low humidity, clear skies and fresh water.

In 1890, the same year as Wyoming's statehood, the Burlington Railroad stretched into the North Platte Valley with the first passenger train arriving in the spring of that year.  In the 1920's, the Union Pacific Railroad expanded into Goshen County.

Records show a considerable amount of prospecting for precious metals in the early days.  The principal industry was and still is agriculture.  The hardy settlers built the canal north of Torrington in 1883 to divert water from the North Platte River to irrigate their crops.  Further construction of canals occured in 1886 and 1892.  These canals became the life blood of the valley allowing farming to become big business.  Over 200,000 cattle are raised and marketed in Goshen County.  Potatoes, dry edible beans, corn, small grains, alfalfa and sugar beets are among the crops produced.

Fort Laramie National Historic Site is a favorite of visitors to the county.  The living history program offers a glimpse into the past.  The Fort was established in the confluence of the Laramie and North Platte Rivers and accounts for much of the early history of the area.  The Homesteaders Museum, located at the south edge of Torrington, chronicles the early settler era of the county.  Artifacts from the early archeological times can be found at the Western History Center west of Lingle.