Named from the mountains and town, coming from the Indian word "ahsahta," the name given the numerous mountain sheep that thrive in the region. In English the word means "Big Horn" sheep. County seat is in Basin. (WPA) County in Wyoming, named from the range of mountains, which took their name from the sheep which were found in them. The Indian (Absaroka) name of the mountains was ahsahta, meaning "big head." (Gannett, 1905) Big Horn County was officially named by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names on April 2, 1913. (Decisions)
Other Names:
Bighorn River County
County:
Big Horn
Feature Category:
Special Features
Alternate Spellings:
Bighorn
More Reading:
Big Horn County, Wyoming : facts and maps through time. Blevins, Bruce H. Powell, Wyo. : WIM Marketing, c2000.; Big Horn County, Wyoming : the gem of the Rockies. Mercer, A. S. (Asa Shinn) Hyattville, Wyo. : A.S. Mercer, c1906.; Rebecca Hein. "Big Horn County, Wyoming. Wyohistory.org.
