Blaine County by Hawley, 1920

Blaine County was created by the act of March 5, 1895. which abolished the counties of Alta and Logan, the new county embracing all the territory in the two counties thus abolished. It was named for James G. Blaine, who served for many years as a representative in Congress from the State of Maine, and who was secretary of state in President Benjamin Harrison's cabinet. The act creating the county [provided that the following county ofiicers (made up from the officials elected in Alta and Logan counties at the preceding election) should serve until the next general election: Sidney Kelly, Israel T. Osborn and Fred W. Gooding, commissioners; H. H. Clay, treasurer and ex-ofiicio public administrator; Joseph J. McFadden, probate judge and ex-ofiicio superintendent of public instruction; Frank J. Mandell, surveyor; Andrew J. Dunn, coroner; and for the offices of sheriff, assessor and clerk it was provided that the official elected in one county should be the principal and the one from the other county the deputy for one year, and then exchange for the remainder of the term.

Since the erection of Blaine County its area has been reduced by the organization of Butte, Camas and Power counties. It is now bounded on the north by Custer County; on the east by Butte and Bingham counties; on the south by Power, Cassia, Minidoka and Lincoln counties; and on the west by Camas County. A large part of Blaine lies in the Sawtooth national forest, one of the best grazing sections in the west, and as many as three thousand carloads of sheep have been shipped from this range in one season. The valleys of the Big and Little Wood rivers and the Carey Valley are well adapted to agriculture, either by means of irrigation or dry farming methods.

The main line of the Oregon Short Line Railroad touches the southern part, near the Snake River, and a branch of this system runs to Ketchum, in the northern part of the county. These roads pass through the most thickly settled parts of the county and afford transportation facilities for the grain, hay, wool and live stock, which are the leading products. Hailey, the county seat, is situated on the branch railroad, northwest of the center of the county, and on the same line are the stations of Balaam, Bellevue, Gannett, Hay Spur, Ketchum and Picabo. On the main line of railroad are the stations of DeWoff, Hawley, Wapi and Yale. From each of these places large shipments are made every year.

A short distance from Hailey are the Clarendon Hot Springs and at Ketchum are the Guyer Hot Springs, both'noted camping places for sportsmen who visit the sawtooth reserve for big game. In 1910 the population of Blaine County was 8,387, and 1918 the property was assessed for tax purposes at $6,188,023."