Boise County, an original county
"Boise County was named for the French word meaning "wooded", given earlier to the Boise River. Fur trappers were in what is now Boise County as early as 1824. Gold was discovered in Boise Basin in 1862, and it was one of the richest gold mining districts in the nation. Its wealth helped develop the state politically and economically. Sawmills operated in the county in 1864, and after the mining boom subsided, lumbering became an important industry through the remainder of its history. Tourism and recreation also are important to the county. Fish and game are plentiful in its mountains, and Idaho City, which at its peak in the 1860's and 1870's had about 10,000 inhabitants, and was for a time the largest city in the northwest, attracts thousands of tourists each year. Agriculture exists in some of the valleys, particularly at Horseshoe Bend and in Garden Valley."-- "The Idaho Almanac," 1977 Edition, State of Idaho. map from Almanac ISU atlas map Neighboring counties
Boise County is the "parent county" to
Ada County (Dec 1864),
Washington County (Feb 1879),
Adams County (established March 1911 from Washington County),
Canyon County (March 1891),
Gem County (March 1915 from Canyon County and part of the then-existing Boise County),
Payette County (1917 from Canyon County)
and
the southern half of Valley County (Feb 1917).
1895 Rand McNally map, before Valley Co. ws created, also shows Northern Gem County
Boise County as we know it today is largely mountainous timber, cut by the Payette River in the west and the north and the Boise River in the south. Over eighty percent of the county is public land.
The first post office in this part of the state was established at Placerville in 1863. (Boise County post office history)
Boise County and Idaho City on "Pacific Coast Business Directory for 1876-78," Compiled By Henry G. Langley, Editor of the California State Register, Pacific Coast Almanac, San Francisco, 1875: "Pacific Coast Business Directory for 1876-78," Compiled By Henry G. Langley, Editor of the California State Register, Pacific Coast Almanac, San Francisco, 1875.
1898 Mining Districts Map
1899 Mining Report
Banner Summit and Emile Grandjean
Boise County by Hawley, 1920
Brownlee Trail, Brownlee, Dry Buck
1915 Polk's Directory for Pinehurst For rest of county - Polk's 1914 Business Directory
Brownlee Cemetery
Eagle Eye of the Northern Shoshone ~ Eagle Eye, Last Chief of the Tukudika ~ Tukudika, Indians of the Wilderness (Forest Service histories)
Esmond Stage Stop, 1885 Mail Robbery
Harris Creek Toll Gate
Payette River Road
Martial Law, 1931, "to prevent incenciarism;" in Idaho, Boise, Gem, Valley, Adams, Custer and Lemhi Counties
Post Offices and Postmasters
Placerville
William J. McConnell Tells about First Idaho Farms, Idaho Statesman, date unknown
John H. Porter Biography
Star Ranch and Ranft family history
Off site - Boise County Sentinel at Salmon Public Library, 1912 & 1916, published at Sweet; plus other publications
Payette River
"The Payette River is
beautiful but deadly" by Arthur Hart
Payette River Log Drives,"
"River Tales of Idaho" by Darcy Williamson
Payette River National Scenic Byway Plan
History of the Payette River
History at Boise National Forest
News Items
digitized Idaho newspapers at Library of Congress - includes
1864, Jan. 4, Boise News, Shooting at Placerville on Christmas Day; vigilance committee talked of; Dr. Terry shot unidentified claim jumper
1867, March 30, Idaho World:Cost of firewood in Boise is $12 cord, $10 cord Idaho City
1869, Salt to deter bedbugs
1875, Centerville Business Directory, G. W. Crafts, Jerome Beardsley, Chris Meffert, Stephen Dempsey, French Joe, A. Dobbs
1877, Apr. 6 - Idaho World, describing St. Patrick's Day celebration in Idaho City: music by Messrs. Mace Chapman, Lucus and Robinson; hostess Mrs. Carnthers
1880, cribbage board as bed-bug collector
1882, April - Mrs. Louis Grostein finds gold in duck gizzard
1883, Apr: V.W. Coffin fatally shot by T. F. Cottner, in "Squaw Creek mountains in Boise County," later described as Dry Buck Basin
1883, Nov: Grand Ball at Wm. Charters, Garden Valley
1883, Nov: Grand Ball, Idaho City
1884, Cottner supposedly in NV
1885, Man answers Cottner's description
1885, August: Mr. and Mrs. E. T. Morgan, peach crop immense in Jackass Basin and Jerusalem
1885, Dave Bunch and son Lee selling meat; George Camp
1887, April Fools warning
1890, Hunter from Geo. Alexander's place in town with hides
1891, Aug. 7, Idaho World - Unidentified man lost between Kemper's Ranch and Banner
1891, Aug. 11, Idaho World - Olaf Raaen fatally injured in riding accident
1902, Feb. - work progressing on canal for Horse Shoe Bend Power Plant, to provide power to Pearl
Waverly
1912, Apr. County Seat fight to be a lively scrap
1912, Aug. Montour and Waverly removal petitions
1912, Sept. Power Plant Planned, seven miles north of Horseshoe Bend
1912, Oct. Montour to be only name on ticket
1955, The Idaho Statesman, Pinehurst Church
Photos -
Reed's Sawmill, Dry Buck, and Reed Bros. Logging Crew
1909 Canyon Canal Dam, Payette River
1912, Greater Boise Excursion to Arrow Rock (flickr/waterarchives.org)
Horseshoe Bend 1911 (postcard)
Horseshoe Bend Dam c. 1910
Power Dam, Horseshoe Bend, c. 1910
Links
Boise Co., IDGenWeb
Boise Co. USGenweb Archives
 Payette River Canyon, N. Horseshoe Bend |
 South Fork Near Lowman |
