Skip navigation

Courtesy of Pro Photo Sun Valley

Idaho's official seal

Chronological History of Idaho

 

IDAHO TERRITORY 1863-89

1863 Idaho Territory organized, capital at Lewiston. President Lincoln signed the act establishing the territory on March 4. Soda Springs founded by Colonel Conner. Boise News of Idaho City issues first copy September 29. Mining begins in the Owyhees. Boise Barracks established at Moore Creek by Major P. Lugenbeel and the U.S. Cavalry. The townsite of Boise laid out by merchants under the lead of Cyrus Jacobs. First general election held October 31. First county established: Owyhee County, December 31.
1864 A resolution to make Boise the capital passes December 7. Public school system established for the territory. Julius Newburg Road completed in Elmore County September 7. Ben Holliday establishes first stagecoach line. The Idaho Statesman begins tri-weekly publication in Boise. Ada, Alturas, Boise, Idaho, Kootenai, Lah-Toh, Nez Perce, Oneida and Shoshone counties created.
1865 Boise becomes the capital of Idaho. J.M. Taylor and Robert Anderson erect bridge across Snake River near present day Idaho Falls. Boise-Rocky Bar stage begins operations, later extended to Silver City.
1866 Gold discovered at Leesburg in Lemhi County. Survey of public lands begun, L.F. Cartee surveyor. Congress passes Federal Lode Mining Act. State of Columbia proposed by the Idaho legislature in a petition to Congress, to include all the lands in western Montana, northern Idaho, and eastern Washington.
1867 Gutzon Borglum, Mount Rushmore sculptor, born in Bear Lake County March 25. Bishop Tuttle, an Episcopal priest, arrives in Boise October 12. Idaho Legislature repeals oath of allegiance to U.S., a riot commences and Federal troops are called out. Lah-Toh County abolished, territory annexed to Kootenai County.
1869 Statue of George Washington, carved from native wood by Charles Ostner, is unveiled on the capitol grounds at Boise. Idaho State Law Library established. Placer gold strike made at Oro Grande. Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads complete transcontinental railway at Promontory Summit, Utah on May 10, improves transportation to Idaho. Chinese workers flock to Idaho mines. Fort Hall Indian Reservation set aside by President Grant for Shoshonis and Bannocks of southern Idaho. First telegraph office established at Franklin, linking the town with Salt Lake City, Lemhi County created.
1870 Idaho population: 14,999 later census figure shows 17,804 as Utah-Idaho border was not clearly established. Caribou gold rush in southeastern Idaho.
1872 U.S. Assay office and Idaho prison completed. Strike drives Chinese labor out of Owyhee mines.
1873 Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation set aside by President Grant for the Coeur d'Alene and Spokane Indians.
1874 First railroad in Idaho: Utah Northern, to Franklin. Idaho's first daily newspaper, The Owyhee Daily Avalanche, issued at Silver City October 17. Telegraph reaches Silver City.
1875 Lemhi Indian Reservation set aside by President Ulysses S. Grant for Shoshonis, Bannocks, and Tukuarikas. Bear Lake County created. Bank failure ruins Silver City and South Mountain Mines.
1877 National Desert Land Act passed by Congress for reclaiming land by irrigation. Nez Perce Indian War: Warriors under Chief Joseph's command went on warpath after the government opened to settlement the Wallowa Valley in Oregon. Battles fought at White Bird - June 14th through 29th. Battle of Clearwater fought July 11 and 12. Fighting then moved into Montana. The war ended on October 5 with the surrender of Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce. Duck Valley Indian Reservation set aside by President Hayes for the Shoshonis and Paiutes.
1878 Bannock Indian War: Bannocks led by Chief Buffalo Horn, and Paiutes led by Chief Egan, went on the warpath when the United States Government opened the Camas Prairie, which had been reserved for the Indians. Battles fought at South Mountain and Bennett Creek.
1879 The Sheepeater Indian War: Renegade Bannocks and Tukuarika Indians go on warpath. Indians hide out in the hills of central Idaho subsisting on sheep they kill during their raids. Battles fought at Big Creek and Loon Creek. Indians surrender September 1. Utah Northern railroad completed within Idaho on its path from Salt Lake City to Helena, Montana. Cassia and Washington counties created.
1880 Idaho population: 32,619. Discovery of lead-silver lodes in the Wood River area, the rush to Bellevue, Hailey and Ketchum transforms southcentral Idaho. The Boise and Lewiston Independent School Districts created. North Idaho Annexation political party forms to counteract the powerful "Boise Ring".
1881 Historical Society of Idaho Pioneers forms to collect and preserve a reliable history of the early settlement of the territory. The Hailey Times begins daily publication. Wells Fargo office established at Challis. Custer County created. Earthquake centered 20 miles east of Mount Idaho August 9.
1882 Northern Pacific railroad completed across the northern part of the Territory. Construction began on the New York Canal in Ada County. 1883 First telephone service in Idaho commenced at Hailey October 1. Rexburg is founded. Oregon Short Line completed through southern Idaho.
1884 Coeur d'Alene gold rush, followed by Tiger and Polaris mines opening lead-silver operations. The Oregon Short Line arrives in Ketchum August 19. Freight and passenger service begins on Coeur d'Alene Lake. Oregon Short Line reaches Weiser, connecting Idaho to the Pacific coast. Wallace is founded.
1885 The legislature approves construction of Territorial Capitol building at an expense of $80,000. Test Oath Act adopted by legislature, designed to bar Mormons from voting and holding public office. Legislature locates insane asylum at Blackfoot. Famous poet Ezra Pound born at Hailey October 30. Bingham County created. Bunker Hill and Sullivan mines begin operation.
1886 Utah Northern merges with Oregon Short Line and joins Union Pacific system. Separate bills to annex north Idaho to Washington Territory pass each chamber of Congress, but are not reconciled. Construction on the Territorial Capitol completed. Nampa city platted.
1887 Electric light plant goes into operation at Hailey to supply power for territory's first electric lights. Wardner miner's union established after wage reductions at Bunker Hill and Sullivan mines. Compulsory education law passed. A bill to annex north Idaho to Washington Territory passes Congress, but is not signed by President Cleveland and does not become law.
1888 Ricks Academy, now known as Ricks College, established in Rexburg. Latah County created by U.S. Congress.
1889 As a conciliatory move to keep north Idaho from seceding, the Territorial legislature locates the University of Idaho at Moscow. Constitutional convention composed of sixty-eight members meet at Boise July 4 and after laboring twenty-eight days, forms and adopts constitution for the state of Idaho August 6. Constitution is ratified by the people on November 5 by a vote of 12,398 to 1,773. Fire in Hailey causes $750,000 worth of damage. Elmore county created.

Return to Idaho History