Afton, WY

    Afton, WY

    • Settled: Founded in 1885 by Mormon pioneers led by Archibald Gardner, who settled along Star Valley’s fertile Salt River
    • Origin of Name: William Bedge, an official of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gazed at Swift Creek and remarked that poet Burns could have sung, “Flow gently, sweet Afton,” referring to the stream in Ayrshire, Scotland, while looking at the stream and his companions decided to call the settlement Afton; and alternate story is that is that afton was a Scottish term, meaning “evening;”
    • Notable Features: Afton, largest commercial center in Star Valley, is home to the world’s largest arch made of elk antlers, spanning 75 feet across the four lane Hwy 89; containing 3,011 elk antlers, the arch weighs 15 tons; post Office; town hall; cemetery, fire department; LDS Church and temple; a live theater facilityseveral museums; county and private schools, convenience stores eating places, downtown retail sector; hosts Lincoln County Fair & Rodeo
    • Known For: Settled largly by Swiss dairymen, the area became famous for its milk and chees products, particulary Swiss cheese, earning its nickname as “Little Switzerland; at one time Thayne boasted the world’s largest cheese plant: but conditions changed, the cheese plant closed, and today few local dairies exist; many farmers instead turned to beef and hay production; tourism has increasingly become a more important source of revenue, since Afton is located on Hwy 89, known as the gateway to Yellowstone and Teton National Parks
    • Local Celebrations: Pioneer Days on July 24th, Liincoln county Fair & Rodeo each August
    • Location: 46.8 miles (48 minutes) north of Montpelier, ID on Hwy 89
    • Population in 2024: 2.180, up from 2,172 at 2020 Census

    Last Mortified: