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    Bear Lake Valley Quick Facts & Resources

    Bennington to Georgetown

    Georgetown, ID

    • Settled:1864- by Mormon settlers led by Charles C. Rich
    • Origin of Name: Named by Brigham Young to honor Mormon Apostle George Q. Cannon
    • Original Name: Twin Creeks
    • Location: 12 miles northwest of Montpelier on Hwy 30, 18 miles south of Soda Springs
    • Famous for: Agriculture, country living
    • Community Events & Celebrations: “Twin Creeks” Days-July, honoring original town name
    • Notable Features: City Offices, Museum. Cemetery, Post Office, Elementary School, City Park, Church, Speed Trap
    • Population 2010 Census: 476

    Georgetown City Offices – 208 847-2120 – 382 Main St.
    Post Office – 208 275-8777 – 223 Main St.

    Bennington, ID

    • Settled: 1864- by Mormon settlers under Charles C. Rich
    • Origin of Name: Brigham Young is said to have named it after Bennington, VT, where he once lived.
    • Original Site: Unnamed for two years, the community moved to its present location in 1873, since the original site was difficult to farm
    • Location: 7 miles north of Montpelier, 18 miles south of Soda Springs on Hwy 30
    • Famous for: Agriculture, country living
    • Well Known Natives: Pioneer Amos “Mose” Wright; John H.Tippetts, politician
    • Notable Features: City Offices, LDS church, Cemetery
    • Population 2010 Census: 190

    Nounan Valley, ID

    • Settled: 1873 by Mormon settlers Phileman Christopher Merrill, his son & Sylvanus Collet
    • Origin of Name: Named after James Douglas Nounan, a railroad tie contractor for the Oregon Shortline Railroad
    • Location: About 20 miles northwest of Montpelier on Hwy 30, turn west on Pescadera Road, crossing the mountain pass, 22.5 miles southwest of Soda Springs
    • Established for: Beef cattle ranching, dairying, timber harvest
    • Past Local Features: School, Church, Post Office. It also has a Cemetery

    Garden City to Laketown

    Garden City, UT

    • Settled: 1877- By Mormon settlers led by Charles C. Rich
    • Originally Named: Independence, later Bellview, rejected by the post office, since there were “too many Bellviews.”
    • Origin of Name: Named after early settler Wright A. Moore’s proclamation, “We live in a city of beautiful gardens.” The name stuck, & applied to the settlement thereafter
    • Location: 30 miles southwest of Montpelier on Hwy 89, along Bear Lake’s west shore
    • Notable Features: Post Office, City Offices, Fire Department, New City Park, Library, Utah Bear Lake State Park Office, Marina, Outdoor Recreation, Bear Lake Valley Convention & Visitor Bureau, Chamber of Commerce; LDS & Other Churches, Shopping, Variety of Eating Places & Convenience Stores; Main Commerce & Recreation Center for Bear Lake
    • Historical Event: In 1903, Horatio Nelson Jackson & Sewall Crocker stopped in Garden City on the first automobile journey across the United States
    • Community Events & Celebrations: Bear Lake Monster Winterfest Event- January; Garden City Independence Day Celebration- July; Raspberry Days- August
    • 2010 Census Population: 562, including Pickleville

    Garden City Town Hall – 435 946-2215 – 69 Paradise Pkwy.
    Post Office – 800 275-8777 – 95 W. Logan Rd.
    Church of Jesus Christ – 65 S. Bear Lake Blvd – 100 S. Paradise Pkwy
    The Village Church – 435 946-3399 – 60 W. Logan Canyon Rd.

    Pickleville, UT

    • Settled: 1864- by Mormon settlers led by Charles C. Rich
    • Origin of Name: Named after Warren W. Pickle, a local leader. When the growing community required resources, but its leaders could not get much done, Pickle said he’d do the job, if the community was named after him. Obviously he was successful
    • Location: 2.6 miles southeast of Garden City on Hwy 89, along the southwestern shores of Bear Lake
    • Notable Features: Pickleville Playhouse live theater
    • Historical Overview: Historically known as a Bear Lake recreation center. Prominent businesses include Ideal Amusement Co. founded in 1916 & Sweetwater, begun in 1970 by a group partially owned by television personality, Art Linkletter. Once its own town, Pickleville merged with Garden City in 1979

    Laketown, UT

    • Settled: 1864- By Mormon settlers led by Charles C. Rich
    • Origin of Name: Named for nearby Bear Lake; Laketown evolved from Last Chance, an early settlement
    • Location: 10 miles southeast of Garden City on Hwy 89 on Bear Lake’s southeast shore
    • Notable Features: Post Office, City Offices, Fire Department, Rendezvous Beach Bear Lake State Park, Marina, Outdoor Recreation; Elementary School K-5, Middle School 6-8, High School 9-12; LDS Church, DUP Museum; Auto Repair, Convenience Store & Fast Food; known in its early days for quality education
    • Historical Event: Rendezvous for Hudson Bay Company held in 1827 & 1828, near present day Rendezvous Beach. In 1828 William Ashton’s cannon became the first wheeled carriage on what later became The Oregon Trail.
    • Well Known Natives: John Brown, fantasy writer
    • 2010 Census Population: 245
    • Bear Lake, known as “The Caribbean of the Rockies,” for it’s deep turquoise hue, has been known by several names, including Snake Lake, Miller Lake, Black Bear Lake, Little Lake (to distinguish from the larger Great Salt Lake,) and Sweet Lake (again to differentiate between it and the acrid Great Salt Lake.)

    Laketown Town Hall – 435 946-9000 – 20 N. 200 E.
    Post Office – 800 275-8777 – 80 W. Center St.
    Church of Jesus Christ – 115 E. 100 S.
    Rich Middle School – 435 946-3359 – 54 E. 100 S.

    Montpelier Area

    Montpelier, ID

    • Settled:1864- by Mormon settlers, led by Charles C. Rich
    • Origin of Name: Brigham Young named the settlement after his birth town, Montpelier, VT
    • Original Name: Clover Creek, (after the clover in its creek beds) later Belmont
    • Location: 30.3 miles northeast of Garden City, 29.7 miles southeast of Soda Springs on Hwy 30 at its junction with Hwy 89, leading north to Yellowstone Park & Jackson Hole
    • Famous for: Commerce center for Bear Lake county, with historic railroad past. National California Oregon Trail Museum located along the original Oregon Trail. Its Historic District includes 4 buildings, high school and its gymnasium & an LDS church
    • Notable Historical Event: In 1896, Bank of Montpelier was robbed by Butch Cassidy and his gang. A privately-owned museum, with free admission, is now housed in the bank building.
    • Community Events: Bear Lake County Fair & Rodeo- August; Youth Softball & Baseball Tournaments-June, July
    • Notable Features: Town Hall, City Parks, Ball Diamonds, Library, Public Golf Course, Youth Recreation, Airport, Industrial Park, Cemetery; Numerous Churches, Museums, Service Clubs, Chamber of Commerce; Elementary Schools K-5, Middle School 6-8, High School 9-12; Radio Station, Bowling Alley, Banks, Hospital, Veterinary Services, Professional Services, Shopping, Food & Beverage Vendors
    • Population 2010 Census: 2,538
    Montpelier City Offices208 847-0824830 Washington St.
    Post Office800 275-8777804 Grant St.
    Montpelier Fire Department208 847-3008760 Clay St.
    Bear Lake Community Presbyterian208 847-26281234 Hillside Dr.
    Church of Jesus Christ 630 Washington St
    485 S 7th St.
    585 N 8th St
    24 E Center S
    4197 Dingle Road
    6200 Pegram Road
    Bible Believers Church208 261-1072388 Webster St.
    Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church208 547-3200270 N. 8th St.
    Grace Baptist Church208 847-4236534 Clay St.
    Jehovah’s Witnesses208 847-1733117 N 8th St.
    Vineyard Christian Fellowship208 240-7182117 N 8th St.
    A.J. Winters Elementary School208 847-0477535 Clay St.
    Bear Lake Middle School208 847-2255633 Washington St
    Bear Lake High School208 847-0294330 Boise St.
    Clover Creek High School208 847-2516697 Jackson St.
    Bear Lake County Library208 847-1664138 N. 6th St.
    Grace Thiel Senior Citizens Center208 847-3141107 S. 4th St.

    Wardboro, ID

    • Settled: 1865- by Mormon settlers led by Charles C. Rich
    • Original Name: Preston, after founder Thomas Preston, but post office would not accept it- there was already a “Preston” in nearby Franklin county
    • Origin of Name: After many names were proposed, early resident, Oscar Dalrymple named it after Wardboro, NJ
    • Location: 6 miles south of Montpelier, west off Hwy 30
    • Well Known History: Trader Peg-Leg Smith built the first building in Bear River Valley on the Oregon Trail near Wardboro in1850
    • Notable Features: Wardboro Cemetery
    • Estimated Population: No estimate available for this unincorporated rural community

    Dingle, ID

    • Settled: 1865- by Mormon settlers led by Charles C. Rich
    • Original Name: Preston, also known as Big Timber, Peg Leg Island, Cottonwood and Dingle Dell. Gradually, the name stabilized as “Dingle” in 1871, but it is unknown by whom it was named
    • Location: 8 miles south of Montpelier, west off Hwy 30
    • Famous for: First settlement in Bear Lake Valley, Peg-Leg Smith’s trading post, near Dingle on Oregon Trail
    • Notable Features: Cemetery, Fire Station, City Park, LDS church
    • Well Known Residents: Physician Beulah Ream Allen, who was awarded Medal of Honor for heroism after taken as a POW in the Philippines during World War II
    • Historical Overview: The first permanent colony was Oakley’s Grove, after the Oakley family that lived south of the Dingle store. The settlement grew steadily until about 1890, when about 30 families left to colonize Cardston, Alberta, Canada. Dry farming & later irrigation allowed the rural community to grow.
    • Estimated 1960 Population: 100 in this unincorporated rural community

    West Lakeside

    Paris, ID

    • Settled: 1863-By Mormon settlers led by Charles C. Rich
    • Original Name: North Creek
    • Origin of Name: Named after founder Charles C. Rich’s surveyor, Frederick Perris, not Paris, France
    • Location: 8 miles southwest of Montpelier on Hwy 89
    • Famous for: Bear Lake county seat, Paris LDS Tabernacle, & over 93 historic buildings & sites on the National Register
    • Notable Features: Post Office, LDS Church, County Courthouse, City Parks, Splashpad, Museum, Library, Elementary School K-6, Cemetery; Convenience Stores, Shopping
    • Local Celebrations: 4th of July
    • 2010 Census Population: 513
    • Well Known Natives: 20th Century Composer Arthur Shepherd

    Bloomington, ID

    • Settled: 1864-By Mormon settlers led by Charles C. Rich
    • Origin of Name: After a bountiful harvest, Charles C. Rich suggested naming the settlement Bloomington
    • Location: 13 miles southwest of Montpelier, on Hwy 89
    • Famous for: First post office in Idaho portion of Bear Lake Valley
    • Notable Features: Post Office, LDS Church, Cemetery, Bloomington Lake & Canyon, nearby recreation area
    • 2010 Census Population: 206 in this rural farm community

    St. Charles, ID

    • Settled: 1864-Mormon settlers led by Charles C. Rich
    • Origin of Name: Named after highly-regarded colonizer Charles Coulsen Rich. It was named “Saint” Charles in his honor
    • Location: 18 miles southwest of Montpelier on Hwy 89, along Bear Lake’s shores
    • Notable Features: Post Office, LDS Church, Cemetery; Offices of Idaho’s Bear Lake State Park, Minnetonka Cave; Shopping, Eating & Convenience Stores. First county seat of Richland (now Rich) county, UT until the 1872 survey found the community was not in Utah, but in Idaho Territory
    • 2010 Census Population: 131
    • Well Known Natives: Sculptor Gutzon Borglum, who carved Mount Rushmore, was born in St. Charles in 1867

    Fish Haven, ID

    • Settled: 1864- by Mormon settlers led by Charles C. Rich
    • Original Name: Rush Creek
    • Origin of Name: Colonizer Joseph C. Rich spread a net into a creek; when it filled with 96 large trout- he declared he’d found a “Fish Haven”
    • Location: 23.6 miles southwest of Montpelier on Hwy 89, along Bear Lake’s shores
    • Early History: Mail came by pack horse in summer & by men on snowshoes in winter. A church was erected in 1868 & public meetings held there
    • Notable Features: Cemetery, Fire Station; Convenience Store. Cafe
    • Population: An unincorporated rural area with no population estimates

    Cokeville and Border Towns

    Cokeville, WY

    • Settled: 1869-First settler: Tilford Kutch, later opened a trading post & ferry across Smiths Fork River.
    • Origin of Name: Named after “coke” a coal by-product
    • Location: 30 miles southeast of Montpelier on Hwy 30
    • Famous for: Once called “Sheep Capital of the World;” Cokeville School Hostage Incident- 1986
    • Notable Features: Airport, City Offices, Park, Post Office, Fire Station, Sr. Center, Cemetery, Chamber of Commerce; Elementary School K-6, High School 7-12; Motel, Pine Creek Ski Area, Cafe, Convenience Store.
    • Local Celebrations: Community Easter Egg Hunt- Easter, Pioneer Days Celebration & Rodeo, Christmas Tree Lighting
    • Well Known Natives: Minerva Teichert, noted early 20th century LDS artist
    • Population: 2020 Census: 502

    Geneva, ID

    • Settled: In 1898 a post office was established in Geneva
    • Origin of Name: Named after Geneva, Switzerland- early settlers were mostly Swiss
    • Location: 13 miles northeast of Montpelier on Hwy 30 near Wyoming state line
    • Known for: Ranching, farming, dairying, especially cheese-making in early days
    • Notable Features: Post Office, LDS Church, Elementary School K-3
    • Population 2000 Census: 141

    Raymond, ID

    • Settled: 1877- by cattlemen, including Grandison Raymond
    • Origin of Name: Named after Grandison Raymond, the first to file a homestead claim
    • Location: 24 miles southeast of Montpelier on Hwy 89 near the Wyoming state line
    • Known for: Ranching, farming- a large creamery operated there for years. A large phosphate mine operated in Raymond during the 1940s & 50s, but closed
    • Notable Past Features: Post Office, LDS Church, School. It also has a Cemetery
    • Population: Unknown for this rural agricultural community

    Randolph & Woodruff

    Randolph, UT

    • Settled: 1870- By Mormon settlers led by Charles C. Rich
    • Origin of Name: Named after Randolph H. Stewarts, Randolph’s first Mormon bishop
    • Location: 30.5 miles southeast of Garden City on Hwy 89
    • Notable Features: County seat of Rich county, UT- Town Hall, Courthouse, Post Office, Library, Fire Department, LDS Church, Cemetery; Elementary School K-5, Rich County High School 9-12, Bank; Dentist, Physical Therapist; Eating & Convenience stores. Known for extreme temperatures & winter storms
    • Local Celebrations: Rich County Fair & Rodeo- August
    • Well Known Natives: David M. Kennedy, Secretary of the Treasury 1969-71, Reuben D. Law, Utah State Chairman of Education 1966-67
    • 2010 Census Population: 464

    Woodruff, UT

    • Settled: 1870- By Mormon settlers led by Charles C. Rich
    • Origin of Name: Named after early Mormon Apostle Wilford Woodruff, who later became the church’s 4th President
    • Location: 40.6 miles southeast of Garden City on Hwy 89
    • Notable Features: Post Office, Town Hall, Cemetery, Fire Department; Branch of BATC Technical College; LDS Church; Propane, Eating & Convenience Stores
    • Local Celebrations: Woodruff Homecoming Days & 4th of July Celebration
    • Well Known Natives: Merlo J. Pusey, journalist & Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer
    • 2010 Census Population: 180

    Bern, Ovid, Liberty

    Bern, ID

    • Settled: 1873- by Mormon settlers led by Charles C. Rich
    • Origin of Name: Named after Berne, Switzerland, home of many early settlers
    • Well Known History: A group of Swiss immigrants,who had been cheese makers in Switzerland, were called to establish a cheese plant in Bern for local Mormon settlers
    • Location: 5.8 miles northwest of Montpelier on Hwy 89, turn north on Bern Road
    • Notable Features: Rural farming & bedroom community for Montpelier & other towns
    • Notable Features: Church and Cemetery
    • Estimated Population: Unincorporated rural area has no population estimates
    • Well Known Natives: La Monte Young, Musician & Composer

    Ovid, ID

    • Settled: 1864- by mostly Norwegian Mormon settlers led by Charles C. Rich
    • Origin of Name: Pioneer leader Joseph C. Rich recommended the settlement be named Ovid after his favorite Roman poet. However an urban legend is told about the wife of one of the Norwegian settlers named Willard, commonly known as “Wid.” The wife was said to call Wid home, but in her heavy accent what was heard was not “Oh Wid, Oh, Wid!” but rather “O-Vid, O-Vid.” At the very least, it is an amusing tale.
    • Location: 6 miles west of Montpelier at junction of Hwys 89 & 36
    • Well Known History: Fort Ovid was first constructed there, and its name was gradually accepted for the community
    • Notable Features: Had its own general store, LDS church and what an Idaho Historical Site described as “the most modern dance hall in the county, outside of Montpelier.”
    • Estimated Population: Unincorporated rural area has no population estimates

    Sharon, ID

    • Settled: 1864- by Mormon settlers led by Charles C. Rich
    • Original Name: Emigration
    • Origin of Name: Named after Sharon, VT; Mormon prophet Joseph Smith’s birthplace Location: 6.75 miles west of Montpelier on Hwy 36
    • Well Known History: An outgrowth of Liberty. Early business ventures: the cooperative Union Dairy, several sawmills & a coal vein found as drillers dug for water Estimated Population: At one time 250 lived there, but now an unincorporated rural area with no population estimates

    Liberty, ID

    • Settled: 1864- by Mormon settlers led by Charles C. Rich
    • Origin of Name: Named for feelings of freedom & satisfaction of early settlers
    • Location: 6.75 miles west of Montpelier on Hwy 36
    • Well Known History: At one time communities in the Liberty area included Lanark, Sharon, East Liberty and South Liberty; each had their own church & school. As populations decreased, the area collectively became known as Liberty
    • Notable Features: LDS church, Cemetery
    • Estimated Population: An unincorporated rural area with no population estimates

    Lanark, ID Area

    • Settled: 1877- By Mormon settlers William Piggett, John Bunn, Tom Stevens & John Parker
    • Originally Named: South Liberty, then Freedom- in 1893 was named Lanark
    • Origin of Name: Named after Lanark, Scotland, birthplace of early settler John Bunn, after years of bickering over the town’s name
    • Location: 3 miles west and north of Paris
    • Established for: Farm & dairying, irrigated from Little Valley Dam
    • Past Local Features: School, LDS church, Post Office. Also has a cemetery