Mountain Home, Idaho – from 1800s to modern days
Mountain Home, Idaho – from 1800s to modern days
Mountain Home is the largest city and county seat of Elmore County, Idaho. According to the 2020 census, the city's population was 15,979 people. Mountain Home is the main city of the Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Elmore County.
Before Mountain Home
In the early 1800s, the region was marked by the historic journey of Lewis and Clark, trappers and explorers. They found animals in abundance, and the fur trade developed in the region. Later, in the 1840s, settlers passed through here, following the trails along the Snake River. Over time, the travelers turned into settlers and began to mine silver, lead, and quartz. In the 1860s, when cattle and sheep breeders came to the region, the Basque culture grew here.
Origins of the city
Mountain Home originated as a stop for the famous Overland trains eight miles from its current location. When the railroad came to the city in 1883, it brought with it a new mail delivery service. So, Mountain Home was originally a stagecoach stop. Before the city got its current name, it was known as Rattlesnake. When the first post office was founded, the town was renamed Mountain Home. The Oregon Short Line Railroad first appeared in the area in 1883. The town of Mountain Home was incorporated in 1896. It became the county seat of Elmore County on February 4, 1891.
David Dodge
David Dodge is one of the most famous people who lived in Mountain Home. Shortly after the railroad came to Mountain Home, a prominent resident appeared in the city. David Dodge, a Civil War veteran, married Jenny Stiers in 1872, and she taught him to read and write. They had four children: Willis, Frank, Mamie, and Lilly.
In 1884, the family moved to Shoshone, Idaho, where he worked for the Oregon Short Railroad and built a roundhouse and machine shops. In 1885, they moved to Mountain Home and applied for the purchase of 160 acres of land.
Jenny Dodge died in 1892, and David felt that his world had collapsed. He quit the railroad and turned to faith. He served as a traveling missionary in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It was he who allocated Mountain Home land for a cemetery. He planted the first trees in Mountain Home and was a juror in the city's first murder trial.
Dodge died on December 27, 1926, in the city that became his home. But his legacy didn't end there.
Last wish In August 1962, representatives of the local authorities were well acquainted with Dodge's wishes and donated his land for the current city cemetery.
As the city was clearing additional land to expand the cemetery, officials were forced to find out where his deed to the plot was located. The document was officially handed over to the city with one condition: Dodge's heirs were to receive 10 cemetery plots for their descendants. The tombstone of David and Jenny Dodge remains a notable landmark of the cemetery, their descendants replaced the original tombstone in 1993.
Mountain Home Today
The fast or slow pace of life - Mountain Home is right for you. This hardworking community continues to add and improve amenities every year.
Mountain Home has several scenic parks and playgrounds, including Carl Miller Park, Railroad Park, Memorial Park, East Side Park, and Richard Aguirre Park. The city also provides easy access to many museums, such as the Basque Museum and Cultural Center, the Idaho Museum of Black History, the Idaho State Historical Museum, the Boise Art Museum, and the Elmore County Historical Museum. In addition, the Mountain Home Parks and Recreation Department organizes several events and special programs throughout the year.
There you can play golf, tennis, swim, put on horseshoes or take a leisurely stroll through one of the 17-plus parks. We also have a great variety of accommodations - hotels, motels, campsites, and RV parks. You will find the amenities of a big city concentrated in the friendly atmosphere of a small town. Visit the museum, walk through the wall galleries, and visit many restaurants, boutiques, wineries, and breweries.
Today, Idaho residents find wealth in their unique land of canyons and pristine wildlife. The Mountain Home region is a limitless playground for those who love nature and our geological wonders.
Today, Mountain Home is an area known for its agricultural production, dairy farms, and family ranches. The famous potato, sugar beet, barley, wheat, corn, and hay are the main crops that can be seen growing in the fields.