Dewey, Idaho facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dewey, Idaho
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Dewey in 1898
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 Dewey, Idaho
Location in Idaho
Dewey, Idaho
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Idaho |
| County | Owyhee |
| Elevation | 6,010 ft (1,830 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 397625 |
Dewey is a ghost town located in Owyhee County, Idaho, in the United States. A ghost town is a place where people used to live and work, but now almost no one lives there. It is like a town that has been left behind.
Contents
The Story of Dewey, Idaho
How Dewey Started
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The area where Dewey is now was first settled in 1863. It was originally called "Booneville." The town got its name from its first resident, Captain Boone. At first, Booneville was a very busy and successful place. But over time, it started to decline and become less active.
Colonel Dewey's Influence
In 1896, a man named Colonel W.H. Dewey bought the property in Booneville. He was the superintendent of a company called the Florida Mountain Mining Company. Colonel Dewey's company built a large mill in the town. There was also a mine located very close by.
Dewey became a complete town with many useful buildings. It had a butcher shop where people could buy meat. There was also a general store for everyday needs. The town even had a steam laundry to wash clothes. For horses and wagons, there was a livery stable and a barn. A big hotel, called the Hotel Dewey, was also a main part of the town. People made sure the town had everything its residents needed.
The Town's Post Office
A post office was opened in 1897. This was an important step for the town. It was at this time that the town's name officially changed to "Dewey."
Why Dewey Became a Ghost Town
After only a few years, the amount of mining in the area started to go down. This meant less work and fewer people. To make things worse, the large Hotel Dewey burned down. With less mining and no hotel, people began to leave. The town was soon abandoned.
What Remains Today
Today, not much is left of Dewey. You can still see a large cement building that was once a powerplant. There is also a mine dump, which is a pile of waste rock from the mining operations. These are the only reminders of the once-busy town of Dewey.
