Freedom, Idaho and Wyoming facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Freedom, Idaho and Wyoming
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 Freedom, Idaho and Wyoming
Location in Wyoming
Freedom, Idaho and Wyoming
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| States | Idaho and Wyoming |
| Counties | Caribou (Idaho) and Lincoln (Wyoming) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.0 sq mi (10 km2) |
| • Land | 4.0 sq mi (10 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 5,777 ft (1,761 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 247 |
| • Density | 61.8/sq mi (23.8/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
83120
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| FIPS code | 56-30115 |
| GNIS feature ID | 397726 |
Freedom is a small community located in both Idaho and Wyoming, in the United States. Part of Freedom in Wyoming is also known as a census-designated place (CDP). In 2020, about 247 people lived there.
Contents
Geography of Freedom
Freedom is located right on the border between Idaho and Wyoming. It sits along U.S. Route 89 and Idaho State Highway 34. The community is northeast of Soda Springs, Idaho, and north of Kemmerer, Wyoming.
The closest larger town is Afton, Wyoming, which is about 20 miles (32 km) south. Freedom is high up, at an elevation of 5,777 feet (1,761 meters). Even though it's not a city, the Wyoming side of Freedom has its own post office. Its ZIP code is 83120. The area of the CDP is 4.0 square miles (10.4 km²), and it's all land.
History of Freedom
Freedom was started in 1879. It is the oldest settlement in the Star Valley area. Early settlers, who were members of the Mormon faith, chose this location because it was on the state border. This allowed them to move between Idaho and Wyoming easily. They could avoid legal issues by simply crossing the state line. The community was named "Freedom" because it offered this kind of liberty to its first residents.
At one time, Freedom was the biggest town in Star Valley. It had a general store, a gas station, and a billiard hall. Today, some of these old buildings are still standing. However, most are not used anymore. The Post Office and the Baseball Park are still active. The local church, built in 1889, is also still in use. A company called Freedom Arms, which makes guns, has its main office in the Wyoming part of Freedom.
Population of Freedom
In 2000, the area around Freedom's ZIP code (83120) had a population of 471 people.
Notable People from Freedom
Several interesting people have connections to Freedom.
Randall Luthi
Randall Luthi lives in Freedom. He used to be the Speaker of the Wyoming House of Representatives. This means he was a very important leader in Wyoming's state government.
Rulon Gardner
Rulon Gardner was born and grew up in Star Valley, near Freedom. He is a famous Greco-Roman wrestler. Rulon won a gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. He also won a bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
Archibald Gardner
Rulon Gardner is the great-great-grandson of Archibald Gardner. Archibald Gardner (1814–1902) was an important pioneer and businessman in the 1800s. He helped start communities in Canada, Utah, and Wyoming. He did this by building flour mills and lumber mills.
Archibald Gardner was a skilled builder and engineer. He built 36 mills in total. These included 23 in Utah, six in Canada, five in Wyoming, and two in Idaho. He also built many miles of canals and bridges in Utah. His life and work are remembered in several places. There is a plaque in Alvinston, Canada, and a restaurant named after him in West Jordan, Utah. The site of his original flour mill in West Jordan is now called Gardner Village. It has old pioneer homes that are now shops and a restaurant.
See also
In Spanish: Freedom (Wyoming) para niños
