Star Valley facts for kids
Star Valley is a beautiful area in the western United States. It sits between the Salt River Range in western Wyoming and the Webster Range in eastern Idaho. The valley is quite high up, ranging from about 1,700 meters (5,600 feet) to 2,100 meters (7,000 feet) above sea level.
Three important rivers in Wyoming meet here: the Salt River, the Greys River, and the Snake River. They all come together near Alpine Junction at the Palisades Reservoir. Many towns are found in Star Valley, such as Afton, Thayne, Bedford, and Alpine.
Mormon pioneers first settled Star Valley in the late 1870s. People say it was called the "Star of All Valleys" because it was so beautiful. This name was later shortened to Star Valley. Another idea is that it was once called "Starvation Valley" due to very harsh winters in the 1880s. For example, in March 1889, more than 100 centimeters (40 inches) of snow fell in just two days!
History of Star Valley
For a long time, the Shoshone Native Americans were the main people living in Star Valley during the summer and fall. They came to the valley because it had lots of wild animals to hunt. There were also natural salt deposits near what is now Auburn and south of Afton, Wyoming. These salt deposits were very important.
American explorers first traveled through this area around 1812. They were looking for new paths to the West Coast. After them, Canadian and American trappers visited the valley often until the 1840s. In the 1850s and 1860s, many people moving west passed through upper Star Valley. They used the Lander Road, which was part of the famous Oregon Trail.
However, white settlers did not start living in the valley in large numbers until the late 1870s. Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) chose the valley for their people to settle. One important settler was Archibald Gardner. He arrived in 1889 with his family and built five different types of mills in the valley.
On October 1, 2011, Thomas S. Monson, who was the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, announced that a temple would be built in Star Valley. This temple is called the Star Valley Wyoming Temple. Its location was announced in May 2012, just east of U.S. Highway 89, south of Afton. The temple was completed and officially opened on October 30, 2016.
Towns and Communities
Many small towns and communities make up Star Valley. These places are home to the people who live and work in this beautiful area.
