Caribou County
IDGenWeb

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Caribou County IDGenWeb is a free genealogical site about the history of the county. We hope you find helpful clues for your research of Caribou county ancestors.

Are you familiar with the area? Do you have a family tree connection to the area? Please consider contributing your pieces of Caribou County family history. Corrections, updates, and additions to this site are always welcome. Our combined efforts can make this a great site for all who visit!


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    If you are interested in helping, please don't hesitate to contact us.

QUESTIONS? Please contact the Temporary County Coordinator: Randy Cummings

COUNTY FORMATION

Caribou County, the newest Idaho county, was formed February 11, 1919, from a portion of Bannock County. It is located at the southeastern boundary of Idaho. It was named in honor of "Caribou Jack" Fairchild, an early settler, who came from the 1860 gold rush of the Caribou region of British Columbia.

In 1864, the area that is now Caribou County fell within the original boundaries of Oneida County. In 1885, the area became a part of the newly formed Bingham County. In 1893, when Bannock County was formed, the area was included in Bannock. Bannock lost a portion when Caribou County was formed in 1919. In 1948, Caribou County was expanded, gaining additional territory from Bannock County.

Soda Springs is the county seat. It was on the routes of the earliest explorers, fur trappers, and Oregon Trail emigrants. There are many effervescent natural springs in the area.

Much of the county is devoted to farming, but Caribou County has been noted for sheep ranching. Caribou County has vanadium, phosphorus-phosphates, uranium, fluorine-fluorite, and REE (rare earth elements) mines. The largest phosphate deposits in the world are found in Caribou County.

Shoshone and Bannock Tribes live on the Fort Hall Reservation, which is partially located in Caribou County.

 


Page updated January 2024


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