Welcome to Information about American Falls, Idaho

American Falls was a landmark waterfall on the Snake River, named after a party of American trappers whose boat went over the falls. The Wilson Price Hunt expedition in 1811 camped at the falls one night and the expedition of John C. Frémont was here in 1843. The Oregon Trail passed north of town, through the present-day reservoir. Power plants first sprang up at the falls in 1901. American Falls was the first town in the U.S. To be entirely relocated; it was moved in 1925 to facilitate construction of the nearby American Falls Dam. The old townsite sits at the bottom of the reservoir, northwest of the present city. A larger dam was completed in 1978, downstream from the deteriorating 1927 structure, which was later demolished

About Power County, Idaho 

Insofar as is known, white men first entered what is now Power County in southeastern Idaho in 1811 - only a few years after Lewis and Clark's epic journey through the Northwest to the Pacific Ocean. A party of American Fur Company Trappers was floating down the Snake River when they encountered turbulent waters at American Falls. Although they escaped injury, most of their supplies and trading goods were either lost or damaged. The Whitman-Spalding missionary party also passed by "The Falls" on August 5, 1836. And in1854 John C. Fremont recorded visiting "The Falls" in his journal.

Idaho became a state on July 3, 1890. Power County was then included in Oneida County. However, the opening in 1910 of this part of the state for the homesteading of dry-land farms, resulted in a marked influx of settlers. And, it was difficult for these new sew settlers - especially during the winter - to travel to the county seat in Malad. Thus, Power County was established on January 30, 1913. The county was named after the power plant at American Falls and American Falls became the county seat. Power County is bordered on the north by Bingham County, on the south by Oneida County, on the west by Blaine and Cassia Counties and on the east by Bannock County. It encompasses 1,403 square miles and presently has about 7500 residents. Although it is smaller than many of Idaho's other 43 counties, it is larger than the state of Rhode Island, which encompasses only 1.214 square miles.

Power County contains a major river (the Snake), a large reservoir (at American Falls). Three mountain ranges (the Bannock and Sublett Ranges and the Deep Creek Mountains), an Indian Reservation (Fort Hall), and a National Forest (Minidoka). The County is primarily agricultural, but has a phosphate plant, a power plant, and a potato processing plant.

Points of interest in Power County include Indian Springs, Crystal Ice Caves, Massacre Rocks State Park, Great Rift National Landmark, The American Falls Reservoir and Dam, and the Power County Historical Museum in American Falls.

American Falls is a charming agricultural town that sits right along the Snake River and American Falls Reservoir in southern Idaho. At first glance, this may seem like your typical small town in the Gem State, but what many people don’t know is this unique town in Idaho isn’t quite like many others around the globe. In fact, this entire town not only completely relocated once, but it relocated twice and it was decades after the first permanent settlement was established.

American Falls is an enchanting town located along Interstate 86 between Pocatello and Burley. Approximately 4,500 people call this town home and it is a true gem in Idaho.

Aerial view of a river, green fields, and a small town with buildings along the shore under a blue sky.

In 1800, the first permanent settlement of American Falls was established on the west bank of the Snake River.

Aerial view of a small town with streets, buildings, and green spaces under a clear blue sky.

David Ross/Google

In 1888, however, the town decided to move across the river to what became known as the "original town site."

Although, this wouldn’t be the only time the town moved. In 1925, the town relocated once again. This time, it was to make room for the 94-foot-tall and 5,277-foot-wide American Falls Dam and to prevent the entire town from flooding.

In total, 344 residents, 46 businesses, three hotels, five churches, one school, six grain elevators, and one flour mill all moved from the original town site. This was one massive relocation project.

American Falls is known as the city “where the sun shines in every window,” and this is because of the way the city was laid out in its new location.

Historic photo of American Falls, Idaho, from 1926, and a submerged city in 1927 after the dam's construction.

ID-D-0013, WaterArchives.org/Wesley Andrews/Flickr

When American Falls relocated in 1925, a city park was placed in the middle of town with commerce lots on one side, government buildings on the other, and churches on the other two sides of the park. Streets were created so they ran diagonally and parallel to the reservoir, which was very unusual and caused much controversy — residents wanted streets to run north and south. However, city planners at the time said with this design, the sun could shine in every window.

In 1925, there was only one structure that remained at the original town site — the Oneida Milling and Elevator Company grain elevator. This structure had a 40-foot-deep foundation and 106-foot reinforced concrete walls. It still stands in its original location today.

Source: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/trip-ideas/idaho/enchanting-town-unlike-any-other-id

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