Jordan Valley

History

Northern Paiute people were the first in the area, frequenting nearby mountains and streambeds to find or follow food sources. When early settlers arrived, conflict developed over local resources, eventually escalating to the Snake War. The conflict lasted from 1864 to 1868 and left two thirds of the Paiutes dead. The surviving Paiutes were sent to a reservation. Non-native settlement in the area was largely driven by the 1863 discovery of gold along Jordan Creek by a group of prospectors camping in the area. Soon after, the area was named Jordan Valley after Michael M. Jordan, one of the men in the group. Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, the son of Sacagawea, was among the early miners who came to the area. When mining declined in the area and populations of boomtowns like Silver City dwindled around 1875, residents of Jordan Valley survived by transitioning to ranching. By 1867, 11 ranches were operating locally. Ranching supported continuing growth of the community until the Great Depression struck in 1929. A pelota court, known as the Pelota Fronton, was built in 1915, and still stands as a historic landmark. The Basques also constructed several sandstone buildings, including three boarding houses, and (with the help of local Irish immigrants) the St. Bernard's Catholic Church, which can still be seen today. Basque immigration to the area slowed with the passing of the Taylor Grazing Act of 1934, which favored cattle ranching over sheep, the Basques' preferred livestock. but as of 2019, is still in the process of researching and planning future silver mining operations for the site. Residents travel to a grocery store in Homedale, Idaho as the last grocery store in Jordan Valley closed in 2001.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land. Jordan Valley's most prominent geographical landmark is the blunt plateau across Jordan Creek and adjacent to town, Pharmacy Hill. Jordan Valley's main occupations are cattle ranching and sheep herding. People in those occupations typically live far from town on homesteads, but use Jordan Valley as their cultural and economic center. People within Jordan Valley primarily provide a number of services to tourists passing through on U.S. Route 95, which is the primary road from Boise, Idaho to Reno, Nevada. Jordan Valley is known for its excellent hunting and fishing as well as its proximity to Jordan Craters, an extinct volcanic field. Other popular areas nearby include Leslie Gulch, Cow Lakes, Antelope Reservoir, and Three Forks to the south.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Jordan Valley High School
  High · Jordan Valley · 31 students · 6.2:1 ratio
• Jordan Valley Elementary School
  Elementary · Jordan Valley · 26 students · 8.7:1 ratio