Downey Idaho History
Downey History according to Family Search
Downey is said to have been named for a Mr. Downey one of the directors of the Union Pacific Railroad, and the town dates back to the construction of the broad gauge railroad track through Marsh Valley. However, searches for any Mr. Downey, a director of the UPRR have had negative result. Some of the old settlers have been noted as saying that the Mr. Downey was a track worker. William Alonzo Hyde was the first settler at Downey; he had a farm and store. His brother George Tilton Hyde joined him in 1895. The Hyde brothers built a hotel and a blacksmith shop and did a good business from the beginning. Irrigated farming not being promising, dry farming was commenced in 1894. The townsite was surveyed in 1894, which was enlarged in 1910. The total population in the Downey Precinct was 1,485 in 1930.
Numerous small communities in the near vicinity were flourishing prior to the actual founding of Downey. Woodland, Cherry Creek, Cambridge (Nine Mile), Grant Ward, Zenda, Calvin, Chicken Flat, Virginia and Hog Holler were just a few which had their own local schools, churches and in some cases, mercantile and post office. Early settlers in these communities settled prior to 1870, some as early as 1864. The Woodland, Whitaker and Wakley families were known to have been in the area known as Woodland in April of 1864. Several stage stops were established prior to the advent of the UPRR and freight and stage service supplied many of the needs for these small communities. Downeys postal service now includes these outyling areas and the residents refer to themselves as "Downeyites". The total population of the "Downey" area (prior to the establishment of Downey proper) in 1880 was slightly over 200 persons. By 1900 the population had grown to 1100 with only a handful living within the city proper. Read more on Family Search.
In the Shadow of Oxford Peak A History of Downey, Idaho, and Surrounding Area
Downey has published their complete history in 3 hardbound books titled:
There may be some left through the Downey City Office.
An Interesting Fact about the history of Downey Idaho!
In 1905 a small telephone system was put in Downey. They used the farmer's barbed wire fences for their line. When they came to a gate or a street, they would put up a couple of high poles and run the line over the top and connect it again with a wire to the next fence.
The photos and information above were taken from the "History of Bannock County 1803-1993".
The historic Coffin cabin is located in City Park in Downey. Members of Camp Hunt and Camp Redrock of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers maintain the tiny pioneer cabin and it's contents-antiques of the day.
Downey is said to have been named for a Mr. Downey one of the directors of the Union Pacific Railroad, and the town dates back to the construction of the broad gauge railroad track through Marsh Valley. However, searches for any Mr. Downey, a director of the UPRR have had negative result. Some of the old settlers have been noted as saying that the Mr. Downey was a track worker. William Alonzo Hyde was the first settler at Downey; he had a farm and store. His brother George Tilton Hyde joined him in 1895. The Hyde brothers built a hotel and a blacksmith shop and did a good business from the beginning. Irrigated farming not being promising, dry farming was commenced in 1894. The townsite was surveyed in 1894, which was enlarged in 1910. The total population in the Downey Precinct was 1,485 in 1930.
Numerous small communities in the near vicinity were flourishing prior to the actual founding of Downey. Woodland, Cherry Creek, Cambridge (Nine Mile), Grant Ward, Zenda, Calvin, Chicken Flat, Virginia and Hog Holler were just a few which had their own local schools, churches and in some cases, mercantile and post office. Early settlers in these communities settled prior to 1870, some as early as 1864. The Woodland, Whitaker and Wakley families were known to have been in the area known as Woodland in April of 1864. Several stage stops were established prior to the advent of the UPRR and freight and stage service supplied many of the needs for these small communities. Downeys postal service now includes these outyling areas and the residents refer to themselves as "Downeyites". The total population of the "Downey" area (prior to the establishment of Downey proper) in 1880 was slightly over 200 persons. By 1900 the population had grown to 1100 with only a handful living within the city proper. Read more on Family Search.
In the Shadow of Oxford Peak A History of Downey, Idaho, and Surrounding Area
Downey has published their complete history in 3 hardbound books titled:
There may be some left through the Downey City Office.
An Interesting Fact about the history of Downey Idaho!
In 1905 a small telephone system was put in Downey. They used the farmer's barbed wire fences for their line. When they came to a gate or a street, they would put up a couple of high poles and run the line over the top and connect it again with a wire to the next fence.
The photos and information above were taken from the "History of Bannock County 1803-1993".
The historic Coffin cabin is located in City Park in Downey. Members of Camp Hunt and Camp Redrock of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers maintain the tiny pioneer cabin and it's contents-antiques of the day.
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Downey History Photo Gallery (See more on Downey Marsh Valley's Facebook)
