Cache Valley
| Cache Valley | |
| Valley | |
 View of the Wellsville Mountains at the southwestern end of the valley. | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Counties | Cache County, Utah, Franklin County, Idaho |
| Borders on | west: Bannock Range (ID), Wellsville Mountains (UT) east: Bear River Mountains |
| City | Logan, Utah & Preston, Idaho |
| Location | 41°50′10″N 112°00′22″W / 41.83607°N 112.006038°W |
| Length | 50 mi (80 km) |
| Biome | Northern Basin and Range |
| GNIS ID, Huc |
1426257 [1] 16010202 |
Cache Valley is an agricultural valley of northern Utah and southeast Idaho that includes the Logan metropolitan area. The valley was used by 19th century mountain men and was the site of the 1863 Bear River Massacre.
History
Following habitation by the Shoshone and other indigenous peoples, Michel Bourdon discovered Cache Valley c.1818 during a MacKenzie fur expedition. The valley was subsequently used for annual gatherings of mountain men.[2] Many of the trappers who worked in the valley came from the Hudson's Bay Company, the Northwest Fur Company, and the Rocky Mountain Fur Company.[3] The name "Cache Valley," was derived by the fur trappers who hid their trading goods in caches in that region.[4] The use of caches was a method used by fur traders to protect their goods from theft and damage.[5]
Mormon William Gardner became the first settler in 1852. Prior to the Mormon selection of the Salt Lake Valley, Jim Bridger had recommended Cache Valley due to its relative abundance of fresh water. A Mormon settler group led by Peter Maughan arrived via Box Elder Canyon (commonly referred to as Sardine Canyon) in July 1856 and additional settlers arrived on September 15.
Early settlers of Cache Valley were able to keep Indian violence at bay by creating the Cache Valley Militia. Men from the various towns in Cache Valley nicknamed "minute men" volunteered to drill, serve as watchmen, and to ride to the aid of other communities at the news of attacks and skirmishes.[5]
During an 1863 expedition from Camp Douglas, Utah to Cache Valley, the United States Army attacked a Shoshone village at the confluence of the Bear River and Beaver Creek (now Battle Creek) in what became known as the Bear River Massacre.
Communities
Cache County Communities:
Franklin County Communities:
|
Transportation
U.S. Highways US-89 and US-91 enter the valley from the southwest as one highway, and then separate in downtown Logan. US-89 goes northeast into Logan Canyon, and thence to Bear Lake, a large lake in the area. US-91 goes due northward into Idaho and connects to I-15. Several state highways run through the valley. In Idaho, State Highways 34 and 36. In Utah, State Highways 23, 30, 101, 142, 165, 200, and 218.
The valley is served by the Cache Valley Transit District (CVTD), a zero-fare bus system. CVTD primarily serves the Logan area however offers shuttle service to Preston.
There are two airports in the valley, the Logan-Cache Airport and Preston Airport. Neither airport provides commercial service, however Salt Lake City International Airport is within driving distance.
See also
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cache Valley. |
References
- ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Cache Valley (1426257)
- ↑ "The early Bear River fur trade: Bear Lake And Cache Valley" (PDF). Reference Series. Idaho State Historical Society. 1985. Retrieved 2010-05-17.
- ↑ Ricks, Joel E; Cooley, Everett L, eds. (1956). The History of a Valley: Cache Valley, Utah-Idaho. Logan: Deseret News Publishing Company. p. 23. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
- ↑ Van Atta, Dale (Jan 22, 1977). "You name it - there's a town for it". The Deseret News. p. 15. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- 1 2 Olson, Leonard (1927). The History of Smithfield: Cache County, Utah. Smithfield: City of Smithfield. pp. 16–17. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
