ABOUT POCATELLO
Portneuf Valley, home of the City of Pocatello, was originally occupied by Bannock and Shoshone Indians. The Lewis and Clark expedition arrived in the area in 1805. Their exploration journal recorded the natural bounty of the west which attracted fur trappers and traders. In 1834, the Hudson Bay Company established a post at Fort Hall. Soon, European settlers arrived via the Oregon Trail and Fort Hall became a crucial outpost for all visitors. The discovery of gold in 1860 created a tremendous influx of prospectors and more settlers. Then in 1868, the United States entered into a treaty with the Shoshones which created the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. Later, the Utah and Northern Railroad was granted a right-of-way through the reservation and built lines serving points north and west. In 1882, the city of Pocatello, named for the famous Chief of the Bannock tribe who granted the railroad right-of-way, was established.
The State of Idaho entered the union on July 3, 1890 and three years later, the Idaho legislature created Bannock County with Pocatello as the county seat. The Union Pacific Railroad was the most prominent business in Pocatello for many years while early settlers turned to farming and ranching. The University of Idaho - Southern Branch was located in Pocatello and was renamed Idaho State University. Pocatello's population now exceeds 50,000 and, as a result, was featured in the cover story of USA TODAY Newspaper on August 22, 1996. Pocatello is the second largest city in Idaho. There are nearly 30 public parks in the city. Pocatello is nicknamed the "Gate City" because travel in all directions is accomplished with ease. Two world famous resorts, Sun Valley, Idaho and Jackson Hole, Wyoming are only 168 and 157 miles, respectively, away. Additionally, Salt Lake City, Utah is merely 155 miles away. The area abounds with outdoor opportunities including hiking, mountain biking, camping, fishing, horseback riding, snow and water skiing, boating, snowmobiling, and much more. There are seven National Forests in Idaho and the boundary of the one million-plus acres of the Caribou National Forest is less than 1 mile from Pocatello.