Warren, Idaho

Warren, Idaho
a.k.a. Warren's Camp, Warren's, Warrens
Unincorporated settlement

Downtown Warren, July 2008
Coordinates: 45°15′50″N 115°40′37″W / 45.264°N 115.677°WCoordinates: 45°15′50″N 115°40′37″W / 45.264°N 115.677°W
Country United States
State Idaho
County Idaho
Elevation 5,906 ft (1,800 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 16
Time zone Mountain (MST) (UTC-7)
 • Summer (DST) MDT (UTC-6)
ZIP code 83671
Area code(s) 208

Warren is an unincorporated community in the remote north central region of the U.S. state of Idaho, near the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.

Geography

Located within the Payette National Forest in southern Idaho County,[1] Warren is northeast of McCall, approximately 50 miles (80 km) by vehicle and about 30 miles (50 km) by air. South of the Salmon River, the elevation is 5,906 feet (1,800 m) above sea level.

History

Miners from the previous gold strikes in Pierce and Florence fanned out to the south and discovered gold in the Warren Creek area in August 1862.[2] It led to the formation of the settlement, then in Washington Territory, making it one of the oldest settlements in present-day Idaho.[3] With a gold mining boom in multiple regions during the Civil War, the Idaho Territory was established in 1863. Shortly after the gold discovery by Lewiston's James Warren,[4] the Warren's Camp population swelled to over 2,000; the southerners called their area of the camp "Richmond" and northerners called theirs "Washington."[2][4]

After the initial boom ended in 1875, Warren was known for its significant Chinese population.[5][6]

The boom-town population plummeted when mining declined, but enjoyed a brief renaissance in the 1930s with the introduction of dredge mining in the area.[5][7][8] During World War II, gold mining was shut down by the U.S. government in 1942.[9] Following the war, interest in Warren was high for rare earth metals in its by-product monazite.[8][10][11][12] A modest gold mining industry remains in the area.

The town has been threatened several times by forest fires, most recently in 1989, 2000, and 2007.[7][13] Recent fires have made the Warren area a haven for morel mushroom hunting.

Warren currently has a full-time population of 12 to 16.[14]

Population history

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1870542—
1880470−13.3%
1890113−76.0%
190015940.7%
1910100−37.1%
192013131.0%
193018037.4%
194020916.1%
195030−85.6%
196012−60.0%
197030150.0%
19803516.7%
199030−14.3%
200020−33.3%
201016−20.0%
source:[15]

References

  1. ↑ Kingsbury, Lawrence A. (2000). "Chinese Properties Listed in the National Register" (PDF). NPS. Retrieved 2007-07-01.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Centennial observed for gold strike". Spokane Daily Chronicle. September 6, 1962. p. 40.
  3. ↑ Bell, Shannon; Theresa Campbell (2000). "Chinese sites in the Warren Mining District". History in the parks. NPS. Retrieved 2007-07-01.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Buchanan, Wyatt (September 28, 2001). "Road to Warren takes visitors through history". Spokesman-Review. Lewiston Tribune. p. B4.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Ruark, Janice (August 29, 1978). "Old Idaho mine town fading but still alive". Spokane Daily Chronicle. p. 20.
  6. ↑ "Chinese terrace gardens uncovered". Spokane Chronicle. Associated Press. August 8, 1988. p. A2.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Warren Idaho Walking Tour
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Dredge to operate near Warren, Idaho area". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Associated Press. September 21, 1956. p. 16.
  9. ↑ "Closing of gold mines be blow to five towns". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. October 13, 1942. p. 1.
  10. ↑ "Warren future may be thorium". Spokesman-Review. June 20, 1948. p. 27.
  11. ↑ "Rare ore finds open new vista in central Idaho". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. December 8, 1951. p. 1.
  12. ↑ "Miners scorn gold now; they're after monazite". Rome (GA) News-Tribune. April 11, 1952. p. 10.
  13. ↑ Governor orders Yellow Pine evacuation
  14. ↑ Warren Idaho
  15. ↑ Moffatt, Riley. Population History of Western U.S. Cities & Towns, 1850-1990. Lanham: Scarecrow, 1996, 99.
  16. ↑ "1864 territorial census". Idaho State Historical Society, Reference Series, #130. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
  17. ↑ "1863 territorial census". Idaho State Historical Society, Reference Series, #129. Retrieved December 2, 2012.

External links