It is difficult to pin the town of Freedom down. First, it crosses a lot of boundaries, two counties and two states. The states are Idaho and Wyoming, and the counties are Caribou (in Idaho) and Lincoln (Wyoming). Some even claim there is a part of Freedom in Bonneville County, Idaho. That seems a stretch, though official town boundaries could include some farmland reaching north into Bonneville.
One might assume Freedom is a sprawling community given those geographic distinctions. It is not. The total population of the combined community of Freedom, according to the 2020 census, was 453, with 247 residing in Idaho and 206 in Wyoming.
And, where is the “real” Freedom, Idaho or Wyoming? That’s a little slippery, too. In the early 1920s, postal authorities gave Freedom, Idaho the bad news that there was already another town named Freedom in Idaho, and it already had a post office. That town, south of Grangeville, is today known as Slate Creek. Sticklers about avoiding confusing addresses, the postal authorities suggested the Caribou County Freedom residents find another name. They liked the name of their town, so their solution was to put the post office across the border in Wyoming, since there was only one Freedom there.
The residents of Freedom (Idaho and Wyoming) liked the name of their bisected town, partly because it was that bisection that historically gave some of them freedom. The town was originally established as a Mormon community in 1879. That was back when polygamy was a part of church doctrine. It was, however, illegal. The handy state border that ran through the middle of town gave practitioners of polygamy a chance to avoid arrest by stepping out of the jurisdiction of Idaho authorities into Wyoming.
Today, Freedom (the Wyoming version) is best known as the site of Freedom Arms, a manufacturer of some powerful pistols. Both Freedoms are located in Star Valley, a stunningly beautiful place.
One might assume Freedom is a sprawling community given those geographic distinctions. It is not. The total population of the combined community of Freedom, according to the 2020 census, was 453, with 247 residing in Idaho and 206 in Wyoming.
And, where is the “real” Freedom, Idaho or Wyoming? That’s a little slippery, too. In the early 1920s, postal authorities gave Freedom, Idaho the bad news that there was already another town named Freedom in Idaho, and it already had a post office. That town, south of Grangeville, is today known as Slate Creek. Sticklers about avoiding confusing addresses, the postal authorities suggested the Caribou County Freedom residents find another name. They liked the name of their town, so their solution was to put the post office across the border in Wyoming, since there was only one Freedom there.
The residents of Freedom (Idaho and Wyoming) liked the name of their bisected town, partly because it was that bisection that historically gave some of them freedom. The town was originally established as a Mormon community in 1879. That was back when polygamy was a part of church doctrine. It was, however, illegal. The handy state border that ran through the middle of town gave practitioners of polygamy a chance to avoid arrest by stepping out of the jurisdiction of Idaho authorities into Wyoming.
Today, Freedom (the Wyoming version) is best known as the site of Freedom Arms, a manufacturer of some powerful pistols. Both Freedoms are located in Star Valley, a stunningly beautiful place.
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