It seems so obvious that since Lewiston, Idaho was named after Meriwether Lewis and Clarkston, Washington, just across the Snake River, was named for William Clark, and that Lewis County was named after Meriwether Lewis that Clark County must be named after William Clark. Obvious, but not true. Idaho’s Clark County is named for Sam K. Clark, an early settler who became the first state senator from the county.
It seems obvious, too, that Idaho’s Washington County, Washington Creek, Washington Lake, Washington Basin, and Washington Peak must all be named after the first American president, George Washington. In the case of Washington County, that is a correct assumption.
The rest of those Washingtons are in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA) and they are named after another George Washington, George Washington Blackman. He was an African American prospector who came to the area in 1879 and stayed there for the rest of his life, which was reportedly near 100-years-long. (Blackman Peak, also in the SNRA, was also named after George Washington Blackman.) Granted, Blackman was probably named after the Father of Our Country, but those Idaho physical features were not.
There are many other “obvious” names that turn out not to be so obvious. Bliss, though no doubt blissful to some, was named after early settler David B. Bliss. Paris was not named for the home of the Eifel Tower, but for Frederick Perris who platted the townsite. It’s likely the name was changed by postal officials who had a habit of “correcting” applications that came their way.
Just one more for today. Did you think Monida Pass, which is in the aforementioned Clark County, was an Indian name with some colorful meaning? I’d never given it any thought, but it turns out this name probably should be obvious. It is a pass between the states of MONtana and IDAho.
It seems obvious, too, that Idaho’s Washington County, Washington Creek, Washington Lake, Washington Basin, and Washington Peak must all be named after the first American president, George Washington. In the case of Washington County, that is a correct assumption.
The rest of those Washingtons are in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA) and they are named after another George Washington, George Washington Blackman. He was an African American prospector who came to the area in 1879 and stayed there for the rest of his life, which was reportedly near 100-years-long. (Blackman Peak, also in the SNRA, was also named after George Washington Blackman.) Granted, Blackman was probably named after the Father of Our Country, but those Idaho physical features were not.
There are many other “obvious” names that turn out not to be so obvious. Bliss, though no doubt blissful to some, was named after early settler David B. Bliss. Paris was not named for the home of the Eifel Tower, but for Frederick Perris who platted the townsite. It’s likely the name was changed by postal officials who had a habit of “correcting” applications that came their way.
Just one more for today. Did you think Monida Pass, which is in the aforementioned Clark County, was an Indian name with some colorful meaning? I’d never given it any thought, but it turns out this name probably should be obvious. It is a pass between the states of MONtana and IDAho.
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