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About Laketown
Laketown sits between the wet and swampy grassland of Bear Lake Valley and mountains covered with sagebrush and junipers, which rise to the east and south. It is a small, ranching community, settled by Mormon pioneers in the 1800s, at the mouths of canyons named Laketown Canyon and Old Laketown Canyon.
The area was originally inhabited by Shoshone, Ute and Sioux Indian tribes. It was also frequented by fur trappers such as Jim Bridger in the years between 1825 and 1840. In 1867, Mormon pioneers settled here in violation of previous agreements with the indians. Apostle Charles C. Rich was sent to settle the matter when the indians protested. A new agreement was reached where the settlers could stay in exchange for food.
State Highway 30 approaches Laketown through the grasslands to the northwest, coming from the west side of Bear Lake, and continues up into the mountains through Old Laketown Canyon. It crosses the Wyoming border not far to the east. A road also extends northward along the east side of the lake, and another heads west into Round Valley. A jeep trail leads up Laketown Canyon. According to the 2000 census, the population was 188. A historic marker in the town tells that the population was close to 325 in both 1896 and 1996.
Street Index
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Bear Lake Blvd Center Street First East Street First North Street |
First South Street First West Street Main Street Second East Street |
Second South Street Third South Street |