Warren, Idaho
Encyclopedia
Warren is an unincorporated town
located in the north central
region of the U.S. state
of Idaho
near the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.
Warren is located within the Payette National Forest
in southern Idaho County
. It is accessible from McCall
, approximately 52 miles (87 km) away.
In 1862, the discovery of gold
in the Warren Creek area in what was then Washington Territory
led to the formation of the settlement, making it one of the oldest settlements in present-day Idaho. Shortly after its founding Warren reached a population of over 2,000. In its heyday Warren was known for its significant Chinese
population. The population plummeted when mining declined, but enjoyed a brief renaissance in the 1930s with the introduction of dredge mining in the area. 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. Recent fires have made the Warren area a haven for morel mushroom hunting
.
Warren currently has a full-time population of 12 to 16.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
located in the north central
North Central Idaho
North Central Idaho is an area which spans the central part of the state of Idaho and borders Oregon, Montana, and Washington. It is the southern half of the Idaho Panhandle region and is rich in agriculture and natural resources. Lewis and Clark travelled throughout this area on their journey to...
region of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
near the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.
Warren is located within the Payette National Forest
Payette National Forest
The Payette National Forest, is a U.S. National Forest located in central western Idaho, in parts of Valley, Idaho, Adams, and Washington counties. The land area consists of approximately 2.3 million acres of federally managed lands...
in southern Idaho County
Idaho County, Idaho
Idaho County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2010 Census the county had a population of 16,267. The county seat is Grangeville...
. It is accessible from McCall
McCall, Idaho
McCall is a resort town on the western edge of Valley County, Idaho, United States. Named after its founder, Tom McCall, it is situated on the southern shore of Payette Lake, near the center of the Payette National Forest...
, approximately 52 miles (87 km) away.
In 1862, the discovery of gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
in the Warren Creek area in what was then Washington Territory
Washington Territory
The Territory of Washington was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 8, 1853, until November 11, 1889, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Washington....
led to the formation of the settlement, making it one of the oldest settlements in present-day Idaho. Shortly after its founding Warren reached a population of over 2,000. In its heyday Warren was known for its significant Chinese
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
population. The population plummeted when mining declined, but enjoyed a brief renaissance in the 1930s with the introduction of dredge mining in the area. A modest gold mining industry remains in the area.
The town has been threatened several times by forest fires
Wildfire
A wildfire is any uncontrolled fire in combustible vegetation that occurs in the countryside or a wilderness area. Other names such as brush fire, bushfire, forest fire, desert fire, grass fire, hill fire, squirrel fire, vegetation fire, veldfire, and wilkjjofire may be used to describe the same...
, most recently in 1989, 2000 and 2007. Recent fires have made the Warren area a haven for morel mushroom hunting
Mushroom hunting
Mushroom hunting, mushrooming, mushroom picking, and similar terms describe the activity of gathering mushrooms in the wild, typically for eating...
.
Warren currently has a full-time population of 12 to 16.