Owyhee County, Administrative county in southwestern Idaho, United States
Description
Owyhee County is an administrative region in southwestern Idaho that spans diverse terrain including mountains, desert areas, and deep river canyons. The landscape combines different geographic features with plateaus and rugged formations that shape how the county is physically organized.
History
The county was established in 1863 as the first county under Idaho Territory Legislature, officially organizing the region. Over time, the county seat moved from Ruby City to Silver City and eventually to Murphy, reflecting shifts in settlement patterns.
Culture
Western Shoshone, Northern Paiute, and Bannock peoples made this land their home for generations, and their presence still shows in place names and local stories today. When you travel through the river valleys and mountain passes, you can sense the deep connection these communities had with the landscape.
Practical
The region is connected by a network of highways to neighboring areas, making travel and navigation straightforward. Visitors should know that some parts are remote, so planning ahead is important if you want to explore outdoor areas like canyons and hiking trails.
Did you know?
The name comes from early Hawaiian fur trappers who explored this region during 19th-century trading expeditions. This surprising connection between the distant Pacific and this isolated mountain land remains embedded in the county's identity.
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Albertsons Stadium
116.1 km
Idaho State Capitol
117.8 km
Old Idaho State Penitentiary
116.1 km
Bruneau Dunes State Park
54.9 km
Idaho Center
119.9 kmBoise greenbelt
117.2 km
The Egyptian Theatre
117.5 kmState of Idaho Executive Residence
121.6 km
Julia Davis Park
116.6 km
Arrowrock Dam
117 km
Zions Bank Idaho Headquarters
117.6 km
Jump Creek Falls
119.2 km
Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial
116.9 km
Meridian Idaho Temple
125.3 km
Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area
80.6 km
Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge
117.4 km
Wahooz
116.5 km
Three Island Crossing State Park
81.5 km
Northern Basin and Range ecoregion
83.7 km
Roaring Springs Waterpark
116.4 km
Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
118.2 km
Boise Art Museum
116.9 kmC. J. Strike Reservoir
46.5 km
Lucky Peak State Park
108.7 km
Owyhee River Wilderness
43.2 km
Ahavath Beth Israel
116.5 km
Lucky Peak Lake
108 kmHillcrest Country Club (Boise, Idaho)
114 km
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