Ketchum, Idaho, Blaine County: Nestled in the picturesque Wood River Valley, Ketchum was once a bustling hub during the silver mining boom. Today, it is a vibrant town that serves as a gateway to the Sun Valley ski area, blending its ghost town history with modern attractions. Below is detailed information about the town.
County: Blaine County
Zip Code: 83340
Latitude / Longitude: 43.6792° N, 114.3636° W
Elevation: 5,853 feet
Time Zone: Mountain Time Zone (MT)
Established: 1880
Disestablished: Not available
Comments: Ketchum’s rich history as a mining town began in the late 19th century when silver was discovered in the area. It quickly grew into a thriving community, with a bustling downtown area featuring saloons, hotels, and businesses catering to miners and travelers.
The railroad’s arrival in 1884 further spurred its growth, making it a key supply point for the region’s mines.
Ketchum is a city in Blaine County, Idaho, United States, in the central part of the state. The population was 2,689 at the 2010 census, down from 3,003 in 2000. Located in the Wood River Valley, Ketchum is adjacent to Sun Valley.
The communities share many resources; both sit in the same valley beneath Bald Mountain, with its world-famous skiing. The city also draws tourists worldwide to enjoy fishing, hiking, trail riding, tennis, shopping, art galleries, and more. The airport for Ketchum, Friedman Memorial Airport, is approximately 15 miles (24 km) south in Hailey.
Originally the smelting center of the Warm Springs mining district, the town was first named Leadville in 1880. The postal department decided that was too common and renamed it for David Ketchum, a local trapper and guide who had staked a claim in the basin a year earlier.
Smelters were built in the 1880s, with the Philadelphia Smelter, located on Warm Springs Road, processing large amounts of lead and silver for about a decade.
Remains: While much of the original mining infrastructure has disappeared, Ketchum retains several historic buildings from its early days. The old Union Pacific railroad station, now converted into a visitor center and museum, offers a glimpse into the past.
The town’s Main Street is lined with preserved structures reflecting its mining heritage. After the mining boom subsided in the 1890s, sheepmen from the south drove their herds north through Ketchum in the summer to graze in the upper elevation areas of the Pioneer, Boulder, and Sawtooth mountains.
By 1920, Ketchum had become the largest sheep-shipping center in the West. In the fall, massive herds of sheep flowed south into the town’s livestock corrals at the Union Pacific Railroad’s railhead, which connected to the mainline at Shoshone.
After the Union Pacific Railroad developed Sun Valley in 1936, Ketchum became popular with celebrities, including Gary Cooper and Ernest Hemingway. Hemingway loved the surrounding area; he fished, hunted, and, in the late 1950s, bought a home overlooking the Wood River in nearby Warm Springs.
It was there he committed suicide; he and his granddaughter, model and actress Margaux Hemingway, are buried in the Ketchum Cemetery. The local elementary school is named in his honor.
Current Status: Ketchum is a thriving resort town known for its outdoor recreational activities and cultural events. It is the main gateway to the Sun Valley ski resort, attracting visitors year-round with its skiing, hiking, and arts festivals.
Remarks: Ketchum blends its historical roots with modern-day amenities, offering a unique destination for those seeking adventure and history. Its transformation from a mining town to a resort community reflects its enduring appeal and adaptability.
