Cache Valley

Cache Valley
Valley
View of the Wellsville Mountains at the southwestern end of the valley.
Country	United States
Counties	Cache County, Utah, Franklin County, Idaho
Borders on	west: Bannock Range (ID), Wellsville Mountains (UT) east: Bear River Mountains south: Wasatch Range
City	Logan, Utah & Preston, Idaho
Location	41°50′10″N 112°00′22″W / 41.83607°N 112.006038°W / 41.83607; -112.006038
Length	50 mi (80 km)
Biome	Northern Basin and Range
GNIS ID, Huc	1426257 16010202[1]

east: Bear River Mountains
south: Wasatch Range

Cache Valley is an agricultural valley of northern Utah and southeast Idaho that includes the Logan metropolitan area. The valley was used by 19th century mountain men and was the site of the 1863 Bear River Massacre.

Following habitation by the Shoshone and other indigenous peoples, European explorer Michel Bourdon discovered Cache Valley c.1818 during a MacKenzie fur expedition. The valley was subsequently used for annual gatherings of mountain men. Many of the trappers who worked in the valley came from the Hudson's Bay Company, the Northwest Fur Company, and the Rocky Mountain Fur Company. The name "Cache Valley," was derived by the fur trappers who hid their trading goods in in that region. The use of caches was a method used by fur traders to protect their goods from theft and damage.

Mormon William Gardner became the first settler in 1852. Prior to the Mormon selection of the Salt Lake Valley, Jim Bridger had recommended Cache Valley due to its relative abundance of fresh water. A Mormon settler group led by Peter Maughan arrived via Box Elder Canyon (commonly referred to as Sardine Canyon) in July 1856 and additional settlers arrived on September 15.

Early settlers of Cache Valley were able to keep Indian violence at bay by creating the Cache Valley Militia. Men from the various towns in Cache Valley nicknamed "minute men" volunteered to drill, serve as watchmen, and to ride to the aid of other communities at the news of attacks and skirmishes.