Stanley, Idaho

Fur trappers of the Hudson's Bay Company discovered the Stanley Basin in the 1820s, but it was mostly avoided due to scarcity of beaver. Captain John Stanley, a Confederate Civil War veteran, led a party of twenty-three prospectors through the area in 1863 (or 1864), but they found little gold and moved on and discovered the Atlanta lode on the south end of the Sawtooths. The site was not considered a town until 1919 when its streets and lots were surveyed and recorded."Idaho for the Curious", by Cort Conley, 1982, {{ISBN|0-9603566-3-0}}, p. 188-189

Stanley has long been a gathering place for the sparsely populated region.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FfQjAAAAIBAJ&pg=6834%2C2996113 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |agency=(Los Angeles Times) |last=Hillinger |first=Charles |title=Old West still alive and well |date=October 8, 1976 |page=21}}

In 2005, Hannah Stauts won the city's mayoral election at age 22 to become the state's youngest elected mayor.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0dgyAAAAIBAJ&pg=2587%2C572743 |newspaper=Moscow-Pullman Daily News |location=Idaho-Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=22-year-old Stanley woman is Idaho's youngest elected mayor |date=December 6, 2005 |page=2A }}

The 2017 solar eclipse attracted a large number of visitors to Stanley and surrounding areas. The Milky Way is clearly visible in Stanley, and the town has sought the seal of approval from the International Dark-Sky Association.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2018-08-10|title=Solar Eclipse Preparedness for Stanley Residents & Visitors|url=https://stanleycc.org/Blogs/ArticleID/403/Solar-Eclipse-Preparedness-for-Stanley-Residents-Visitors|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-16|website=Stanley Idaho, Trailhead to Idaho Adventure|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2017-11-25|title=Idaho Dims The Lights For One Of The Best Night Skies Anywhere|url=https://www.npr.org/2017/11/25/566074921/idaho-dims-the-lights-for-one-of-the-best-night-skies-anywhere|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-16|website=NPR.org|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Herald|first=Ryan Olson Daily|date=2017-08-25|title=Idaho trip for eclipse was totality worth it|url=https://www.heraldextra.com/utahadventure/outdoors/idaho-trip-for-eclipse-was-totality-worth-it/article_af07ccb3-a771-5b68-83f6-62635a82a983.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-16|website=Daily Herald|language=en}}

Stanley is located in the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve.{{Cite web | title=Home - Dark Sky Reserve | url=https://idahodarksky.org | access-date=2024-12-17 | website=idahodarksky.org}}

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|0.62|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which, {{convert|0.61|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.01|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=2012-12-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=2012-01-25 }} Stanley is surrounded by the Sawtooth National Recreation Area.

• {{jct|state=ID|SH|21}} - Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway{{cite web|title=Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway|url=http://www.visitidaho.org/scenic-byways/ponderosa-pine-scenic-byway/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906142613/http://www.visitidaho.org/scenic-byways/ponderosa-pine-scenic-byway/|archive-date=September 6, 2015|access-date=October 26, 2015|publisher=Visit Idaho}}
• {{jct|state=ID|SH|75}} - Sawtooth Scenic Byway{{cite web|title=Sawtooth Scenic Byway|url=http://www.visitidaho.org/scenic-byways/sawtooth-scenic-byway/|access-date=October 26, 2015|publisher=Visit Idaho}} (southbound), Salmon River Scenic Byway{{cite web|title=Salmon River Scenic Byway|url=http://www.visitidaho.org/scenic-byways/salmon-river-scenic-byway/|access-date=October 26, 2015|publisher=Visit Idaho}} (northbound)

{{main|2020 Central Idaho earthquake}}

On March 31, 2020 at 5:48 MST, a M 6.5 earthquake 20 miles northwest of Stanley shook the town.{{cite web|date=31 March 2020|url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us70008jr5/executive|access-date=20 April 2020|title=M 6.5 - 70km W of Challis, Idaho|website=USGS Earthquake Hazards Program}} This was the second strongest earthquake recorded in Idaho, behind the 6.9 Borah Peak earthquake of 1983.{{cite web |last1=Blanchard |first1=Nicole |title=Idaho has a history of earthquakes. Here's how they compare to Tuesday's 6.5 quake |url=https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/local/article241669416.html |website=Idaho Statesman |access-date=20 April 2020 |date=31 March 2020}}

{{US Census population

|1950= 33

|1960= 35

|1970= 47

|1980= 99

|1990= 71

|2000= 100

|2010= 63

|2020= 116

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}

}}

As of the census of 2020 there were 116 people in Stanley. There were 169 housing units.

As of the census{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2012-12-18}} of 2010, there were 63 people, 30 households, and 13 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|103.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 91 housing units at an average density of {{convert|149.2|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 100.0% White.

There were 30 households, of which 3.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.0% were married couples living together, 3.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 56.7% were non-families. 40.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.73 and the average family size was 2.23.

The median age in the city was 52.5 years. 3.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 1.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.8% were from 25 to 44; 58.7% were from 45 to 64; and 12.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 52.4% male and 47.6% female.

As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}} of 2000, there were 100 people, 45 households, and 23 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|161.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 77 housing units at an average density of {{convert|124.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 98.00% White, 1.00% Native American, and 1.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.00% of the population.

Image:Sawtooth Mountains and Salmon River.JPG & Sawtooths
from Lower Stanley in June 2008]]

There were 45 households, out of which 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples living together, 2.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.7% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and none had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.0% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 40.0% from 45 to 64, and 3.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 122.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 123.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,813, and the median income for a family was $45,625. Males had a median income of $25,000 versus $37,500 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,303. There were 25.9% of families and 21.4% of the population living below the poverty line, including 47.1% of those under 18 and none of those over 64.

In November 2005, residents elected 22-year-old Hannah Stauts as mayor of Stanley. Stauts, a former resident of Boise, was the youngest female mayor in the United States. She was succeeded by Herb Mumford, a retired engineer who was elected in November 2009.[http://www.stanley.id.gov/pb/wp_203da835/wp_203da835.html stanley.id.gov] - city officials - accessed 2011-12-10 The current mayor is Steve Botti.{{Cite web|url=http://www.stanley.id.gov/pb/wp_203da835/wp_203da835.html|title=stanley.id.gov - City Officials|website=www.stanley.id.gov}}

Stanley has an alpine subarctic climate with very cold winters and warm summers with a very large diurnal temperature variation. Frosts can occur at any time of the year. There are on average 290 mornings in the year with frost (10 of them in July) and 60 nights that reach {{convert|0|°F|1}}.{{cite web|title=Period of Record General Climate Summary - Temperature - NOAA|url=http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?id8676|publisher=NOAA}} The cold weather is due to Stanley's location in a protected valley that traps cold air from the surrounding mountains, creating strong temperature inversions.

In latitude and elevation, Stanley's weather station is a near-perfect twin of the station at the summit of Mt. Washington in New Hampshire. But although both are quite cold, their climates are very different.

{{Weather box

|location = Stanley, Idaho, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1916–present: 6249ft (1905m)

|single line = Y

|collapsed = yes

|Jan record high F = 54

|Feb record high F = 56

|Mar record high F = 64

|Apr record high F = 77

|May record high F = 87

|Jun record high F = 93

|Jul record high F = 98

|Aug record high F = 98

|Sep record high F = 92

|Oct record high F = 84

|Nov record high F = 67

|Dec record high F = 60

|year record high F =

|Jan avg record high F = 41.1

|Feb avg record high F = 46.1

|Mar avg record high F = 56.0

|Apr avg record high F = 66.1

|May avg record high F = 76.2

|Jun avg record high F = 84.0

|Jul avg record high F = 90.4

|Aug avg record high F = 89.1

|Sep avg record high F = 84.3

|Oct avg record high F = 73.8

|Nov avg record high F = 55.3

|Dec avg record high F = 42.1

|year avg record high F = 90.8

|Jan high F = 25.7

|Feb high F = 32.7

|Mar high F = 42.6

|Apr high F = 49.7

|May high F = 60.4

|Jun high F = 68.8

|Jul high F = 80.2

|Aug high F = 79.4

|Sep high F = 70.3

|Oct high F = 56.1

|Nov high F = 38.4

|Dec high F = 25.0

|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 11.3

|Feb mean F = 15.9

|Mar mean F = 25.6

|Apr mean F = 34.0

|May mean F = 43.2

|Jun mean F = 50.0

|Jul mean F = 57.1

|Aug mean F = 55.5

|Sep mean F = 47.7

|Oct mean F = 37.4

|Nov mean F = 24.0

|Dec mean F = 11.4

|year mean F =

|Jan low F = -3.0

|Feb low F = -0.9

|Mar low F = 8.6

|Apr low F = 18.2

|May low F = 26.0

|Jun low F = 31.1

|Jul low F = 34.0

|Aug low F = 31.6

|Sep low F = 25.0

|Oct low F = 18.9

|Nov low F = 9.6

|Dec low F = -2.1

|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = -27.9

|Feb avg record low F = -24.3

|Mar avg record low F = -12.9

|Apr avg record low F = 5.4

|May avg record low F = 17.0

|Jun avg record low F = 22.9

|Jul avg record low F = 27.4

|Aug avg record low F = 24.5

|Sep avg record low F = 16.7

|Oct avg record low F = 7.7

|Nov avg record low F = -11.8

|Dec avg record low F = -23.8

|year avg record low F = -32.0

|Jan record low F = -46

|Feb record low F = -47

|Mar record low F = -34

|Apr record low F = -18

|May record low F = 8

|Jun record low F = 12

|Jul record low F = 15

|Aug record low F = 12

|Sep record low F = 1

|Oct record low F = -11

|Nov record low F = -30

|Dec record low F = -54

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 1.80

|Feb precipitation inch = 1.44

|Mar precipitation inch = 2.02

|Apr precipitation inch = 1.69

|May precipitation inch = 1.67

|Jun precipitation inch = 1.48

|Jul precipitation inch = 0.62

|Aug precipitation inch = 0.55

|Sep precipitation inch = 1.01

|Oct precipitation inch = 1.60

|Nov precipitation inch = 2.00

|Dec precipitation inch = 2.32

|year precipitation inch = 18.20

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 8.2

|Feb precipitation days = 7.5

|Mar precipitation days = 5.9

|Apr precipitation days = 5.3

|May precipitation days = 5.3

|Jun precipitation days = 4.6

|Jul precipitation days = 2.4

|Aug precipitation days = 1.7

|Sep precipitation days = 2.8

|Oct precipitation days = 4.4

|Nov precipitation days = 6.5

|Dec precipitation days = 7.8

|Jan snow inch = 19.7

|Feb snow inch = 16.8

|Mar snow inch = 8.8

|Apr snow inch = 4.1

|May snow inch = 1.4

|Jun snow inch = 0.2

|Jul snow inch = 0.0

|Aug snow inch = 0.0

|Sep snow inch = 0.1

|Oct snow inch = 1.9

|Nov snow inch = 9.1

|Dec snow inch = 19.8

|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days = 7.6

|Feb snow days = 6.2

|Mar snow days = 4.8

|Apr snow days = 2.7

|May snow days = 0.8

|Jun snow days = 0.1

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 0.1

|Oct snow days = 1.2

|Nov snow days = 4.5

|Dec snow days = 7.1

|source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web

|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00108676&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Stanley, ID

|access-date = January 2, 2023

}}

|source 2 = National Weather Service

{{cite web

|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=pih

|publisher = National Weather Service

|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Pocatello

|access-date = January 2, 2023

}}

}}

{{Weather box

|location = Stanley Ranger Station, Idaho, 1991–2020 normals: 6495ft (1980m)

|single line = Yes

|collapsed = yes

|Jan record high F = 50

|Feb record high F = 54

|Mar record high F = 65

|Apr record high F = 74

|May record high F = 84

|Jun record high F = 93

|Jul record high F = 95

|Aug record high F = 96

|Sep record high F = 93

|Oct record high F = 83

|Nov record high F = 68

|Dec record high F = 49

|year record high F =

|Jan avg record high F = 42.5

|Feb avg record high F = 46.4

|Mar avg record high F = 54.2

|Apr avg record high F = 64.4

|May avg record high F = 75.4

|Jun avg record high F = 83.0

|Jul avg record high F = 90.4

|Aug avg record high F = 88.5

|Sep avg record high F = 83.2

|Oct avg record high F = 71.1

|Nov avg record high F = 56.7

|Dec avg record high F = 42.5

|year avg record high F = 91.1

|Jan high F = 29.5

|Feb high F = 34.9

|Mar high F = 42.5

|Apr high F = 48.6

|May high F = 60.3

|Jun high F = 68.7

|Jul high F = 79.9

|Aug high F = 79.7

|Sep high F = 70.0

|Oct high F = 55.4

|Nov high F = 38.8

|Dec high F = 27.8

|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 16.9

|Feb mean F = 21.0

|Mar mean F = 28.3

|Apr mean F = 34.8

|May mean F = 45.0

|Jun mean F = 51.6

|Jul mean F = 59.3

|Aug mean F = 58.4

|Sep mean F = 50.3

|Oct mean F = 39.7

|Nov mean F = 26.4

|Dec mean F = 16.8

|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 4.4

|Feb low F = 7.1

|Mar low F = 14.1

|Apr low F = 20.9

|May low F = 29.7

|Jun low F = 34.5

|Jul low F = 38.7

|Aug low F = 37.0

|Sep low F = 30.6

|Oct low F = 24.1

|Nov low F = 13.9

|Dec low F = 5.9

|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = -22.4

|Feb avg record low F = -20.1

|Mar avg record low F = -10.0

|Apr avg record low F = 3.7

|May avg record low F = 15.9

|Jun avg record low F = 23.3

|Jul avg record low F = 28.0

|Aug avg record low F = 26.1

|Sep avg record low F = 18.4

|Oct avg record low F = 7.2

|Nov avg record low F = -9.2

|Dec avg record low F = -19.9

|year avg record low F = -26.7

|Jan record low F = −35

|Feb record low F = −31

|Mar record low F = -23

|Apr record low F = -17

|May record low F = 7

|Jun record low F = 18

|Jul record low F = 23

|Aug record low F = 18

|Sep record low F = 8

|Oct record low F = -8

|Nov record low F = -25

|Dec record low F = −34

|year record low F =

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 1.74

|Feb precipitation inch = 1.32

|Mar precipitation inch = 2.20

|Apr precipitation inch = 1.69

|May precipitation inch = 1.49

|Jun precipitation inch = 1.60

|Jul precipitation inch = 0.63

|Aug precipitation inch = 0.48

|Sep precipitation inch = 1.01

|Oct precipitation inch = 1.59

|Nov precipitation inch = 2.19

|Dec precipitation inch = 1.92

|year precipitation inch =

|source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web

|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00004112&format=pdf

|title = Stanley Ranger Station, Idaho 1991-2020 Monthly Normals

|access-date = November 25, 2023

}}

|source 2 = XMACIS2 (records & monthly max/mins)

{{cite web

|url = https://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|title = xmACIS

|access-date = November 25, 2023

}}

}}

During the summers, the Sawtooth Mountain Mamas Craft Fair is held in the field next to the grocery store, usually for about 2–3 days in July.{{Cite web|title=Craft Fair General Information|url=http://www.sawtoothmountainmamas.com/general-information|access-date=2021-01-16|website=Sawtooth Mountain Mamas|language=en-US}}

A music festival, the Sawtooth Valley Gathering, also attracts a fair number of people.{{Cite web|title=The Sawtooth Valley Gathering|url=http://www.sawtoothvalleygathering.com/site/|access-date=2021-01-16|language=en-US}}

An imaginative 1980 novel by Gino Sky, Appaloosa Rising: the Legend of the Cowboy Buddha, is set in the Stanley area.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=1980-05-16|title=Appaloosa Rising: the Legend of the Cowboy Buddha|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/gino-sky/appaloosa-rising-the-legend-of-the-cowboy-buddh/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-16|website=Kirkus Reviews|language=en}}

A 2003 memoir by John Rember, Traplines: Coming Home to the Sawtooth Valley describes life in Stanley and its surrounding area, and the cultural changes connected to the establishment of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area.{{Cite book

| edition = 1st Pantheon

| publisher = Pantheon Books

| isbn = 0375422072

| last = Rember

| first = John

| title = Traplines: coming home to Sawtooth Valley

| location = New York

| date = 2003

| url-access = registration

| url = https://archive.org/details/traplinescomingh00remb

}}

The 1985 Clint Eastwood film Pale Rider was mainly shot in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area near Stanley.{{Cite web|url=https://www.movie-locations.com/movies/p/Pale-Rider.php|title = Filming Locations for Pale Rider (1985), in Idaho}}

Image:Stanley from Above2.JPG|Stanley from above

Image:StanleyPost.jpg|Stanley Post Office (83278)

Image:StanleyChurch.jpg|Chapel

Image:StanleyMuse.jpg|Museum

{{Reflist|2}}

• {{Cite journal

| last1 = Yarber

| first1 = Ester

| author-link = Ester Yarber

| last2 = McGowan

| first2 = Edna

| author2-link = with assistance of Edna McGown

| title = STANLEY-SAWTOOTH COUNTRY

| publisher = Caxton Printers LTD

| year = 1998

| location = Caldwell, Idaho

}}

• {{official website|http://www.stanley.id.gov/}} - City of Stanley
• [http://www.stanleycc.org Stanley/Sawtooth Chamber of Commerce]

{{Custer County, Idaho}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Cities in Custer County, Idaho

Category:Cities in Idaho