City of Pocatello Bannock County, Idaho
Mapped Location
City of Pocatello: The mapped location is an approximation and should not be used for navigation or wayfinding.
Information
General information on City of Pocatello
- Feature Type: Incorporated
Official, historical, colloquial and alternative toponyms for City of Pocatello
A brief list of names that this geographic feature has been named
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| City of Pocatello | Official |
| Pocatello | Official |
Origin Notes and History of City of Pocatello
References to City of Pocatello that document the origin of its place name
BANNOCK.—Named for the Bannack Indians (q. v.), but the Scotch word is used. The county seat is Pocatello, named for Chief Pokatello (q.v.).
POKATELLO, Bannock County.—This is a Shoshoni Indian word meaning "Po," "road," "ka," "not" and "tello," "to follow" or "He does not follow the road," and was applied to this chief of the Bannack Indians because of his stealthy habits and thieving raids. In 1862 he and his followers massacred a California emigrant train near the City of Rocks in Cassia County, for which deed Gen. P. E. Connor of Fort Douglas, Utah, surrounded his winter camp on Bear River on January 29, 1863, and almost annihilated the entitre band. On July 29, 1863, the Government made a treaty with Pokatello and his followers, called the Northwestern Bands, as follows: It is agreed that friendly and amicable relations shall be re-established and it is declared that a firm and perpetual peace shall henceforth be maintained. And the said Northwestern Bands hereby acknowledge to have received provisions and goods to the amount of $2,000 to relieve their immediate necessities, the said bands having been reduced by war to a state of utter destitution. The country claimed by Pokatello, for himself and his people is bounded on the west by Raft River and on the east by the Portneuf Moimtains. When the Fort Hall Indian Reservation (q.v.) was formed in 1869 most of this country was included in that reserve and all the Indians were placed upon it. In 1864 Ben Holliday opened a stage route from Salt Lake City to Virginia City, Montana, and located a station along the route which he named "Pocatello" for this chief. The place developed into the present town of Pocatello which is near Batise springs, a great Indian camp and resort in olden days.
Related Catalog Titles
A Bibliography for City of Pocatello, Bannock County, Idaho
Know your town Pocatello, Idaho gate city to the great Northwest by League of Women Voters of Pocatello
Pioneering Pocatello was no picnic by Betty Hale, Leon Jenks
Related Online Resources
Idaho State University Special Collections
Special Collections and Archives at the Eli M. Oboler Library, Idaho State University acquires, preserves, and makes accessible research materials that document the historical, cultural, and folk life experience of Southeast Idaho, the Intermountain West, and the history of Idaho State University.
WEB LINKDigital Atlas of Idaho
Idaho's natural history online. One Digital Location for Geography, History, and the natural history of Idaho. Project funded by the Idaho State Board of Education Technology Initiative Grants.
WEB LINK
Bannock County
- City of Arimo
- Blackrock
- Cambridge
- City of Chubbuck
- Dempsey (historical)
- Downata Hot Springs
- City of Downey
- Hawkins
- City of Inkom
- City of Lava Hot Springs
- Marsh Valley
- City of McCammon
- City of Pocatello
- Portneuf
- Red Rock Junction
- Robin
- Swan Lake
- Swanlake
- Topaz (historical)
- Tyhee
- Virginia
- Zenda
Political Boundaries
Last updated: 2023-10-16