Towns were constantly coming and going during Idaho’s early days. A community could be thriving one day, and abandoned the next—that was just how it used to be. Although many towns that eventually disintegrated left almost nothing behind, some of them left a prominent mark on the land they used to call home. The historic townsite of Chesterfield, Idaho is one place that was abandoned long ago, but visitors can actually walk through an assortment of structures it left behind. Chesterfield makes for a fantastic day trip destination so be sure to add it to your list!
Welcome to the historic townsite of Chesterfield, Idaho! Tucked away in the foothills of the Portneuf Valley, this charming village is well worth a day trip and is located between the towns of Lava Hot Springs and Soda Springs.
Located along the route of the Oregon Trail, the village was founded by Mormon settlers in the 1880s and was mainly comprised of families of the LDS Church. Chesterfield was home to just under 700 people during its peak in the early 1900s, but this prosperous little community wouldn't last.
The nationwide agricultural problems and recession of the 1920s had a disastrous effect on this humble town. Residents slowly started to move away and the population dwindled down to 425 people in 1928. Businesses and schools started to close soon after, with the general store officially closing in 1958.
By 1970, only 20 people lived in historic Chesterfield, solidifying it as a ghost town. However, it wouldn't be left alone for long! An organization called the Chesterfield Foundation restored its very first building in 1980 and they are still working to this day on reviving this townsite to its former glory.
Today, most of the village's historic homes have been restored to their original state, along with the majority of the district's main town buildings. Strolling among its buildings today really feels like taking a step back in time.
Chesterfield is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and welcomes visitors all year round. Volunteers even give guided tours during the summer (currently put on hold for the 2020 season) so you can get an in-depth glimpse at this specific period of time.
It's not every day you get to walk through a completely restored 19th century village. For a day trip that will capture both young and old, plan to see historic Chesterfield in the near future.
