Oakley Real Estate
A Short History of Oakley, Idaho
Oakley Economic Information
Places of Interest In the Oakley Area
Oakley, Idaho Real Estate For Sale
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Oakley Real Estate
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Oakley is the site of more historic homes per capita in the United States and is
on the National Register of Historic Places because of the old stone and brick buildings,
some of which date back to the early 1880's. The estimated median value of a house
was $105,000 in 2005, up from $76,900 in 2000.
If you have an opportunity to buy
a piece of property in this town of only 4 square miles, you should take it! Oakley
is well known for it's old Victorian style homes.
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A Short History of Oakley, Idaho
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The town of Oakley, Idaho, originally named Goose Creek Crossing, was settled between
1878 and 1880 by Mormon immigrants from Grantsville and Tooele, Utah. Oakley was
renamed after the Pony Express station operator William Oakley. Oakley is one of
Cassia county's oldest communities.
The Oakley Dam was completed in 1911 and at the time was the world's largest earth
filled dam. Cement and lumber to build the dam was brought in on the Idaho Southern
Short Line Railroad. The railroad was also used for transporting agriculture and
livestock.
A fire in 1923 destroyed most of the town's business area. With the Vipoint Silver
Mine closing in 1927, Oakley was fated to remain a small town as the population
continued to shrink.
In 1926, Charles Brown, the publisher of the Oakley Herald and president of the
Oakley Chamber of Commerce began a publicity campaign to create a National Monument
at the City of Rocks to increase tourism in the area. His efforts continued after
his death and in 1964, the City of Rocks was established as a National Historic
Landmark, for its association with overland migration.
Ten years later, the area
was designated a National Natural Landmark, in recognition of its geological and
scenic value. In 1988, Congress created the City of Rocks National Reserve and Oakley,
Idaho is it's western gateway.
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Oakley Economic Information
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Oakley had a population of 668 during the 2000 government census. The estimated
median household income in 2005 was about $30,200, up from $29,643 in 2000. Oakley
is located only 20 minutes from Burley, making a trip to "the big city" convenient.
Oakley's economy is dependent partially on several nearby rock quarries. The world
famous "Oakley Stone" (Rocky Mountain quartzite building stone) is mined just outside
of Oakley and thousands of tons are shipped all over the world every month. Ranchers
and Farmers are another major factor on the local economy.
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Places of Interest in the Oakley Area
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The City of Rocks National Reserve is only about 15 miles southeast of Oakley and
draws rock climbers from all over the world. There are plenty of climbing routes,
but you don't have to be a rock climber to enjoy the City of Rocks. This is a great
place to bring your family for a picnic and to see some incredible rock formations.
Oakley sits at the base of the South Hills and the trailhead to Independence Lakes
is just a little over 30 minutes away. These alpine lakes are a mere 3 1/2 mile
hike and have an altitude ranging from 8800 feet and up. The entire area surrounding
Oakley is a great place for hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities. The Oakley
Dam forms the Lower Goose Creek Reservoir with opportunities for boating, fishing
and other water activities.
Howells Opera House was built in 1907 and in the 1970's was purchased by the Oakley
Valley Arts Council, a group of local residents which formed to preserve and
renovate the building. To this day, Howells Opera House continues to host productions.
Visit the Oakley Valley Arts website for ticket information.
Sources:
City-Data.com
Oakley Valley Arts Council
National Park Service
LDS Historical Records
Southern Idaho Tourism
The Mini-Cassia Chamber of Commerce
Ultimate Idaho
Bartleby
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Oakley, Idaho Real Estate For Sale
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Horse Property
Imagine waking up on a clear crisp October morning, stepping out on the porch with a steaming cup of coffee and see FOREVER! Zeb Bell with mountain West Realty has a listing of approximately 50 acres of Oakley Basin Heaven, PERFECT for...
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History Meets Opportunity
When the early pioneers settled in Oakley, they knew the value of the land then and for the future. 16.1 Acres of historic Oakley ready and waiting to be developed; all it needs is you and your Idea! People and progress are finding Oakley,...
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Oakley Idaho Country Retreat - Family Home Deluxe
This amazing home is located in the picturesque pioneer town of Oakley, Idaho, which is known for its Victorian architecture and fabulous location near all kinds of outdoor recreation opportunities. The Oakley Reservoir is an excellent...
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Mountain Sanctuary
The Oakley Basin is locally known for its pristine beauty and close proximity to BLM and Forest Service ground that lends to outdoor recreation opportunities galore. The views from this special place in Southern Idaho includes forested...
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Cowboy Heaven
God made some mighty pretty places in Idaho and here's a sample. You can own a piece of Cowboy Heaven in the famous Oakley Basin, 39 acres of Western Scenery at its best! For a beautiful homesite this is it!
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