• EMAIL THIS PAGE
• PRINT THIS PAGE

Star Valley, Wyoming

South of Jackson Hole sits Star Valley, Wyo., a collection of communities in northern Lincoln County. The Salt River bisects the 45-mile-long, 12-mile-wide valley that runs from Smoot in the south to Alpine in the north. The Salt River Range to the east and Caribou Range to the west frame the mountain valley and provide habitat for moose, elk, mule deer, bear and mountain lions.

The area is home to Alpine, where the Snake, Greys and Salt rivers converge and flow into Palisades Reservoir. Afton, the main commerce center, and towns such as Freedom, Thayne and Smoot also populate the valley. Alpine is a 37-mile drive from Jackson, while Afton is almost 70 miles away.

Some residents of towns in the northern reaches of Star Valley - Alpine, Etna and Freedom - work in Jackson, but enjoy the elbow room found in open spaces of a rural community.

In other parts of the area, prospective property buyers can find homes and homesites fronting the Salt River, a noted trout stream.

The area has traditionally been home to dairy farms, but in some places one can also find cattle ranches that serve as paradise for those who love the outdoors.

In Star Valley, one can enjoy fishing, hiking, snowmobiling, horseback riding, four-wheeling and hunting. The tight-knit community values education, access to public lands and its place in western Wyoming.

The average high temperature in July is 80 degrees with an average low of 43 and 1.4 inches of precipitation. The average high temperature in January is 27 degrees with an average low of 2 degrees and 1.5 inches of precipitation.
May is generally the wettest month, while February is the driest.

Northern Star Valley

Alpine, Etna, Freedom, Thayne, Bedford and Star Valley Ranch comprise northern Star Valley. Many Jackson workers call the area home and enjoy having horses and other livestock on multiacre parcels. The area also features the widest section of the Salt River and some luxury-home developments.
Alpine, at the mouth of the Grand Canyon of the Snake River, is the largest town in this part of the valley, with 828 residents, according to the 2010 Census. Thayne is home to 366 people.

Afton and surroundings

Afton, population 1,911, serves as the center of commerce for Star Valley. The town is home to the high and middle schools, an airport and car dealerships, hotels, motels and restaurants. Many county services are based in Afton, but the town is not the Lincoln County seat. That distinction belongs to Kemmerer, which sits almost 70 miles to the southeast.

Mormon settlers tamed the valley and established Afton in 1901. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints serves as an important institution in the town.

The town also is home to Rulon Gardner, a Greco-Roman wrestler who won a gold medal in the 2000 Olympic games and bronze in 2004. Afton is surrounded by the small communities of Auburn, Grover, Fairview and Smoot.

Agriculture remains an important part of the community, but the economy also relies on mining and service industries.
The rural character has kept the valley beautiful, as fields are framed by mountains.

Attractions and recreation

The greatest attraction in Star Valley is the natural setting, which supports high-mountain agriculture and offers ample opportunities for hiking, fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, wildlife viewing, boating and four-wheeling.

The Greys River Road offers access to fishing and camping along the Greys River. Public access points let anglers launch boats on the Salt River, although unauthorized wading is illegal on private land.

Northern Lincoln County, above Alpine, is home to some of the best whitewater boating on the Snake River.

Palisades also offers fishing and the chance to water ski or wakeboard. In winter, fields of pristine white snow prevail in the mountains, and many take advantage of powder days to go snowmobiling.

Afton hosts two snowmobile hill climbs each winter, and Thayne is home to the All American Cutter Race. Near Afton, sightseers can visit Intermittent Spring, the largest cold-water geyser in the world. Afton bills itself as home to the largest elk horn arch, which was built in 1957 and spans Main Street.

The valley's history is displayed at the historic tabernacle, built by Mormon settlers in 1904. The Pioneer and Lander Trail museums share the stories of those who crossed the West looking for land to settle. The Call Air Museum showcases early aviation in western Wyoming.

Transportation

Star Valley is bisected by Highway 89. The road runs all the way to Jackson. Numerous county roads cut through the valley, offering backroad access to small communities.

The valley is served by three airports, which are primarily for private planes. Jackson Hole Airport is roughly 65 miles from Thayne, an 80-minute drive. Salt Lake City International Airport is 225 miles, or almost a four-hour drive from Thayne. The Idaho Falls, Idaho, airport is 90 miles away, less than two hours by car.

Commuters can take advantage of START Bus service that runs from Etna to Jackson in the morning and returns in the afternoon and evening.

Education

Lincoln County School District No. 2 serves Star Valley students with four elementary, one middle school and two high schools.

Kindergarten through third-grade students from the Afton area attend the 372-student Afton Elementary School, while fourth- through sixth-graders attend the 294-student Osmond Elementary School. Thayne Elementary School, in northern Star Valley, serves 330 children in kindergarten through third grade. Etna Elementary School is home to 245 students.

All students attend the 368-student Star Valley Middle School.

High school students have two options: the 660-student Star Valley High School or the alternative Swift Creek High School with roughly 40 students.

Lincoln County School District No. 2 spent $13,200 per student in the 2008-09 school year. The average composite ACT score for high school juniors was 20.8 in the 2009-10 school year. The high school graduation rate was 87 percent.

The valley also is served by a University of Wyoming extension office in Afton.

Health care

The roughly 50,000-square-foot Star Valley Medical Center is a 24-bed facility offering a wide range of services to regional patients. In 2010, the facility had 697 inpatient admissions, 105 births, 3,098 emergency room visits and 1,203 surgery cases. The facility works with the 30-bed Star Valley Care Center, a home of elders.

Independent Family Practice in Thayne is an outreach clinic of Star Valley Medical Center. Alpine Family Medical Clinic, also a medical center outreach clinic, serves patients in northern Star Valley.

Entertainment

Those who love the outdoors love Star Valley. Visitors and residents enjoy horse riding, hiking, biking, water sports, river rafting and bird watching.

People can enjoy softball at valley parks, and golfers have a host of courses to chose from.

In the winter, people ride snowmobiles, cross-county ski, ice fish and watch the All American Cutter Races. The valley offers great hunting for elk, deer, bear, antelope, moose, waterfowl, sage grouse, rabbit and partridge.

There are friendly watering holes, book stores and a chocolate factory.

The valley features the Call Air Museum, the Pioneer Museum and the Lander Trail Museum. Community members also are loyal to their high school sports teams, turning out to watch their children compete against teams from around the state.

Shopping and dining

Diners can enjoy sit-down fare at restaurants such as Colter's Lodge Bar and Restaurants, the Elkhorn Restaurant and Rocky Mountain Seafood. Those who want to witness a touch of fame with their food can go to Rulon's Burger Barn, named for the valley's gold- and bronze-medal Olympian Rulon Gardner. Other options include Bellos Italian Grille in Alpine and Dad's Steakhouse in Thayne. The Star Valley Cheese Restaurant should be part of any itinerary.

Taxes

Wyoming assesses no corporate or personal income tax. The Lincoln County sales tax rate is 5 percent. The average property tax rate is 6.45 percent.

Webcams and maps

Star Valley Webcam

Alpine Webcam

Star Valley Map

COMMUNITY INFORMATION

Thayne

Population: 366

Average household size: 2.54

Total families: 90

Average family size: 3.22

Median age: 35.6

Median household income: $27,857

Families median income: $34,688

Number of businesses: N/A

Median house value: $154,500

Zip code:83127

Elevation: 5,906 feet

Sources:
US Census Data, Teton County School District No. 1, Teton County, WY

COMMUNITY INFORMATION

Etna

Population: 164

Average household size: 2.88

Total families: 35

Average family size: 3.69

Median age: 29

Median household income: $86,142

Families median income: N/A

Number of businesses: N/A

Median house value: N/A

Zip code:83118

Elevation: 5,827 feet

Sources:
US Census Data, Teton County School District No. 1, Teton County, WY

COMMUNITY INFORMATION

Alpine

Population: 828

Average household size: 2.39

Total families: 221

Average family size: 2.83

Median age: 36.6

Median household income: $66,250

Families median income: $80,000

Number of businesses: N/A

Median house value: $248,600

Zip code:83128

Elevation: 5,634 feet

Sources:
US Census Data, Teton County School District No. 1, Teton County, WY

COMMUNITY INFORMATION

Afton

Population: 1,911

Average household size: 2.68

Total families: 496

Average family size: 3.26

Median age: 33

Median household income: $44,327

Families median income: $51,736

Number of businesses: N/A

Median house value: $174,000

Zip code:83110

Elevation: 6,240 feet

Sources:
US Census Data, Teton County School District No. 1, Teton County, WY