Soda Springs Idaho Street View Harris Wool Co Gortons Real Photo Postcard

Soda Springs, Idaho, established as a settlement in the 1870s, evolved from a historic stop on the Oregon Trail into a regional commercial center, primarily due to the arrival of the Oregon Short Line Railroad in the 1880s. The visible railroad tracks underscore its critical function as a transportation nexus, facilitating the movement of goods and people. Businesses like Harris Wool Co. indicate the significant role of the livestock industry, particularly sheep ranching, in the local economy, connecting local commodities to broader markets.