Near Evanston in Uinta County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)

Almy

Photographed by Bryan R. Bauer, September 22, 2010

1. Almy Marker

Inscription. Nineteenth Century railroads were dependent upon coal for fuel. The vast coal reserves of southern Wyoming helped determine the route of the transcontinental Union Pacific Railroad and were the basis for Wyoming's first energy boom. Communities sprang up along the line and several with coal deposits or rail facilities survived. Coal mines were opened in the surrounding Bear River Valley in 1868. Dreams of prosperity lured miners from England, Scandinavia, China, and from throughout the United States to settle in "Wyoming Camp", which later became Almy. Named for James T. Almy, a clerk for the Rocky Mountain Coal Company and located three miles northwest of Evanston, Almy was strung out along the Bear River for 5 miles. This particular "string-town" owed its existence soley to coal mining. Her 4,000 residents suffered more than their share of mining tragedies. On March 4, 1881, the first mine explosion west of the Mississippi to claim lives, killed 38 men in just one of many serious disasters to strike Almy. In January of 1886, 13 more died and on March 20, 1895, the third worst mine explosion in Wyoming history,

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claimed the lives of 61 men. The state Coal Mine Inspector determined the Almy mines "among the most dangerous in the state". Finally, in 1900 the mines were closed by the Union Pacific due to labor troubles and explosions. Almy lost its principal industry, the population dwindled and the town suffered the fate of many railroad coal towns throughout Wyoming.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1886.

Location. 41° 17.636′ N, 110° 58.661′ W. Marker is near Evanston, Wyoming, in Uinta County. It is on State Highway 89 2.6 miles north of Front Street (State Highway 150), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1730 Wyoming Highway 89, Evanston WY 82930, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Uinta Mountains

and in the Westward Expansion Trails Region.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

Photographed by Bryan R. Bauer, September 22, 2010

2. Almy Marker

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Uinta County Library (Carnegie Library) 1906 (approx. 1.9 miles away); Evanston Downtown Historic District (approx. 1.9 miles away); Evanston (approx. 2 miles away); Uinta County Courthouse (approx. 2 miles away); Lincoln Highway — Sunset Cabins (approx. 2.1 miles away); First Brick Church (approx. 2.1 miles away); The Wyoming State Hospital (approx. 2½ miles away); Bear River Watershed (approx. 3.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Evanston.

Photographed by Bryan R. Bauer, September 22, 2010

3. Almy Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on September 4, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 4, 2010, by Bryan R. Bauer of Kearns, Ut 84118. This page has been viewed 4,744 times since then and 335 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 4, 2010, by Bryan R. Bauer of Kearns, Ut 84118. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.