Avery, Idaho — Railroad Town Deep in the St. Joe Country

Avery sits along the St. Joe River in mountain country where operating a transcontinental railroad once required an entire support community.

The Milwaukee Road maintained major western operations there because crossing northern Idaho demanded crews, maintenance and electrical infrastructure. Timber added logging traffic and jobs along the same corridor.

When the railroad abandoned its Pacific extension, much of Avery's original industrial purpose disappeared. Forestry, fishing, recreation and access to public land supplied other reasons to remain.

The railroad chose Avery because these mountains were difficult to cross. The modern community benefits because those same mountains are difficult to ignore.