History
The Salmon River canyon near Lucile was part of the traditional homelands of the Nez Perce (Nimiipuu) people. Euro-American homesteaders and miners established ranches and ferries along the corridor in the late 19th century.
A post office was established under the spelling Lucille on February 24, 1899, with George Curtis recorded as the first postmaster in county postal transcriptions. [5] The spelling was later standardized to Lucile. The post office remains in operation today, serving ZIP code 83542. [2]
By the early 20th century, Lucile functioned as a small river community, serving ranchers, fishermen, and travelers along the Salmon River. Its location on what is now U.S. Route 95 made it an intermediate stop between larger communities such as Riggins and White Bird.
The name also appears in scientific usage: the Lucile series (also called Lucile Slate) was named in early 20th-century geological reports for exposures near the community, particularly along the canyon walls of the Salmon River. [6]
The precise origin of the community’s name—whether it was named after a local settler, postmaster’s family member, or another individual—remains unclear in digitized records. Local archives such as the Idaho County Historical Society and Idaho State Historical Society may hold oral histories or manuscripts that explain who “Lucile” was. [7]
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