Givens Hot Springs, Idaho

Uninincorporated community in Owyhee County, Idaho, United States

Populated place in Idaho, United States

43°25′20″N 116°42′53″W / 43.42222°N 116.71472°W / 43.42222; -116.71472CountryUnited StatesStateIdahoCountyOwyheeElevation

2,274 ft (693 m)Time zoneUTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) • Summer (DST)UTC-6 (MDT)ZIP code

83639

Area code(s)208, 986FIPS code16-50950GNIS feature ID0396554Websitehttp://www.givenshotsprings.com/home

Givens Hot Springs is a settlement in Owyhee County, Idaho, United States, on the Snake River approximately 12 miles (19 km) southwest of Marsing and 20 miles (32 km) south of Nampa. The site is named for Milford Riggs Givens (March 17, 1850-April 8, 1922). Also known as Enterprise, Enterprise Givens Springs, Givens Springs, and Givens Warm Springs,^[1] the site has been a popular destination for bathing and swimming since it was settled in 1879, and it became a destination for travelers on the Oregon Trail. Earlier, the site had a 5000-year history of Native American visits.^[2]

History

Givens Springs was a town on the south bank of the Snake River, developed and settled by Milford R. and Martha S. Givens beginning in 1879.^[3] The Givens farm helped to supply the mining town of Silver City, and Givens later sold produce in Nampa.^[4]

William H. Dewey proposed building a hotel and resort at Givens Hot Springs in 1900,^[5] and a hotel eventually was constructed in 1903 by Gustavus F. Yanke, second husband of Martha (Mattie) Givens. Yanke also built a natatorium at the site.^[6]^[7] A school was built in 1907.^[2]

Bramlett & Suell opened a saloon at the resort in 1906,^[8] and in 1911 Charles Simmons leased the hotel, baths, and livery barn.^[9]

The hotel at Givens Hot Springs was destroyed by fire in 1939 and was not rebuilt.^[10]

In 1904 The Caldwell Tribune said of the site, "The Givens hot springs was established as a resort for invalids in 1882 by M.R. Givens, now deceased, but only in recent years it has become a wide known fact that the waters of these springs contains the properties which is almost an absolute cure for rheumatism and such diseases. The temperature of the water at the springs is 175 degrees and contains a large amount of ammonia, potash and borax besides other properties."^[6]

References

^ "Givens Hot Springs". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). Retrieved December 27, 2018.
^ ^a ^b Ruth Brown (March 25, 2016). "Givens Hot Springs started with Silver City miners seeking respite". Idaho Press-Tribune. Nampa, Idaho. Archived from the original on April 25, 2016. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
^ Lalia Boone (1988). Idaho Place Names: A Geographical Dictionary. Moscow, Idaho: The University of Idaho Press. p. 154. ISBN 0893011193.
^ Debra Nelson Holm; Lynda Campbell Clark; Norman Larry Holm (1986). Nampa's People: 1886-1986. Nampa, Idaho: Nampa Centennial Committee. p. 413. ISBN 0816306869.
^ "To Put on Style". Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho. June 1, 1900. p. 8.
^ ^a ^b "Givens Springs". The Caldwell Tribune. Caldwell, Idaho. July 2, 1904. p. 1. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
^ "Enterprise". Silver City Nugget. Silver City, Idaho. June 17, 1904. p. 4. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
^ "Delinquent Tax List". The Owyhee Nugget. Silver City, Idaho. May 24, 1907. p. 3. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
^ "Givens Hot Springs". The Owyhee Nugget. Silver City, Idaho. June 22, 1911. p. 1. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
^ "Flames Destroy Hotel in Idaho". Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho. January 4, 1939. p. 12.