Bear River City

Bear River City

Bear River Valley History The Bear River Valley was originally inhabited by the Fremont and Shoshoni Indians. The French-Canadian trappers entered the valley early in the 1800's. As best as can be determined DEWEYVILLE was the first town in Bear River Valley, settled by William Empey in 1864. Later, John C. Dewey and his family settled in the area. The post office was established in 1873 and the town was named DEWEYVILLE. In 1866 Scandinavian Mormon converts were assigned by Brigham Young to live by the Bear River north and west of Corinne. Michael Bourdon, a French Canadian trapper, named the river because of the numerous black, brown and grizzly bears found in the region at the time. The town was named after the river, BEAR RIVER CITY.