ELK CITY

E. D. Pierce and his group of prospectors who found gold along a tributary of the Clearwater River in 1860 illegally established their mining camp of Pierce on Nez Perce land. Then despite signing an agreement with the Indians to stay out of the area around the South Fork of the Clearwater, prospectors went there anyway.

There just weren't enough claims for all the miners who had flooded the Pierce area and when reports began coming in that there were rich placers found on the South Fork, nothing could stop yet another rush across Indian lands.

By August of 1861 the primitive mining camp of Elk City had grown to around 20 substantial log houses. And according to a local resident of the period by the time the rush reach its height later that summer the town had eight stores, six saloons, 3 butcher shops, two blacksmith shops and a population of around 2,000.

The future for Elk City looked bright. But just as mining was getting into full swing stories of an even richer find in nearby Florence nearly emptied the new town. According to historian Merle Wells only about 50 to 75 miners were content to stay and work their claims in Elk City. With an average claim that paid only $3.50 a day compared to the reported $50 or even $100 a day in Florence Wells says it was amazing anyone stayed at all.

Despite being overshadowed by Florence Elk City actually outlived her rival by far. In fact, it was one of the longer lasting placer districts in North Idaho. And while today there's very little left of the town of Florence, Elk City is still an on going community.