Atlanta, Idaho

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Atlanta is an unincorporated town in Elmore County, Idaho, United States. It was founded in 1864 as a gold and silver mining community. While the official website for the town indicates it was settled in 1863 and named after the Civil War's Battle of Atlanta, the town was not settled until 1864. Mining activity near Atlanta preceded its establishment as a mining community. The John Stanley party discovered gold on the Yuba River on July 20, 1864, just two days prior to the battle of Atlanta in Georgia. That November, John Simmons made the discovery of the Atlanta lode which contained both gold and silver. Atlanta is at an elevation of 5383 feet (1640 m) above sea level, located near the headwaters of the Middle Fork of the Boise River, approximately 2 miles east of the mouth of the Yuba River. The Sawtooth Mountains are directly north, and Idaho City is approximately 35 miles (56 km) due west, as the crow flies. Though founded as a mining community, and a number of private claims remain in the area, no significant commercial mining has occurred in the area for over 50 years, though more recently inquiries into opening a new plant have seen some headway. In place of mining, Atlanta has diversified into areas such as tourism, back-country activities, and preservation of the town's lengthy historic legacy.