Settled in 1885, organized in 1891. Name supposedly derived from a remark of William Bridge's, who said that Swift Creek's turbulence would make it impossible for Burns to sing "Flow gently sweet Afton" in regard to this stream. (WPA) Named for the song "Flow Gently Sweet Afton." (Annals of Wyoming 14:2) "Afton ..., Lincoln (formerly Uinta) Co., Wyo., is the principal settlement in Star Valley and was permanently settled in 1885, and organized as a Ward in 1887 and named Afton after the historical river of that name in Scotland." (Jenson, 1919-1921)
County:
Lincoln
Feature Category:
Manmade Features
More Reading:
Footprints of progress. Cazier, S. Edwin. [Afton, Wyoming?] : S. E. Cazier, c1977.; Memories from Star Valley, Wyoming. Cazier, S. Edwin. Salt Lake City : Hawkes Pub., c1978.; Sagebrush Settlements. Christiansen, Cleo. Lovell, Wyo.: Cleo Christiansen, 1967.; Afton, Wyoming : a photo essay, her beginnings and at the new millenium. Stauffer, Alan C. Auburn, Wyo. : Moneywise Publishing, 2002.
