There’s not much left of Corral, Idaho – not that there was much in its heyday either.

Settled in 1886 near Corral Creek – named after a location of corrals used during cattle round-ups of the 1870s – Corral served the needs of local ranchers. The first school was built in1891, replaced by two others in 1908. School was held between December and February up to 8th grade – considered a full education in those days (with a curriculum much more difficult than faced by 8th graders today).

It was a 12 hour ride to get to a doctor until the telephone lines came through in 1900.

The town continued to grow …

A creamery was established in town but didn’t last long; the buildings were moved to another location – the creamery didn’t do well in its new location either.

By 1905, the town had a store and post office. A feed barn and saloon were opened; a hotel and second saloon were soon added. Another general store and farm implements store were opened.

The railroad came through in 1911 but missed the town of Corral by about a mile. Grain elevators were opened but the town itself struggled, kept alive mostly because of the post office and a pool hall. The railroad shut down the line in the 1960s.

The Corral store remained and was bought in 1968 – signs along the highway proclaiming “It’s Coffee Time!“. The population was 38. It was the only business in what remained of the town.

Most of Corral is gone now – so is the railroad but the grain elevators still stand as does one of the school buildings. The general store still sits along the highway, but the coffee … and store … ran out in 2001.