 The U.S. Census of 1870 enumerated 28 residents for "Overland Road and Snake River"

At the time of Snake River mining operations, the mining settlements were under the jurisdiction of Idaho County, Washington Territory.They were transferred to Boise County in 1863, becoming part of Alturas County at its creation in 1864.The railroad came through the area in the early 1880s with the Toponis railroad station being established by 1883.