Shoshone County was formed under the Territory of Washington on January 9, 1861. The territorial legislature established the county in anticipation of the gold rush that occurred after the discovery of gold at Pierce in October 1860. Their location of the northern boundary at a line drawn due east from the mouth of the Clearwater River, unknowingly placed the emerging mining settlement at Pierce outside of the county's boundaries while residents of the new Mormon settlement at Franklin were unknowingly within the established boundaries. Regardless of the geographic reality, the county seat was at Pierce.
shoshone county was formed under the territory of washington on january 9 1861 the territorial legislature established the county in anticipation of the gold rush that occurred after the discovery of gold at pierce in october 1860 their location of the northern boundary at a line drawn due east from the mouth of the clearwater river unknowingly placed the emerging mining settlement at pierce outside of the county's boundaries while residents of the new mormon settlement at franklin were unknowingly within the established boundaries regardless of the geographic reality the county seat was at pierce