Name: Kirby
County: Hot Springs
Authority Name:
GNIS Entry
Longitude: 1081053W
Latitude: 434816N
Legal Description:
Elevation: 4265/1300
(ft/m)
Feature Type: Populated Place
Origin of Name:
Kris Kirby was the first settler in this area. Kirby was an old Texas cowman who first settled on the Big Horn River. After staying here for a while he moved on up what is now known as Kirby Creek to about a mile from its mouth. Kirby ran Durham cattle with a boot brand. The story is told that he had these cattle trained to the shot whip. Into the weaving mass of the roundup herd he would rise and crack his long whip and out would come the Durham cattle on the run. He ran around 2,800 head of cattle. The date of his leaving is not certain but he sold out to Captain Torrey for sixty thousand dollars. There was not a cent paid down at the making of this deal. When Torrey shipped his first beef, he made the first payment. The cattle were all paid for in two years time. Kris Kirby was said to have gone back to Chicago, married a widow years younger than him, and purchased a hotel. Just a few weeks after his marriage, he passed away.
Source: WPA
Kris Kirby, a Texan, was the first settler in the vicinity.
Source: Annals 14(3)
Alternative Spellings:
Other Names:
History:
Kirby Post Office was established in December, 1907 and discontinued in December, 1966 when it became a rural branch of Worland Post Office.
Source: Wyoming Post Offices
Post office and small town in Big Horn County, 12 miles north of Thermopolis and the present terminus of the C, B & Q Railroad. (At this time, the area was in Big Horn County)
Source: Wyoming State Business Directory, 1910-11
Postoffice and small town in Hot Springs County on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railway, 14 miles north of Thermopolis, the county seat and nearest banking point. Population 300. Altitude 4,280 feet.
Source: Wyoming State Business Directory, 1922
Stories:
Maps:
1:24000 Quadrangle: Kirby
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