Name: Kirwin

 

County: Park

 

Authority Name: 

 

GNIS Entry 

 

Longitude: 1091753W

Latitude: 435235N 

 

Legal Description:

 

Elevation:  9193/2802

(ft/m)

 

Feature Type: Populated Place

 

Origin of Name:

Named after William Kirwin who was a mining man.

Source: WPA

 

Named for William Kirwin, an early-day miner.

Source: Annals 14(3)

 

Ore was first discovered in the region in 1890 by Will Kirwin, but the financial depression of the next few years served to retard development until 1902, when vigorous exploration was undertaken by several companies, and the town of Kirwin soon had a population of about 200. The boom culminated in 1904, since when activity has steadily decreased. A snowslide in February, 1907, swept away the boarding house and storehouse of the last operators, and from that time to the present very little work has been done.

Source: Hewett, 1912

 

Alternative Spellings: 

 

Other Names: 

 

History:

Kirwin Post Office was established on June 6, 1892 with Peter Perrin as postmaster. It was discontinued on May 9, 1894 but re-established on November 16, 1896. It was discontinued again on October 15, 1920 and its mail then handled by the Meeteetse Post Office.

Source: Wyoming Post Offices

 

Small town and postoffice in Park County, 38 miles southwest from Meeteetse. Stockraising and mining the leading industries.

Source: Wyoming State Business Directory, 1910-11

Kirwin is situated near the headwaters of the north fork of Wood River, a tributary of Greybull River, about 38 miles southwest of Meeteetse, Park County, Wyo. During the summer weekly mail service is privately maintained from Sunshine, 15 miles southwest of Meeteetse. Daily stages ply between Meeteetse and Cody, on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, and Meeteetse and Basin, on the Thermopolis branch of the same road. The town, now abandoned, lies at an altitude of 9,200 feet, and above it ridges rise precipitously to 12,000 feet.

Source: Hewett, 1912

 

Stories:

 

Maps:

1:24000 Quadrangle: Francs Peak

 

Newspapers:

 

More Information:

Main Street, Wyoming

Episode: Risky Business: The Ghost Town of Kirwin

 

Pictures: