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Freedom is an unincorporated community in both northeastern Caribou County, Idaho, and northwestern Lincoln County, Wyoming in the United States. Located on U.S. Route 89 and Idaho State Highway 34, it sits on the Idaho/Wyoming state line. It lies northwest of the city of Soda Springs, the county seat of Caribou County, and north of Kemmerer, the county seat of Lincoln County; the nearest significant community is Afton, Wyoming, approximately 20 miles (30 km) to the south, along U.S. Route 81.[1] Its elevation is 5,777 feet (1,761 m), and it is located at 42°58′58″N, 111°2′38″W (42.9826991, -111.0438243).[2] Although Freedom is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 83120.[3]
Freedom was established in 1879, and today it remains the oldest settlement in the Star Valley. Similar to Colorado City, Arizona and Hildale, Utah, the community was settled as a border town by Mormon polygamists in order to escape arrest for polygamy: they could be free from Idaho police simply by walking into Wyoming. The community was named for the freedom it gave these early settlers.[4]
At one time, Freedom was the largest settlement in Star Valley. There was a general store, a gas station, billiard hall, and other establishments. Today some of the old buildings still stand, but very few are still in use. The Post Office and Baseball Park are still used, along with the LDS Church, which was built in 1889. Freedom is also the home of Freedom Arms, a gun factory and maker of the .454 Casull handgun.[citation needed]
The population of the ZCTA for ZIP Code 83120 was 471 at the 2000 census, with a racial makeup of 98.5% White, and 1.5% some other race.[5] The town sign states that the population is 100, but it hasn't been updated for decades.[citation needed]
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