Kelly, Wyoming
Encyclopedia
Kelly is an unincorporated community
in Teton County
in the U.S. state
of Wyoming
. Kelly is .situated along the Gros Ventre River
on the eastern side of the Jackson Hole
valley, is part of the Jackson
, WY–ID
Micropolitan Statistical Area
and has a US Post Office with zip code 83011.
The settlement formed in the late 1890s as Grovont, but was renamed Kelly in 1909 to avoid confusion with a similarly named settlement nearby. On May 18, 1927 the town was destroyed when a natural dam
formed by the Gros Ventre landslide
two years earlier collapsed and completely flooded the town. Today, the population of the community is 242.
On June 23, 1925 following weeks of heavy rain, approximately 50000000 cubic yards (38,227,742.9 m³) of rock slid off the north face of Sheep Mountain, and into a valley formed by the Gros Ventre River
. The rock formed a large natural dam, backing up the water and forming Lower Slide Lake
. The lake and dam eventually stabilized, and engineers determined there was no danger of collapse. There were heavy snows in the winter of 1926-1927, and the higher than normal snow melt was accompanied by more weeks of heavy rain in May 1927. On May 18, residents started to notice debris from the flooding of the upper valley floating downstream in the river. Alarmed, several residents went to the dam to discover that the lake had overflowed the top of the dam and was beginning to erode it. The warning was given, and the residents of the town evacuated. The ensuing flood was 6 feet (2 m) deep for at least 25 miles (60 km) downstream. The flood destroyed most of the town, leaving only the church and the schoolhouse standing. Thanks to the prior warning, only six people perished in the flood. The deluge also damaged ranches and part of the community of Wilson
, 14 miles (22 km) downstream on the Snake River
.
. Schools serving the community include Kelly Elementary School (grades K-5), Jackson Hole Middle School (grades 6-8), and Jackson Hole High School (grades 9-12).
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Teton County
Teton County, Wyoming
Teton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wyoming. As of 2010, the population was 21,294. Its county seat is Jackson. Teton County contains the affluent Jackson Hole skiing area...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
. Kelly is .situated along the Gros Ventre River
Gros Ventre River
The Gros Ventre River is a tributary of the Snake River in the state of Wyoming. It rises in the Gros Ventre Wilderness in western Wyoming, and joins the Snake River in the Jackson Hole valley. In 1925, the massive Gros Ventre landslide dammed the river and formed Lower Slide Lake...
on the eastern side of the Jackson Hole
Jackson Hole
Jackson Hole, originally called Jackson's Hole, is a valley located in the U.S. state of Wyoming, near the western border with Idaho. The name "hole" derives from language used by early trappers or mountain men, who primarily entered the valley from the north and east and had to descend along...
valley, is part of the Jackson
Jackson, Wyoming
Jackson is a town located in the Jackson Hole valley of Teton County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 8,647 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Teton County....
, WY–ID
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
Micropolitan Statistical Area
Jackson micropolitan area
The Jackson Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties, one in Wyoming and one in Idaho, anchored by the town of Jackson....
and has a US Post Office with zip code 83011.
The settlement formed in the late 1890s as Grovont, but was renamed Kelly in 1909 to avoid confusion with a similarly named settlement nearby. On May 18, 1927 the town was destroyed when a natural dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
formed by the Gros Ventre landslide
Gros Ventre landslide
The Gros Ventre landslide is located in the Gros Ventre Wilderness of Bridger-Teton National Forest, Wyoming, United States. The Gros Ventre landslide is east of Jackson Hole valley and Grand Teton National Park....
two years earlier collapsed and completely flooded the town. Today, the population of the community is 242.
The Kelly Flood
Gros Ventre River
The Gros Ventre River is a tributary of the Snake River in the state of Wyoming. It rises in the Gros Ventre Wilderness in western Wyoming, and joins the Snake River in the Jackson Hole valley. In 1925, the massive Gros Ventre landslide dammed the river and formed Lower Slide Lake...
. The rock formed a large natural dam, backing up the water and forming Lower Slide Lake
Lower Slide Lake
Lower Slide Lake is located in Bridger-Teton National Forest, in the U. S. state of Wyoming. The natural lake was created on June 23, 1925 when the Gros Ventre landslide dammed the Gros Ventre River. The lake was once much larger, however part of the rock dam failed less than two years later, on...
. The lake and dam eventually stabilized, and engineers determined there was no danger of collapse. There were heavy snows in the winter of 1926-1927, and the higher than normal snow melt was accompanied by more weeks of heavy rain in May 1927. On May 18, residents started to notice debris from the flooding of the upper valley floating downstream in the river. Alarmed, several residents went to the dam to discover that the lake had overflowed the top of the dam and was beginning to erode it. The warning was given, and the residents of the town evacuated. The ensuing flood was 6 feet (2 m) deep for at least 25 miles (60 km) downstream. The flood destroyed most of the town, leaving only the church and the schoolhouse standing. Thanks to the prior warning, only six people perished in the flood. The deluge also damaged ranches and part of the community of Wilson
Wilson, Wyoming
Wilson is a census-designated place in Teton County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 1,294 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Jackson, WY–ID Micropolitan Statistical Area...
, 14 miles (22 km) downstream on the Snake River
Snake River
The Snake is a major river of the greater Pacific Northwest in the United States. At long, it is the largest tributary of the Columbia River, the largest North American river that empties into the Pacific Ocean...
.
Education
Public education in the community of Kelly is provided by Teton County School District#1Teton County School District Number 1
Teton County School District #1 is a public school district based in Jackson, Wyoming, United States.-Geography:Teton County School District #1 serves all of Teton County , including the following communities:*Incorporated places**Town of Jackson*Census-designated places Teton County School...
. Schools serving the community include Kelly Elementary School (grades K-5), Jackson Hole Middle School (grades 6-8), and Jackson Hole High School (grades 9-12).