American Falls Press Archive 

The community of American Falls, Idaho, first sprang up along the Oregon Trail in the 19^th century. Settlement of the area increased in the early 20^th century as dry farming techniques were promoted to homesteaders. Wheat became the area's primary crop. The nearby Oregon Short Line Railroad line provided transportation to outside markets.

The American Falls Press was published from July 1907 to October 1937. When the Press was established, the city of American Falls was located in Oneida County. In 1913, the boundaries changed, and American Falls became part of Power County. The Press was the successor to the American Falls Advertiser (1902-07). The American Falls Press was edited by J.L. Corey and published weekly on Saturday by Press Publishing Company, Limited. It was typically published as an eight-page, six-column paper, with occasional 10- and 12-page issues.

In July 1907, the Press moved into new offices and announced its purchase of new printing equipment, including a Perfected Prouty Jobber, a Scott newspaper and book press, and a Mentges folder. In 1910, the Press had a circulation of 210. It grew to 1,124 in 1912, but the number dropped to 709 by 1922. A trade magazine, Editor and Publisher, reported the consolidation of the Press with the Rockland Times and the Power County News in 1920.

The American Falls Press primarily covered news in American Falls, but also included the communities of Rockland, Aberdeen, and Neely. Later in its history, the paper covered nearby Roy, Fairview, Landing, Little Creek, and Eliasen as well. Popular subjects included the settlement of the area, farming techniques, irrigation, and the Carey Act, which allowed private companies to construct irrigation systems and derive profit from the sale of water. Local market prices and social events appeared in the "Local and Personal" column. Other regular features included "Idaho State News" and "Gem State News," which covered developments at the state level. The "Northwest Notes" column featured news from the northwestern United States. The Press also regularly included serialized works of fiction.

The American Falls Press was succeeded by the Power County Press, published from 1937 to the present.