Teton Valley was originally known as Pierre's Hole. Rich in beaver, it was a favorite stomping ground for British + American fur traders and trappers between 1819-1840.
Pierre's Hole was the scene of the annual rendezvous of mountain men and suppliers - The Great Rocky Mountain Fair - in 1932.
Teton Valley was permanently settled in 1882.
Information courtesy of Teton Scenic Byways.
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Pierre's Hole was indeed rich in beaver, as well as many other game animals the local people, predominately Shoshone, used as a food source. Besides British and American fur hunters, several Native Amercan tribes frequented the area long before Euro-Americans arrived.
There may have been fur traders in Pierre's Hole as early as 1807-08, if, as many believe, John Colter entered the valley in those years. Otherwise, 1809-10 saw fur men under Andrew Henry in the valley. At any rate, there were trappers in Teton Valley well before 1819.
Additionally, Pierre's Hole was NOT the scene of the annual rendezvous - it was the site of only two of them. In 1829, there were actually two rendezvous, one of which was in Teton Valley. The other annual rendezvous held in Pierre's Hole was in 1832, not 1932.
The first permanent settler in the valley was Richard, "Beaver Dick," Leigh, who moved into the valley about 1862. He lived the rest of his life there. Prior to 1882, the valley was home to horse theives and cattle rustlers prior to Mormon imigrants who arrived in the 1880s. Hiram Lapham was first, moving there in 1882, followed by many others.
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