Did you know the world’s largest horseshoe is located right here in Idaho? It’s true, but it’s probably not what you’re thinking. The tiny town of New Plymouth, Idaho boasts itself as containing “the world’s largest horseshoe,” when in fact it IS the horseshoe. Or, at least it’s shaped like one. New Plymouth is the only U-shaped town in Idaho, and although it may be famous for its peculiar shape, it has a lot more to offer than meets the eye.
The town is located in Payette County, just 7 miles west of the Oregon-Idaho border, and is home to approximately 1,500 residents.
At first, it seems like the town's bizarre shape is the most interesting thing about it. However, New Plymouth is bursting with a ton of small-town charm that makes it an awesome place to visit.
New Plymouth is the only town in the country that is shaped like a double horseshoe. Yes, you read that correctly.
The city's symmetrical streets are curved and bordered by an 80-foot park around the horseshoe. The top of the horseshoe opens up to a railroad and a river.
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Along with being the only horseshoe-shaped town in the country, New Plymouth has an incredibly unique history regarding its founding and why exactly it's shaped the way it is.
The town originally began as a colony that was planned halfway across the country in Chicago, Illinois. The town's founder, William E. Smyth, specifically chose the Payette Valley for his new town because of area's incredible water supply from the Payette River.
His passion to create a town centered around irrigation is still apparent today, and you can still observe a system of irrigation ditches that run parallel to the city's roads. To this day, many of the town's residents still reap the benefits of the irrigation water for their own land.
Although much of Idaho experiences harsh winters and freezing temperatures, New Plymouth sees an average of 270 sunny days a year!
It's incredibly unusual during winter for the temperature to drop to zero. The town's residents enjoy mild temperatures all year long, making New Plymouth a true outlier to the rest of Idaho that is characterized by blazing hot summers and frigid winters.
Although New Plymouth isn't incredibly well known, the beauty in this area is undeniable. The town is just a mere .7 square miles, and yet the majesty of the surrounding fields that stretch on and on seems unending.
Squaw Butte acts as a stunning backdrop to the small town. The butte stretches on for nearly two miles with several massive peaks, making it look more like a mountain range than a single mountain. It is certainly an incredible sight and just adds to the magic of this unassuming town.
It seems like there's always something new to be discovered in Idaho... like the world's largest horseshoe, for instance. This quaint community is unlike any other in the state, and it's these charming places that remind us of what a unique state we live in!
Have you been to New Plymouth? Were you aware this adorable community even existed? Idaho is full of incredibly gorgeous communities, especially during this time of year. Be sure to check out The One Idaho Town Everyone Must Visit This Fall!
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