New Fork is a ghost town located in Sublette County in the U.S. state of Wyoming, near the community of Boulder. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP reference number 87000773) as a historic district, reflecting its significance in the early settlement of the upper Green River valley.
Geography
The town lies at coordinates 42°42′13″ N 109°42′55″ W (42.70361° N, ‑109.71528° W). It is situated along the historic Lander cut‑off of the Oregon Trail, which once served as a major transportation corridor in the region.
History
New Fork was founded in 1888 by Danish immigrants John Vible and Louis Broderson, who established a general store to serve travelers and local Native American peoples, primarily the Bannock and Shoshoni from the nearby Wind River Indian Reservation. By 1908 a modest settlement had developed around the store, and in 1910 Vible constructed a dance hall known as “The Valhalla.”
The town’s fortunes declined after a 1915 outbreak of diphtheria and scarlet fever that claimed the lives of Vible and several members of his family. The loss of the Lander cut‑off as a preferred route further reduced traffic, leading to the cessation of mail service in 1918. By the early 20th century the population had largely dispersed, and the remaining structures fell into disuse.
Preservation
Several log and frame buildings from the original settlement survive at the site, contributing to its designation as a historic district on the NRHP in 1987. The preservation effort highlights New Fork’s role in early Wyoming frontier commerce and its association with the Oregon Trail.
Current Status
Today New Fork is uninhabited and considered a ghost town. The remaining structures are of interest to historians, archaeologists, and visitors exploring Wyoming’s pioneer heritage.