Wyoming Arts Council

Next time you’re zooming through Star Valley for Jackson or Yellowstone, take time to stop in Afton. Visit the new civic center and its Call-Air Museum. The center is only a year old and hosts town meetings and events and the occasional Wyoming Arts Council board meeting. That’s why we were in Adfton — the board meeting. After a seven-hour drive and a full day of addressing the state’s arts scene on Thursday, WAC board and staff attended a community reception and later a dinner hosted by the Star Valley Arts Council. Led by ___________, the SVAC may have the youngest line-up of any that we’ve met in this rapidly-aging state. A few newcomers too, including a teacher and a musician. In fact, there seem to be a number of new arrivals in Star Valley due to new housing developments between Afton and Alpine. The high school has a new music teacher in __________________. ______________ is a local artist and also a long-distance runner. The SVAC donated one of her prints to the WAC which we plan on hanging over the mantle at arts HQ in Cheyenne.

Sen. Dockstader seems to have his hand in all things Afton.

Some background info about Afton from the town’s web site:

Afton has a population of 1,821 and sits at 6239 feet above sea level.
Native Americans and Fur Trappers first inhabited Star Valley. The Valley soon became a stop for Mormon settlers looking for better opportunities for their families.
The Mormon settlers called the Valley Starvation Valley due to the long harsh winters. During the winter months they lost many cattle and many went hungry. Later they shortened the name to Star Valley.
Afton is centrally located in Star Valley at the mouth of Swift Creek Canyon. It was the rumbling of Swift Creek that helped Afton get its name. William Budge a Scotland Native visited the township and as he walked the banks of Swift Creek he was reminded of a stream from his homeland. Budge suggested the Town be named Afton after the Sweet Afton Fame stream of Scotland.
Afton was incorporated in 1902 and A.V. Call was elected as the first mayor.
For more history of Afton and surrounding Star Valley visit the Star Valley Historical Society