Editing Shoshoni, Wyoming (section)

==History==
The town is named for the Shoshone Indian tribe, most of whom live on the nearby [[Wind River Indian Reservation]]. Established as a railroad and mining town, Shoshoni lies at the intersection of U.S. Routes [[U.S. Route 20|20]] and [[U.S. Route 26|26]], which together were formerly known as the "Yellowstone Highway".{{r|CSD 2022-04-19}} Shoshoni has a dramatic increase in visitors in the summer, when roads to [[Yellowstone National Park]] are open. Visitors also stop to camp and fish at nearby [[Boysen Reservoir]] and the surrounding [[Boysen State Park]]. Anglers participate in [[Fishing tournament|fishing derbies]] at the reservoir, including an ice fishing derby in the winter.

[[Ranching]] is, and has been for decades, the major agricultural endeavor in the nearby area.

[[Charles Henry King]], a prominent millionaire businessman and banker later based in Omaha, Nebraska, built the [[C. H. King Company and First National Bank of Shoshoni|C.H. King Company and First Union Bank Building]], formerly occupied by Yellowstone Drug Store. The building is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]. King and his wife Martha were the paternal grandparents of President [[Gerald Ford]], who was born in their Omaha house in July 1913.

In 2004 a water-intensive mushroom processing plant began operation on land that was annexed by the town and put within its limits. At first it was staffed by prison labor, who were paid minimum wage, in a prison industries program. When they had trouble with production, the plant hired skilled labor from [[Guatemala]]. This labor practice stopped when a [[United States Department of Homeland Security|Department of Homeland Security]] investigation revealed that some of the workers had problems with their immigration histories. More recently, the plant has ensured all migrant workers are legal.<ref>[http://www.trib.com/articles/2007/08/19/news/wyoming/e77d36ffe07bd68f87257339007e0a6e.txt Joan Barron, "Mushroom farm reopens"], ''[[Casper Star-Tribune]]'', August 17, 2007. Accessed 2008-08-14.</ref> During operations, the plant's composting bunkers emitted unpleasant odors, resulting in numerous complaints from residents during 2005. The [[Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality]] investigated the situation and air quality issues. The plant installed a stack and ventilating system in early 2006 to control and disperse odor from the composting bunkers.<ref>[http://www.trib.com/articles/2005/07/27/news/wyoming/06569dbd72d9d6508725704a008295cb.txt Dustin Bleizeffer, "Mushroom farm tries to cap odor"], ''Casper Star Tribune'', July 27, 2005. Accessed August 14, 2008</ref><ref>[http://www.trib.com/articles/2006/01/25/news/wyoming/4b3318d4950b582887257100000411d2.txt Brodie Farquhar, "Mushroom farm aims to fix odor problem"], ''Casper Star Tribune'', 2006-01-24, Accessed August 14, 2008</ref> In 2009, the facility was up put up for sale<ref>"Wind River Mushroom facility up for sale after turbulent beginnings, lack of labor", ''Shoshoni Pioneer,'' Volume 30, Number 11, May 7, 2009</ref> and purchased in January 2020 by Iglesia Ni Cristo, a Philippines-based religious sect with the intent of using local "honor based" labor to work in the facility. <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thesheridanpress.com/news/shoshoni-mushroom-plant-sold-to-church/article_078a5756-d179-50eb-957b-1263020effa5.html | title=Shoshoni mushroom plant sold to church }}</ref>