Following habitation by the Shoshone and other indigenous peoples, European explorer Michel Bourdon discovered Cache Valley 1818 during a MacKenzie fur expedition. The valley was subsequently used for the second of the annual gatherings of mountain men. Many of the trappers who worked in the valley came from the Hudson's Bay Company, the Northwest Fur Company, and the Rocky Mountain Fur Company. The name "Cache Valley" was derived by the fur trappers who hid their trading goods in s in that region. The use of caches was a method used by fur traders to protect their goods from theft and damage. MormonWilliam Gardner became the first settler in 1852. Prior to the Mormon selection of the Salt Lake Valley, Jim Bridger had recommended Cache Valley due to its relative abundance of fresh water. A Mormon settler group led by Peter Maughan arrived via Box Elder Canyon in July 1856 and additional settlers arrived on September 15. Early settlers of Cache Valley were able to keep Indian violence at bay by creating the Cache Valley Militia. Men from the various towns in Cache Valley nicknamed "minute men" volunteered to drill, serve as watchmen, and to ride to the aid of other communities at the news of attacks and skirmishes. During an 1863 expedition from Camp Douglas, Utah to Cache Valley, the United States Army attacked a Shoshone village at the confluence of the Bear River and Beaver Creek in what became known as the Bear River Massacre.
U.S. Highways 89 and 91 enter the valley from the southwest as one highway, and then separate in downtown Logan. US-89 goes northeast into Logan Canyon, and thence to Bear Lake, a large lake in the area. US-91 goes due northward into Idaho and to reconnect with I-15. Several state highways run through the valley: In Idaho, State Highways 34 and 36; and in Utah, SR-23, SR-30, SR-101, SR-142, SR-165, SR-200, and SR-218. The valley is served by the Cache Valley Transit District, a zero-fare bus system. CVTD primarily serves the Logan area however offers shuttle service to Preston. There are two airports in the valley, the Logan-Cache Airport and Preston Airport. Neither airport provides commercial service, however Salt Lake City International Airport is within driving distance.
