Between 1810 and 1818, Francois Payette, Donald McKenzie, John Day, Jack Weiser, Mr. Whitman, and others named this valley and river Payette. In 1862 David Bivens' stage station was erected, and Nathan Falk's store opened in 1876. William E. Smythe of the National Irrigation Congress sent a group to locate a townsite with a view to opening an irrigation project, and in April 1895 New Plymouth was chosen. A post office was established in 1896, with Veasey and Jennie Stovel in charge.