Alva P. Challis was the founder of Challis, Idaho and since he was a surveyor, he platted out the town in 1876.  The Post Office was opened two years later.  Challis became a main supply point for ranchers and miners in the large surrounding geographic area, a function it still serves.  All that was to come followed a rich history of being a supply and trading point during the fur trade era.  Challis serves as the County Seat of Custer County in Central Idaho.