Floriston was first settled at the bottom of Bronco Creek as a railroad construction camp in 1867. It was later named Bronco, and also known as Wickes. The Wickes brothers operated a wood cutting business up Bronco Creek in the 1870's and 1880's. In 1891 the Floriston Ice Company built an ice pond and icehouse in the area. Two small sawmills were built up Bronco Creek about that time.

           In 1900 the Floriston Pulp and Paper Mill was built where Interstate 80 now passes across the river from the town of Floriston . The existing town of Floriston was a company built and operated town, with most of houses constructed in 1900. The paper company operated its own flumes, an aerial tramway in Coldstream Valley , and its own railroad up Alder Creek and into Euer Valley in the late 1920's. Due the acid pollution that the paper dumped into the river for 30 years, the paper mill closed in 1930. A Clamper's plaque is dedicated to this still visible landmark town.