Elmore County, Idaho

Elmore County is a county in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,666.[1] The largest city and county seat is Mountain Home.[2]

Elmore County
County
Elmore County Courthouse
Elmore County Courthouse
Official seal of Elmore County
Seal
Map of Idaho highlighting Elmore County
Location within the U.S. state of Idaho
Map of the United States highlighting Idaho
Idaho's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°20′N 115°28′W
Country United States
State Idaho
FoundedFebruary 7, 1889
Named forThe Ida Elmore mines, producer of silver and gold in the 1860s
SeatMountain Home
Largest cityMountain Home
Area
 • Total3,101 sq mi (8,030 km2)
 • Land3,075 sq mi (7,960 km2)
 • Water26 sq mi (70 km2)  0.8%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total28,666
 • Density9.2/sq mi (3.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websiteelmorecounty.org
Canyon Creek Station on the Oregon Trail, Elmore County

Elmore County comprises the Mountain Home, ID Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Boise-Mountain Home-Ontario, ID-OR Combined Statistical Area.

History

Elmore County was established February 7, 1889, with its county seat at Rocky Bar. It is named after the Ida Elmore mines, the area's greatest silver and gold producer of the 1860s, located near Silver City in Owyhee County.[3][4]

While the Oregon Trail crossed the Snake River in Elmore County, at Three Island Crossing near Glenns Ferry, the significant early settlements of Elmore County were mining settlements located primarily in northern Elmore County surrounding the ghost town of Rocky Bar. Settlement at Rocky Bar commenced in 1863 with the settlement having 560 residents at the Territorial Census of that year.[5] Nearby, Atlanta was settled in 1864.[6] Elmore County north of the Snake River was originally part of Alturas County when it was created in 1864 and Rocky Bar became its county seat. The portion of Elmore County south of the Snake River was within Owyhee County until 1930. A small portion of Ada County was also annexed in 1948, bringing Elmore to its present boundary.[7] The settlement at Rocky Bar was impacted by poor management by mining companies, mining lawsuits, and its geographic remoteness between 1869 and 1880. The Wood River experienced a surge in settlement at Hailey starting in 1880 that led to Rocky Bar's loss of the county seat to Hailey in 1882.[8][9] Rocky Bar would briefly become a county seat upon the creation of Elmore County in 1889.

A station on the overland stage route, originally named Rattlesnake, was moved west to the railroad line and became Mountain Home. On February 4, 1891, the county seat was moved to Mountain Home.[10]

Construction of Mountain Home Air Force Base began in October 1942, twelve miles (19 km) southwest of Mountain Home. The base officially opened in August 1943 as a training base for bombers, and was an operational base under the Strategic Air Command (SAC) through 1965. It became a fighter base in 1966 under Tactical Air Command (TAC), which became Air Combat Command (ACC) in 1992.

Anderson Ranch Dam is east of Mountain Home on the South Fork of the Boise River. At the time of its completion in 1950, it was the world's highest earthfill dam.[11]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,101 square miles (8,030 km2), of which 3,075 square miles (7,960 km2) is land and 26 square miles (67 km2) (0.8%) is water.[12] Elmore County's highest point is Snowyside Peak at 10,651 feet (3,246 m) above sea level, located in the northeast corner of the county in the Sawtooth Wilderness. The lowest elevation in the county is the Snake River in the southwest corner, at less than 2,500 feet (760 m).

Adjacent counties

Major highways

National protected areas

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18901,870—
19002,28622.2%
19104,785109.3%
19205,0876.3%
19304,491−11.7%
19405,51822.9%
19506,68721.2%
196016,719150.0%
197017,4794.5%
198021,56523.4%
199021,205−1.7%
200029,13037.4%
201027,038−7.2%
202028,6666.0%
2021 (est.)28,827[13]0.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]
1790-1960[15] 1900-1990[16]
1990-2000[17] 2010-2020[1]

2000 census

As of the census[18] of 2000, there were 29,130 people, 9,092 households, and 6,846 families living in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile (3.9 people/km2). There were 10,527 housing units at an average density of 3 units per square mile (1.2 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 85.37% White, 3.25% Black or African American, 0.89% Native American, 1.66% Asian, 0.19% Pacific Islander, 5.39% from other races, and 3.25% from two or more races. 11.99% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.8% were of German, 12.0% English, 9.2% American and 8.3% Irish ancestry.

There were 9,092 households, out of which 43.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.10% were married couples living together, 7.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.70% were non-families. 20.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.21.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.00% under the age of 18, 13.90% from 18 to 24, 36.00% from 25 to 44, 15.00% from 45 to 64, and 7.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 123.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 130.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,256, and the median income for a family was $37,823. Males had a median income of $26,248 versus $21,309 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,773. About 8.80% of families and 11.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.00% of those under age 18 and 10.80% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 27,038 people, 10,140 households, and 7,135 families living in the county.[19] The population density was 8.8 inhabitants per square mile (3.4/km2). There were 12,162 housing units at an average density of 4.0 units per square mile (1.5 units/km2).[20] The racial makeup of the county was 82.2% white, 2.8% Asian, 2.7% black or African American, 1.0% American Indian, 0.4% Pacific islander, 6.8% from other races, and 4.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 15.2% of the population.[19] In terms of ancestry, 20.4% were German, 13.5% were English, 12.4% were Irish, and 9.0% were American.[21]

Of the 10,140 households, 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.6% were non-families, and 23.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.11. The median age was 30.0 years.[19]

The median income for a household in the county was $43,089 and the median income for a family was $50,840. Males had a median income of $34,126 versus $25,999 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,388. About 9.2% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.3% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.[22]

Communities

Cities

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

Politics
United States presidential election results for Elmore County, Idaho[23][24]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 7,246 70.95% 2,601 25.47% 366 3.58%
2016 5,816 68.25% 1,814 21.29% 892 10.47%
2012 5,227 65.31% 2,513 31.40% 263 3.29%
2008 5,665 66.76% 2,591 30.53% 230 2.71%
2004 6,011 74.57% 1,959 24.30% 91 1.13%
2000 4,891 70.21% 1,840 26.41% 235 3.37%
1996 3,668 53.13% 2,324 33.66% 912 13.21%
1992 3,087 44.80% 1,858 26.97% 1,945 28.23%
1988 3,756 63.46% 2,078 35.11% 85 1.44%
1984 4,595 75.27% 1,458 23.88% 52 0.85%
1980 3,994 64.87% 1,760 28.59% 403 6.55%
1976 2,808 55.46% 2,164 42.74% 91 1.80%
1972 3,078 66.55% 1,153 24.93% 394 8.52%
1968 1,908 50.62% 1,230 32.63% 631 16.74%
1964 1,857 44.56% 2,310 55.44% 0 0.00%
1960 2,226 47.71% 2,440 52.29% 0 0.00%
1956 1,849 51.25% 1,759 48.75% 0 0.00%
1952 1,653 52.66% 1,484 47.28% 2 0.06%
1948 854 34.12% 1,589 63.48% 60 2.40%
1944 1,030 38.62% 1,627 61.00% 10 0.37%
1940 1,077 39.70% 1,632 60.15% 4 0.15%
1936 688 28.91% 1,567 65.84% 125 5.25%
1932 794 31.94% 1,615 64.96% 77 3.10%
1928 1,125 59.94% 739 39.37% 13 0.69%
1924 789 38.01% 381 18.35% 906 43.64%
1920 1,065 55.12% 867 44.88% 0 0.00%
1916 658 35.53% 1,104 59.61% 90 4.86%
1912 415 27.09% 536 34.99% 581 37.92%
1908 662 42.54% 660 42.42% 234 15.04%
1904 593 53.14% 433 38.80% 90 8.06%
1900 393 41.02% 565 58.98% 0 0.00%

Education

School districts include:[25]

  • Bliss Joint School District 234
  • Bruneau-Grand View Joint School District 365
  • Glenns Ferry Joint School District 192
  • Mountain Home School District 193
  • Prairie Elementary School District 191

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Idaho State Historical Society - J. Marion More - accessed June 15, 2009.
  4. "Idaho for the Curious", by Cort Conley, ©1982, ISBN 0-9603566-3-0, p.374-379
  5. "Idaho State Historical Society Reference Series: Census of 1863" (PDF). Idaho State Historical Society. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 28, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  6. "Idaho State Historical Society Reference Series: Atlanta" (PDF). Idaho State Historical Society. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 9, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  7. Idaho Atlas of Historical County Boundaries (PDF). Chicago: The Newberry Library. 2010. pp. 12, 80–83. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 14, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  8. "Idaho State Historical Society Reference Series: Alturas County" (PDF). Idaho State Historical Society. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 24, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  9. "Idaho State Historical Society Reference Series: Rocky Bar Mines" (PDF). Idaho State Historical Society. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 14, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  10. idaho.gov - about Elmore County Archived December 20, 2004, at the Wayback Machine - accessed May 15, 2009
  11. USBR.gov Archived 2011-11-12 at the Wayback Machine - Anderson Ranch Dam - accessed September 27, 2011
  12. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  13. "County Population Totals: 2020-2021". Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  14. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 30, 2014.
  15. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 30, 2014.
  16. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 30, 2014.
  17. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved June 30, 2014.
  18. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  19. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  20. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  21. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  22. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  23. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  24. The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 382 votes while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 190 votes and Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin 9 votes.
  25. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Elmore County, ID" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 22, 2022. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
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