Minidoka County, Idaho

Minidoka County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2010 census, the population was 20,069.[1] The county seat and largest city is Rupert.[2]

Minidoka County
U.S. county
Minidoka County Courthouse
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Idaho
Idaho's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°51′N 113°38′W
Country	United States
State	Idaho
Founded	January 28, 1913
Named for	Dakota Sioux word meaning "a fountain or spring of water."
Seat	Rupert
Largest city	Rupert
Area
• Total	763 sq mi (1,980 km^2)
• Land	758 sq mi (1,960 km^2)
• Water	5.3 sq mi (14 km^2)  0.7%
Population  (2010)
• Total	20,069
• Estimate  (2018)	20,825
• Density	26/sq mi (10/km^2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	www.minidoka.id.us

Minidoka County is part of the Burley, ID Micropolitan Statistical Area.

The name Minidoka is of Dakota Sioux origin meaning "a fountain or spring of water."[3] Minidoka was first used in 1883 as a name for the Union Pacific's Oregon Short Line, a railroad spur in the middle of the Snake River Plain. The spur later became the site of a watering station along the line. The village of Minidoka grew up next to the station. The Minidoka name was then given to a reclamation project under then President Theodore Roosevelt which included the construction of the Minidoka Dam, completed in 1904. Minidoka National Historic Site (in Jerome County) was part of the original reclamation project and hence shares the name. Minidoka County was created by the Idaho Legislature on January 28, 1913, by a partition of Lincoln County.[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 763 square miles (1,980 km²), of which 758 square miles (1,960 km²) is land and 5.3 square miles (14 km²) (0.7%) is water.[5]

It is part of the Magic Valley region of the Snake River Plain. Irrigated farmland covers the southern part of the county, while lava beds cover the northern portion. The elevation is generally in the range of 4,200 feet (1,300 m) to 4,500 feet (1,400 m). The Snake River forms the county's southern boundary.

Adjacent Counties

• Cassia County - south
• Jerome County - west
• Lincoln County - west
• Blaine County - north, east

National protected area

• Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve (part)
• Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Highways

• Interstate 84
• SH-24
• SH-25

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1920	9,035		—
1930	8,403		−7.0%
1940	9,870		17.5%
1950	9,785		−0.9%
1960	14,394		47.1%
1970	15,731		9.3%
1980	19,718		25.3%
1990	19,361		−1.8%
2000	20,174		4.2%
2010	20,069		−0.5%
Est. 2018	20,825	[6]	3.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9] 1990-2000[10] 2010-2018[1]

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 20,176 people, 6,973 households, and 5,362 families in the county. The population density was 27 people per square mile (10/km²). There were 7,498 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 78.07% White, 0.26% Black or African American, 0.88% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 17.83% from other races, and 2.52% from two or more races. 25.46%.[11] were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.1% were of English, 12.9% German and 12.0% American ancestry.

Of the 6,973 households 38.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.40% were married couples living together, 8.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.10% were non-families. 20.00% of households were one person and 9.60% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.32.

The age distribution was 31.60% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 25.20% from 25 to 44, 20.90% from 45 to 64, and 13.20% 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.80 males.

The median household income was $32,021 and the median family income was $36,500. Males had a median income of $28,977 versus $19,521 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,813. About 11.90% of families and 14.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.90% of those under age 18 and 9.00% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 20,069 people, 7,170 households, and 5,315 families in the county.[12] The population density was 26.5 inhabitants per square mile (10.2/km²). There were 7,665 housing units at an average density of 10.1 per square mile (3.9/km²).[13] The racial makeup of the county was 80.2% white, 1.2% American Indian, 0.4% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 15.3% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 32.4% of the population.[12] In terms of ancestry, 19.9% were German, 16.8% were English, 10.2% were American, and 6.5% were Irish.[14]

Of the 7,170 households, 37.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.8% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 25.9% were non-families, and 22.0% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.27. The median age was 35.3 years.[12]

The median household income was $40,350 and the median family income was $47,079. Males had a median income of $32,895 versus $22,271 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,747. About 9.4% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.0% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.[15]

Education

The only public high school in the county is Minico High School near Rupert.

Cities

• Acequia
• Burley (part)
• Heyburn
• Minidoka
• Paul
• Rupert

Politics

Like all of eastern Idaho, Minidoka County has been overwhelmingly Republican since the 1950s. The last Democratic presidential candidate to carry the county was Harry S. Truman in 1948, and the last to win a majority Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940.

Presidential elections results

Previous presidential elections results[16]

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third parties
2016	71.1% 4,887	17.0% 1,167	11.9% 817
2012	78.0% 5,442	19.9% 1,390	2.0% 141
2008	73.8% 5,087	23.7% 1,630	2.5% 173
2004	80.5% 5,797	18.5% 1,331	1.0% 73
2000	75.3% 4,907	20.6% 1,344	4.1% 267
1996	56.8% 4,008	28.0% 1,977	15.2% 1,070
1992	44.6% 3,304	24.5% 1,815	31.0% 2,298
1988	65.7% 4,623	32.6% 2,290	1.7% 120
1984	80.0% 5,938	18.8% 1,398	1.1% 84
1980	74.2% 6,035	20.8% 1,689	5.0% 407
1976	56.4% 3,600	38.3% 2,441	5.3% 337
1972	68.7% 4,097	23.9% 1,423	7.5% 447
1968	56.3% 3,182	23.6% 1,332	20.2% 1,140
1964	52.4% 3,111	47.6% 2,827
1960	57.7% 3,360	42.3% 2,467
1956	63.6% 2,954	36.4% 1,692
1952	71.4% 3,128	28.6% 1,253
1948	48.2% 1,654	48.6% 1,668	3.2% 110
1944	52.0% 1,781	47.8% 1,635	0.2% 8
1940	49.8% 1,979	49.9% 1,982	0.3% 13
1936	30.6% 948	67.7% 2,095	1.7% 54
1932	33.6% 1,130	64.3% 2,164	2.2% 73
1928	61.2% 1,832	37.8% 1,132	1.1% 32
1924	39.9% 1,046	7.8% 204	52.3% 1,370
1920	59.1% 1,622	40.3% 1,107	0.6% 16
1916	36.2% 963	42.7% 1,135	21.1% 561

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Minidoka County, Idaho

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Idaho History.net reference series, page #34
4. Idaho.gov - Minidoka County Archived August 3, 2009, at the Wayback Machine accessed May 29, 2009
5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved August 6, 2019.
7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
12. "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.
13. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
14. "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.
15. "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.
16. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 4, 2018.

External links

• County website
• County Parcel Maps