Boise County, Idaho

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Boise County, Idaho

Seal
Map of Idaho highlighting Boise County
Location in the state of Idaho
Map of the United States highlighting Idaho
Idaho's location in the U.S.
Founded February 4, 1864
Named for Boise River
Seat Idaho City
Largest city Horseshoe Bend
Area
 • Total 1,906.76 sq mi (4,938 km2)
 • Land 1,902.46 sq mi (4,927 km2)
 • Water 4.30 sq mi (11 km2), 0.23%
Population
 • (2010) 7,028
 • Density 3.7/sq mi (1/km²)
Congressional district 1st
Time zone Mountain: UTC-7/-6
Website www.boisecounty.us

Boise County is a rural mountain county in the U.S. state of Idaho. The population was 7,028 at the 2010 census,[1] up from 6,670 in 2000. The county seat is Idaho City,[2] and Horseshoe Bend is its largest city.

The city of Boise is located in neighboring Ada County, which was divided from Boise County in late 1864. Boise County is part of the Boise-Nampa Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The Bogus Basin ski area is in the southwestern part of the county. The county's eastern area contains the central section of the Sawtooth Wilderness, the western part of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area.[3]

History

The county was established February 4, 1864, with its county seat at Idaho City. It was named for the Boise River, which was named by French-Canadian explorers and trappers for the great variety of trees growing along its banks in the lower desert valley.

The Boise Basin, in which Idaho City lies, was one of the richest gold mining districts in the nation. Gold was discovered in 1862 and more of it was pulled from present-day Boise County than from the entire state of Alaska. At its peak in the mid-1860s, Idaho City was the largest city in the Northwest, and it was this rapid population influx that lead to the establishment of the Idaho Territory in 1863. The lower elevation communities of Horseshoe Bend (Payette River) and Boise (Boise River) were staging areas for the Boise Basin mines.[4][5]

When Ada County was partitioned from mountainous Boise County in December 1864 it included the present-day counties of the Treasure Valley: Canyon, Payette, and Gem (southern).

In March 2011, the county filed a Chapter 9 bankruptcy petition due to judgment against the county for violating the Fair Housing Act.[6] the county’s Petitions for Chapter 9 relief was denied.[citation needed]

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 1,906.76 square miles (4,938.5 km2), of which 1,902.46 square miles (4,927.3 km2) (or 99.77%) is land and 4.30 square miles (11.1 km2) (or 0.23%) is water.[7] The highest point in the county is Thompson Peak at 10,751 feet (3,277 m), on its eastern border in the Sawtooth Wilderness. The county's lowest point is on the Payette River, on its western border with Gem County, at approximately 2,500 feet (762 m).

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Highways

  • SH-21 - Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway
  • SH-52
  • SH-55 - Payette River Scenic Byway

The county's two primary routes are scenic byways. For the majority of their length in the county, both are two-lane undivided highways. The Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway on State Highway 21 climbs northeast from Boise to Idaho City and Lowman, and ends at Stanley in Custer County, at the junction with State Highway 75.[8] The Payette River Scenic Byway on State Highway 55 is a designated national scenic byway. It heads north from Eagle to Horseshoe Bend and climbs the whitewater of the Payette River to Cascade and McCall in Valley County, and ends at New Meadows in Adams County, at the junction with U.S. Route 95.[9]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18703,834
—
18803,214−16.2%
18903,3424.0%
19004,17424.9%
19105,25025.8%
19201,822−65.3%
19301,8471.4%
19402,33326.3%
19501,776−23.9%
19601,646−7.3%
19701,7637.1%
19802,99970.1%
19903,50917.0%
20006,67090.1%
20107,0285.4%
Est. 20126,835−2.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
2012 Estimate[11]

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 6,670 people, 2,616 households, and 1,899 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (1/km²). There were 4,349 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.23% White, 0.12% Black or African American, 0.93% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 1.30% from other races, and 2.01% from two or more races. 3.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.4% were of German, 14.8% American, 13.8% English and 9.8% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 2,616 households out of which 30.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.50% were married couples living together, 5.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.40% were non-families. 21.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.90% under the age of 18, 4.70% from 18 to 24, 27.10% from 25 to 44, 30.30% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 105.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,651, and the median income for a family was $43,138. Males had a median income of $35,802 versus $26,250 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,787. About 9.00% of families and 12.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.40% of those under age 18 and 7.70% of those age 65 or over.

Population history

  • 1863 - 16,835 (17,435)[13]
  • 1864 - 15,158[14]

Communities

Cities

CDPs

Unincorporated communities

  • Centerville
  • Gardena
  • Pioneerville

Ski area

See also

References

  1. ↑ Boise County QuickFacts, United States Census Bureau, 2010. Accessed 2011-12-09.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
  3. ↑ U.S. Forest Service map, Sawtooth National Forest, 1985, reprinted 1989, 23.60.400.12/85C
  4. ↑ Idaho.gov - About Idaho - Boise County - accessed 2011-12-09
  5. ↑ boisecounty.us - official county website - history of Boise County - accessed 2011-12-09
  6. ↑ Boise County files for bankruptcy
  7. ↑ "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
  8. ↑ Idaho Byways - Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway - accessed 2011-12-09
  9. ↑ Idaho Byways - Payette River Scenic Byway - accessed 2011-12-09
  10. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved July 25, 2013. 
  11. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Census.gov. Retrieved July 25, 2013. 
  12. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  13. ↑ "Census of 1863". Idaho State Historical Society. Reference Series, # 129. Retrieved June 22, 2013. 
  14. ↑ "Census of 1864". Idaho State Historical Society. Reference Series, # 130. Retrieved June 22, 2013. 

External links

 Gem County Valley County
Custer County
   Boise County, Idaho  
Ada County Elmore County
Municipalities and communities of Boise County, Idaho, United States
Cities
CDPs

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Coordinates: 44°01′N 115°44′W / 44.01°N 115.74°W / 44.01; -115.74

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