Custer County, Idaho

Custer County
County
Mill used to process gold and silver ore at Yankee Fork mining operations.
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Idaho
Idaho's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°14′N114°17′W / 44.23°N 114.29°W / 44.23; -114.29
Country	United States
State	Idaho
Founded	January 8, 1881
Named for	General Custer gold mine
Seat	Challis
Largest city	Challis
Area
• Total	4,937 sq mi (12,790 km2)
• Land	4,921 sq mi (12,750 km2)
• Water	16 sq mi (40 km2)  0.3%
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,249
• Density	0.88/sq mi (0.34/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	www.co.custer.id.us

Leatherman Peak, 12,228 feet (3,727 m), second highest in Idaho, in the Lost River Range in eastern Custer County

Custer County is a rural mountain county in the center of the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,275, ^[1] making it the fifth-least populous county in Idaho. The county seat is Challis. ^[2] Established in 1881, the county was named for the General Custer Mine, where gold was discovered five years earlier. Custer County relies on ranching, mining, and tourism as its main resources. ^[3]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,937 square miles (12,790 km²), of which 4,721 square miles (12,230 km²) is land and 16 square miles (41 km²) (0.3%) is water. ^[4] It is the third-largest county in Idaho by area.

The Lost River Range, the state's highest mountains, are located in eastern Custer County. The highest is Borah Peak, the highest natural point in Idaho at 12,662 feet (3,859 m). On the western border of the county is Idaho's famous Sawtooth Range; the tallest is Thompson Peak in Custer County, above picturesque Redfish Lake. Twenty miles (32 km) east are the White Cloud Mountains, the tallest of which is Castle Peak at 11,815 feet (3,601 m).

The Salmon River and Big Lost River flow through Custer County.

Adjacent counties

• Lemhi County - north
• Butte County - east
• Blaine County - south
• Elmore County - southwest
• Boise County - southwest
• Valley County - west

Major highways

• US 93
• SH-21
• SH-75

National protected areas

• Challis National Forest (part)
• Sawtooth National Forest (part)
• Sawtooth National Recreation Area (part)
  • Hemingway–Boulders Wilderness (part)
  • Jim McClure–Jerry Peak Wilderness
  • Sawtooth Wilderness (part)
  • Cecil D. Andrus–White Clouds Wilderness

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	1,870		—
1900	2,049		9.6%
1910	3,001		46.5%
1920	3,550		18.3%
1930	3,162		−10.9%
1940	3,549		12.2%
1950	3,318		−6.5%
1960	2,996		−9.7%
1970	2,967		−1.0%
1980	3,385		14.1%
1990	4,133		22.1%
2000	4,342		5.1%
2010	4,368		0.6%
2020	4,275		−2.1%
2023 (est.)	4,523	[5]	5.8%
U.S. Decennial Census [6] 1790–1960 [7] 1900–1990 [8] 1990–2000 [9] 2010–2020 [1]

2000 census

As of the census ^[10] of 2000, there were 4,342 people, 1,770 households, and 1,196 families living in the county. The population density was 0.88 people per square mile (0.34 people/km²). There were 2,983 housing units at an average density of 0.60 units per square mile (0.23 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.28% White, 0.55% Native American, 0.02% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.17% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. 4.21% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.6% were of English, 17.0% German, 10.9% Irish and 9.9% American ancestry.

There were 1,770 households, out of which 29.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.10% were married couples living together, 4.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.40% were non-families. 27.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.50% under the age of 18, 4.80% from 18 to 24, 25.90% from 25 to 44, 29.30% from 45 to 64, and 14.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 104.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,174, and the median income for a family was $39,551. Males had a median income of $32,255 versus $21,463 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,783. About 10.70% of families and 14.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.70% of those under age 18 and 12.80% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 4,368 people, 1,936 households, and 1,244 families living in the county. ^[11] The population density was 0.9 inhabitants per square mile (0.35/km²). There were 3,103 housing units at an average density of 0.6 units per square mile (0.23 units/km²). ^[12] The racial makeup of the county was 96.4% white, 0.6% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 1.5% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.0% of the population. ^[11] In terms of ancestry, 34.3% were English, 25.6% were German, 19.5% were Irish, and 2.8% were American. ^[13]

Of the 1,936 households, 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.7% were non-families, and 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.74. The median age was 48.0 years. ^[11]

The median income for a household in the county was $41,910 and the median income for a family was $56,710. Males had a median income of $42,865 versus $27,317 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,625. About 10.1% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.2% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those age 65 or over. ^[14]

Politics

Custer County is overwhelmingly Republican. The last Democrat to carry the county was John F. Kennedy in 1960, since 1968 no Democrat has passed 37 percent of the county's vote, and the last to pass 28 percent was Michael Dukakis in 1988. However, unusually for so Republican a county, the westernmost precincts adjacent to Blaine County give Democratic majorities in most statewide elections. In the 2008 Presidential election, it supported Republican John McCain over Democrat Barack Obama by a margin of 71 percent to 25 percent. In 2012, the county gave Mitt Romney a first ballot victory in the Republican primary caucus ^[15] and subsequently voted 74.1 percent for him in the Presidential election. ^[16] In 2016, Donald Trump won the Republican primaries with 41.8 percent of support in the county although Ted Cruz won the state with 45.5 percent. ^[17]

United States presidential election results for Custer County, Idaho ^[18]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	2,089	76.27%	603	22.02%	47	1.72%
2016	1,777	73.61%	427	17.69%	210	8.70%
2012	1,744	74.06%	530	22.51%	81	3.44%
2008	1,694	71.99%	611	25.97%	48	2.04%
2004	1,762	74.72%	559	23.71%	37	1.57%
2000	1,794	77.00%	416	17.85%	120	5.15%
1996	1,249	53.93%	635	27.42%	432	18.65%
1992	829	38.31%	564	26.06%	771	35.63%
1988	1,253	66.09%	616	32.49%	27	1.42%
1984	1,653	77.10%	461	21.50%	30	1.40%
1980	1,398	73.50%	398	20.93%	106	5.57%
1976	850	60.33%	516	36.62%	43	3.05%
1972	989	69.06%	274	19.13%	169	11.80%
1968	711	49.96%	385	27.06%	327	22.98%
1964	720	50.21%	714	49.79%	0	0.00%
1960	651	43.72%	838	56.28%	0	0.00%
1956	811	60.34%	533	39.66%	0	0.00%
1952	1,058	69.74%	452	29.80%	7	0.46%
1948	612	48.69%	625	49.72%	20	1.59%
1944	565	47.96%	613	52.04%	0	0.00%
1940	760	45.81%	894	53.89%	5	0.30%
1936	530	37.30%	875	61.58%	16	1.13%
1932	440	33.77%	839	64.39%	24	1.84%
1928	647	55.25%	516	44.06%	8	0.68%
1924	585	45.99%	394	30.97%	293	23.03%
1920	808	67.22%	394	32.78%	0	0.00%
1916	454	32.22%	879	62.38%	76	5.39%
1912	326	27.42%	501	42.14%	362	30.45%
1908	521	43.09%	598	49.46%	90	7.44%
1904	496	51.29%	429	44.36%	42	4.34%
1900	261	30.67%	590	69.33%	0	0.00%

Communities

Grand View Canyon (US-93) between Mackay and Challis

Grand View Canyon (US-93)

Cities

• Challis
• Clayton
• Lost River
• Mackay
• Stanley

Unincorporated communities

• Dickey
• Ellis
• Goldburg

Ghost towns

• Bayhorse
• Bonanza
• Custer

Education

School districts include: ^[19]

• Butte County Joint School District 111
• Challis Joint School District 181
• Mackay Joint School District 182

College of Eastern Idaho includes this county in its catchment zone; however this county is not in its taxation zone. ^[20]

See also

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

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. "Custer County, Idaho". custercountyidaho.org. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
4. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
5. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
9. "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 28, 2014.
10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
11. "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.
12. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
13. "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.
14. "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.
15. "Idaho County Map". CNN.
16. "2016 Presidential election results". The New York Times.
17. "Idaho Presidential Primaries". Fox News.
18. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
19. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Custer County, ID" (PDF). United States Census Bureau . Retrieved March 12, 2024. - Text list
20. "Community Colleges" (PDF). Budget Hearing. Idaho Legislature. 2020. p. 1-73 (PDF p. 8/14). Retrieved March 12, 2024.

External links

• Official website
• Challis School District #181

Further reading

• The History of Custer County

44°14′N114°17′W / 44.23°N 114.29°W / 44.23; -114.29