Jefferson County, Idaho

Jefferson County
County
Entering Jefferson County in Grant, Idaho
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Idaho
Idaho's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°49′N112°19′W / 43.82°N 112.31°W / 43.82; -112.31
Country	United States
State	Idaho
Founded	February 18, 1913
Named for	Thomas Jefferson
Seat	Rigby
Largest city	Rigby
Area
• Total	1,106 sq mi (2,860 km2)
• Land	1,094 sq mi (2,830 km2)
• Water	12 sq mi (30 km2)  1.1%
Population  (2020)
• Total	30,891
• Estimate  (2023)	34,198
• Density	28/sq mi (11/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	www.co.jefferson.id.us

Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2020 Census, the county's population was 30,891. ^[1] The county seat and largest city is Rigby. ^[2] The county was established in 1913 and named after Thomas Jefferson, the third U.S. President. ^[3] Jefferson County is part of the Idaho Falls, ID Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,106 square miles (2,860 km²), of which 1,094 square miles (2,830 km²) is land and 12 square miles (31 km²) (1.1%) is water. ^[4]

History

The Salt Lake City to Virginia City Stagecoach was established through the area in 1864. Stops were established at Market Lake (Roberts), Sand Hole (Hamer), and Camas. Small settlements grew up around the stagecoach stops with the most significant development occurring at Market Lake. The county's first post office was established at Market Lake on July 29, 1868, when the post office at Eagle Rock was relocated there. ^[5] Initial settlement at Mud Lake also originated in 1868. ^[6]

The Utah and Northern Railway reached Camas on July 3, 1879, bringing with it a new wave of settlement, particularly at Camas and Market Lake. ^[7] Mormon settlement of the county began when John R Poole settled the Menan area in April 1879 with the settlement initially named Poole's Island. Settlement followed at Lewisville in 1882, Rigby in 1883 and Ririe in 1888. The Camas and Market Lake precincts are the first to emerge in census data under Bingham County in 1890. At that point, 379 residents were enumerated in the Camas precinct and Market Lake counted 218. ^[8] By the 1900 census, precincts were added for Lewisville, Menan, Rigby, and Rudy (located between Ririe and Rigby). Together with Camas and Market Lake precincts, they contained a population of 3,046. ^[9] By 1910 there were 10 precincts that would become part of Jefferson County three years later with additional precincts added for Grant, Hamer, Labelle, and Lorenzo. The 1910 census population for those precincts was 5,535. ^[10]

A common characteristic of Jefferson County's early settlements was their reliance upon a series of canals to deliver water from the Snake River. The first of these systems commenced at Menan in 1880 with construction of the Long Island Canal. The Butte-Market Lake Canal originated in 1884 with construction starting on the big Feeder Canal in 1895. The Owlsey Canal in western Jefferson County had its origins April 13, 1909. ^[11]

At the time of the first settlement in 1864, the territory east of the Snake River was part of Oneida County with the remainder being part of Alturas County. Mud Lake became the defining point for Oneida County's boundary with Alturas County in 1877 with a portion of the western boundary changed to a line drawn north from a point on the Snake River due south of the "sink of Camas Creek". ^[12] The change transferred settlements at Camas and Market Lake to Oneida County. Bingham County was created in 1885 from Oneida County with no change in the boundary of Alturas until 1889 when the rest of the Mud Lake area was transferred to Bingham County. All of present Jefferson County became part of Fremont at its creation in 1893. After its creation in 1913, Jefferson County quickly took its present shape in 1917 at the formation of Butte County. ^[13]

Census data indicates Lewisville became the county's first incorporated village in 1904. It was followed by Rigby in 1906, Menan in 1907 and Roberts in 1910. Ririe was incorporated by 1920 with Hamer and Mud Lake incorporated after 1950.

Adjacent counties

• Clark County - north
• Fremont County - northeast
• Madison County - east
• Bonneville County - south
• Bingham County - southwest
• Butte County - west

Major highways

• Interstate 15
• US 20
• SH-22
• SH-28
• SH-33
• SH-48

National protected area

• Camas National Wildlife Refuge
• Targhee National Forest (part)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1920	9,441		—
1930	9,171		−2.9%
1940	10,762		17.3%
1950	10,495		−2.5%
1960	11,672		11.2%
1970	11,619		−0.5%
1980	15,304		31.7%
1990	16,543		8.1%
2000	19,155		15.8%
2010	26,140		36.5%
2020	30,891		18.2%
2023 (est.)	34,198	[14]	10.7%
[1] 1790–1960, [15] 1900–1990, [16] 1990–2000, [17] 2010, [18] 2020 [19]

2000 census

As of the census ^[20] of 2000, there were 19,155 people, 5,901 households, and 4,880 families living in the county. The population density was 18 people per square mile (6.9 people/km²). There were 6,287 housing units at an average density of 6 units per square mile (2.3 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 90.87% White, 0.28% Black or African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 6.76% from other races, and 1.33% from two or more races. 9.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 32.7 were of English, 10.9% German and 9.2% American ancestry.

There were 5,901 households, out of which 47.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.60% were married couples living together, 6.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.30% were non-families. 15.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.23 and the average family size was 3.62.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 36.30% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 25.50% from 25 to 44, 19.30% from 45 to 64, and 9.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 102.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,737, and the median income for a family was $41,530. Males had a median income of $31,298 versus $19,755 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,838. About 8.00% of families and 10.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.00% of those under age 18 and 8.70% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 26,140 people, 8,146 households, and 6,698 families living in the county. ^[21] The population density was 23.9 inhabitants per square mile (9.2/km²). There were 8,722 housing units at an average density of 8.0 units per square mile (3.1 units/km²). ^[22] The racial makeup of the county was 91.2% white, 0.8% American Indian, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 5.8% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 10.1% of the population. ^[21] In terms of ancestry, 31.4% were English, 13.9% were German, 8.2% were American, 5.9% were Danish, and 5.3% were Irish. ^[23]

Of the 8,146 households, 47.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.6% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 17.8% were non-families, and 15.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 3.20 and the average family size was 3.57. The median age was 30.0 years. ^[21]

The median income for a household in the county was $51,579 and the median income for a family was $55,705. Males had a median income of $42,177 versus $27,314 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,019. About 7.7% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.7% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over. ^[24]

Politics

Jefferson County is an overwhelmingly Republican and conservative county. The last Democrat who carried the county in a presidential election was Harry S. Truman in 1948. In 2012 President Obama received just 11.4 percent of the vote. In the 1972 presidential election, Richard Nixon won the county, with then John Birch Society member John G. Schmitz receiving 27.51 percent of the county's vote. ^[25] The last Democratic candidate to receive more than twenty percent of the county's vote was Jimmy Carter in 1976. ^[26]

United States presidential election results for Jefferson County, Idaho ^[27]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	13,481	85.21%	1,891	11.95%	448	2.83%
2020	12,099	85.32%	1,661	11.71%	420	2.96%
2016	8,436	73.52%	976	8.51%	2,063	17.98%
2012	9,895	86.94%	1,303	11.45%	183	1.61%
2008	8,540	81.79%	1,641	15.72%	260	2.49%
2004	7,703	86.49%	1,084	12.17%	119	1.34%
2000	6,480	82.70%	1,100	14.04%	256	3.27%
1996	4,925	66.53%	1,427	19.28%	1,051	14.20%
1992	3,471	48.78%	978	13.74%	2,667	37.48%
1988	5,295	79.64%	1,198	18.02%	156	2.35%
1984	5,770	87.92%	743	11.32%	50	0.76%
1980	5,860	84.52%	833	12.02%	240	3.46%
1976	3,599	65.14%	1,745	31.58%	181	3.28%
1972	2,983	58.38%	715	13.99%	1,412	27.63%
1968	2,927	61.48%	955	20.06%	879	18.46%
1964	2,740	57.07%	2,061	42.93%	0	0.00%
1960	2,625	52.51%	2,374	47.49%	0	0.00%
1956	2,748	60.12%	1,823	39.88%	0	0.00%
1952	2,970	66.80%	1,474	33.15%	2	0.04%
1948	1,490	41.76%	2,017	56.53%	61	1.71%
1944	1,458	39.78%	2,198	59.97%	9	0.25%
1940	1,717	39.34%	2,631	60.29%	16	0.37%
1936	1,037	26.84%	2,776	71.84%	51	1.32%
1932	1,177	31.54%	2,501	67.02%	54	1.45%
1928	1,671	55.18%	1,350	44.58%	7	0.23%
1924	1,393	50.07%	305	10.96%	1,084	38.96%
1920	1,794	70.77%	741	29.23%	0	0.00%
1916	993	36.44%	1,606	58.94%	126	4.62%

Communities

Cities

• Hamer
• Lewisville
• Menan
• Mud Lake
• Rigby
• Ririe
• Roberts

Unincorporated communities

• Grant
• Heise
• Monteview
• Terreton
• LaBelle

Education

School districts include: ^[28]

• Jefferson County Joint School District 251
• Ririe Joint School District 252
• West Jefferson School District 253

The College of Eastern Idaho includes this county in its catchment zone; however, this county is not in its taxation zone. ^[29]

Notable people

• Earl W. Bascom, rodeo pioneer, inventor, actor, cowboy artist, inductee of the Idaho Rodeo Hall of Fame
• Philo Farnsworth, inventor and television pioneer
• Pat Friday, singer

See also

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

References

1. 2020 Census, US Census Bureau, Jefferson County, Idaho Profile
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. "Jefferson County". State of Idaho. Archived from the original on August 15, 2009. Retrieved May 31, 2009.
4. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
5. "Postmaster Finder". United States Postal Service. Retrieved February 21, 2017.^{[ permanent dead link ‍]}
6. "Check ins for this Travel Point". motoidaho.com. Archived from the original on February 22, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
7. "Utah Northern". The Commercial and Financial Chronicle. 29 (735): 96. July 26, 1879. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
8. Report on Population of the United States, at the Eleventh Census: 1890 (PDF). Washington: Government Printing Office. 1895. p. 99. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 8, 2005. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
9. Census Reports Volume I: Twelfth Census of the United States, Taken in the Year 1900 (PDF). Washington: United States Census Office. 1901. p. 112. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 14, 2015. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
10. Thirteenth Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1910 (PDF). Washington: Government Printing Office. 1913. pp. 415–416. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 12, 2015. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
11. Scott, Patricia Lyn and Marjory (2009). Images of America: Jefferson County. Charleston: Arcadia Publishing. pp. 12, 15, 17, 21, 25–27, 29.
12. General Laws of the Territory of Idaho, Ninth Session: An Act Defining the Boundary Line Between Alturas and Oneida Counties. Boise City: Milton Kelly, Territorial Printer. 1877. pp. 90–91. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
13. Idaho Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. Chicago: The Newberry Library. 2010. pp. 12, 26–27, 87, 115–116, 162.
14. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
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. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved June 30, 2014.
19. 2020 Population and Housing State Data | Utah
20. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
21. "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.
22. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
23. "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.
24. "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.
25. David Leip's Presidential Election Atlas - 1972 statistics
26. The New York Times Electoral Map (Zoom in on Idaho)
27. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
28. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Jefferson County, ID" (PDF). United States Census Bureau . Retrieved March 12, 2024. - Text list
29. "Community Colleges" (PDF). Budget Hearing. Idaho Legislature. 2020. p. 1-73 (PDF p. 8/14). Retrieved March 12, 2024.

External links

• Official website

43°49′N112°19′W / 43.82°N 112.31°W / 43.82; -112.31