Boise County | |
|---|---|
 Boise County Courthouse in Idaho City | |
 Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofIdaho | |
 Idaho's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:44°01′N115°44′W / 44.01°N 115.74°W /44.01; -115.74 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Idaho |
| Founded | February 4, 1864 |
| Named after | Boise River |
| Seat | Idaho City |
| Largest city | Horseshoe Bend |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,907 sq mi (4,940 km2) |
| • Land | 1,899 sq mi (4,920 km2) |
| • Water | 7.4 sq mi (19 km2) 0.4% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 7,610 |
| • Density | 3.7/sq mi (1.4/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | www |
Boise County is a rural mountaincounty in theU.S. state ofIdaho. As of the2020 United States census, the population was 7,610.[1] Thecounty seat is historicIdaho City,[2] which is connected through a series of paved and unpaved roads toLowman,Centerville,Placerville,Pioneerville, Star Ranch,Crouch,Garden Valley, andHorseshoe Bend.
Boise County is part of theBoise metropolitan area.
TheBogus Basinski area is in the southwestern part of the county. The county's eastern area contains the central section of theSawtooth Wilderness, the western part of theSawtooth National Recreation Area.[3]
In 2010, the center of Idaho's population was in Boise County.[4]
The county was established on February 4, 1864, with itscounty seat atIdaho City.[5] It was named for theBoise River, which was named byFrench-Canadian explorers and trappers for the great variety of trees growing along its banks in the lower desert valley. The county is one of four Idaho counties that also existed underWashington Territory. On January 12, 1863, The Washington territorial legislature established the county containing most of Idaho below 114° 30', excluding the territory lying west of the Payette River. They established its county seat at what later became Idaho City.[6]
The Boise Basin, which contains Idaho City, was one of the nation's richestgold mining districts; gold was discovered in 1862,[5] and more of it was pulled from present-day Boise County than from the entire state ofAlaska. At its peak in the mid-1860s, Idaho City was the largest city in theNorthwest, and it was this rapid population influx that led to the establishment of theIdaho Territory in 1863.[5] The lower–elevation communities of Horseshoe Bend (Payette River) and Boise (Boise River) were staging areas for the Boise Basin mines.[7][8]
The county's boundaries changed several times duringIdaho's territorial period.Owyhee County (Idaho's oldest) and a portion ofOneida County were carved from the southern and eastern portion of the county as it existed underWashington Territory in late December 1863 and January 1864. When Idaho Territory established the county in February 1864, it contained all of presentAda,Canyon, andPayette counties. It also included most of present Boise andGem Counties, the southern half ofWashington County, and small portions ofAdams,Custer, Owyhee, andValley counties.
When Ada County was created in December 1864, most of that territory was transferred to Ada County, leaving only small portions of Custer, Gem, Payette, Valley, and Washington counties together with most of present-day Boise County. The Boise River portion of the current western boundary was established by 1866. The southern boundary common to present Ada County was defined the following year. The northern boundary was most volatile Between 1873 and 1887 with the boundary shifting further north into Valley County, back south below Cascade, and then again north to include the North Fork of Payette River Basin. The county obtained its current boundary after Gem County was created in 1915 and Valley County in 1918.[9]
In March 2011, the county filed aChapter 9 bankruptcy petition due to judgment against the county for violating theFair Housing Act.[10] The county's petition for Chapter 9 relief was denied.[11]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 1,907 square miles (4,940 km2), of which 1,899 square miles (4,920 km2) is land and 7.4 square miles (19 km2) (0.4%) is water.[12] The highest point in the county isThompson Peak at 10,751 feet (3,277 m), on its eastern border in theSawtooth Wilderness. The county's lowest point is on thePayette River, on its western border withGem County, at approximately 2,500 feet (760 m).
The elevated central basin area rises 1,700 feet (520 m) higher than Horseshoe Bend for instance and thus receives significantly more snow during the winter. Star Ranch, Placerville, and Centerville average 4,300 feet (1,310 m) above sea level whereas Horseshoe Bend is 1,700 feet (520 m) lower, Garden Valley is 1,157 feet (355 m) lower, and Idaho City is 400 feet (120 m) lower. Snow volumes around the county are best illustrated by the county Snow Load Map. Placerville roofs must be designed to withstand 150 pounds per square foot of snow whereas Horseshoe Bend is a third of that at 52.
The county's two primary routes are scenic byways. Both are two-lane undivided highways for most of their length. The Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway onState Highway 21 climbs northeast from Boise toIdaho City andLowman, and ends atStanley inCuster County, at the junction withState Highway 75.[13] The Payette River Scenic Byway onState Highway 55 is a designatednational scenic byway. It heads north fromEagle toHorseshoe Bend and climbs thewhitewater of thePayette River toCascade andMcCall inValley County, and ends atNew Meadows inAdams County, at the junction withUS Route 95.[14]
The closest thing to a traffic signal in Boise County is a flashing red light for Highway 52 where it meets Highway 55, in Horseshoe Bend. Highway 55 has a flashing yellow.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 3,834 | — | |
| 1880 | 3,214 | −16.2% | |
| 1890 | 3,342 | 4.0% | |
| 1900 | 4,174 | 24.9% | |
| 1910 | 5,250 | 25.8% | |
| 1920 | 1,822 | −65.3% | |
| 1930 | 1,847 | 1.4% | |
| 1940 | 2,333 | 26.3% | |
| 1950 | 1,776 | −23.9% | |
| 1960 | 1,646 | −7.3% | |
| 1970 | 1,763 | 7.1% | |
| 1980 | 2,999 | 70.1% | |
| 1990 | 3,509 | 17.0% | |
| 2000 | 6,670 | 90.1% | |
| 2010 | 7,028 | 5.4% | |
| 2020 | 7,610 | 8.3% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 8,517 | [15] | 11.9% |
| US Decennial Census[16] 1790–1960,[17] 1900–1990,[18] 1990–2000,[19] 2010–2020[1] | |||
As of the2000 United States Census,[20] there were 6,670 people, 2,616 households, and 1,899 families in the county. Thepopulation density was 3.5 people per square mile (1.4 people/km2). There were 4,349 housing units at an average density of 2 units per square mile (0.77 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.23%White, 0.12%Black orAfrican American, 0.93%Native American, 0.30%Asian, 0.10%Pacific Islander, 1.30% fromother races, and 2.01% from two or more races. 3.42% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 18.4% were ofGerman, 14.8%American, 13.8%English and 9.8%Irish ancestry.
There were 2,616 households, out of which 30.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.50% weremarried 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.
The county population contained 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[citation needed].
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. Theper capita income for the county was $18,787. About 9.00% of families and 12.90% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 16.40% of those under age 18 and 7.70% of those age 65 or over.
As of the2010 United States Census, there were 7,028 people, 2,974 households, and 2,051 families in the county.[21] The population density was 3.7 inhabitants per square mile (1.4/km2). There were 5,292 housing units at an average density of 2.8 units per square mile (1.1 units/km2).[22] The racial makeup of the county was 95.4% white, 0.8% American Indian, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.8% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.5% of the population.[21] In terms of ancestry, 26.0% wereGerman, 17.4% wereEnglish, 10.9% wereIrish, 8.6% wereAmerican, and 6.0% wereScottish.[23]
Of the 2,974 households, 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.5% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.0% were non-families, and 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.80. The median age was 48.4 years.[21]
The median income for a household in the county was $48,789 and the median income for a family was $60,042. Males had a median income of $48,676 versus $36,919 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,288. About 8.9% of families and 16.3% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 23.4% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.[24]
Hattie F. Noble was the first woman to represent Boise in 1898, after Idaho had given voting rights to women in 1896.[32]
Like Idaho as a whole, Boise County voters are reliably Republican. In only one national election since 1948 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 3,727 | 75.91% | 1,065 | 21.69% | 118 | 2.40% |
| 2020 | 3,485 | 72.27% | 1,204 | 24.97% | 133 | 2.76% |
| 2016 | 2,673 | 70.08% | 777 | 20.37% | 364 | 9.54% |
| 2012 | 2,284 | 66.28% | 1,053 | 30.56% | 109 | 3.16% |
| 2008 | 2,433 | 64.48% | 1,240 | 32.87% | 100 | 2.65% |
| 2004 | 2,501 | 70.91% | 970 | 27.50% | 56 | 1.59% |
| 2000 | 2,019 | 66.09% | 745 | 24.39% | 291 | 9.53% |
| 1996 | 1,576 | 53.26% | 879 | 29.71% | 504 | 17.03% |
| 1992 | 912 | 39.31% | 623 | 26.85% | 785 | 33.84% |
| 1988 | 1,044 | 61.05% | 620 | 36.26% | 46 | 2.69% |
| 1984 | 1,249 | 72.57% | 436 | 25.33% | 36 | 2.09% |
| 1980 | 1,134 | 61.43% | 518 | 28.06% | 194 | 10.51% |
| 1976 | 684 | 58.61% | 433 | 37.10% | 50 | 4.28% |
| 1972 | 676 | 66.27% | 256 | 25.10% | 88 | 8.63% |
| 1968 | 450 | 55.62% | 205 | 25.34% | 154 | 19.04% |
| 1964 | 414 | 47.92% | 450 | 52.08% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 456 | 51.35% | 432 | 48.65% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 570 | 66.67% | 285 | 33.33% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 655 | 67.53% | 309 | 31.86% | 6 | 0.62% |
| 1948 | 437 | 46.49% | 479 | 50.96% | 24 | 2.55% |
| 1944 | 464 | 45.00% | 564 | 54.70% | 3 | 0.29% |
| 1940 | 489 | 41.90% | 677 | 58.01% | 1 | 0.09% |
| 1936 | 368 | 30.92% | 780 | 65.55% | 42 | 3.53% |
| 1932 | 342 | 32.29% | 679 | 64.12% | 38 | 3.59% |
| 1928 | 521 | 56.69% | 389 | 42.33% | 9 | 0.98% |
| 1924 | 388 | 43.02% | 198 | 21.95% | 316 | 35.03% |
| 1920 | 588 | 61.19% | 373 | 38.81% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1916 | 657 | 35.84% | 1,048 | 57.17% | 128 | 6.98% |
| 1912 | 651 | 29.38% | 743 | 33.53% | 822 | 37.09% |
| 1908 | 877 | 45.51% | 862 | 44.73% | 188 | 9.76% |
| 1904 | 1,053 | 56.31% | 639 | 34.17% | 178 | 9.52% |
| 1900 | 695 | 44.93% | 852 | 55.07% | 0 | 0.00% |
School districts include:[34]
Residents are in the area (but not the taxation zone) forCollege of Western Idaho.[35]
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Places adjacent to Boise County, Idaho | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofBoise County, Idaho,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
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| Unincorporated communities | ||
State ofIdaho | |
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Boise (capital) | |
| Topics | |
| Society | |
| Regions | |
| Larger cities | |
| Smaller cities | |
| Counties | |
| International | |
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