The city is named forFrank R. Gooding, a localsheep rancher who became a prominent political figure in Idaho in the early 20th century, serving as bothGovernor of Idaho and aUnited States Senator. The original name of Gooding was Toponis.
The world's largest factory for barrel cheese, the raw product forprocessed cheese, is located in Gooding. It has a capacity of 120,000 metric tons per year of barrel cheese and belongs to theGlanbia group.[5] Gooding is also home to Gooding Elementary, Gooding Middle, andGooding High schools.
Colston Loveland (born 2004), professional American football player. He grew up in Bliss, Idaho, a small community in Gooding County, and attended Gooding High School. Loveland played college football at theUniversity of Michigan, where he was part of the 2023 national championship team. Known for carrying his small-town Idaho roots with pride, he became the highest-drafted tight end of the 2025NFL draft when he was selected 10th overall by theChicago Bears.[6]
As of thecensus[3] of 2010, there were 3,567 people, 1,395 households, and 864 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 2,410.1 inhabitants per square mile (930.5/km2). There were 1,537 housing units at an average density of 1,038.5 units per square mile (401.0 units/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 84.6%White, 0.4%African American, 0.9%Native American, 0.6%Asian, 11.2% fromother races, and 2.2% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 22.9% of the population.
There were 1,395 households, of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.3% weremarried couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.1% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.26.
The median age in the city was 33.5 years. 29.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.5% were from 25 to 44; 19% were from 45 to 64; and 17.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.0% male and 50.0% female.
As of thecensus[9] of 2000, there were 3,384 people, 1,304 households, and 842 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,461.0 inhabitants per square mile (950.2/km2). There were 1,397 housing units at an average density of 1,016.0 units per square mile (392.3 units/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 89.51%White, 0.15%African American, 1.60%Native American, 0.21%Asian, 5.97% fromother races, and 2.57% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 14.80% of the population.
There were 1,304 households, out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.5% weremarried couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.7% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 21.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,316, and the median income for a family was $33,309. Males had a median income of $24,688 versus $16,926 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $13,752. About 12.4% of families and 17.3% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 28.8% of those under age 18 and 15.1% of those age 65 or over.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.49 square miles (3.86 km2), of which, 1.48 square miles (3.83 km2) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2) is water.[10]
A 360 degree panorama near the center of Gooding, Idaho, 7th and Main (ID-46)
College of Southern Idaho maintains a Gooding Center.[14] Gooding County is in the catchment area, but not the taxation zone, for College of Southern Idaho.[15]
The Gooding Joint School District operates three schools: Gooding Elementary School, Gooding Middle School, andGooding High School.[17]
The district is mostly in Gooding County,[18] and it has a portion inLincoln County.[19]
There are approximately 1200 students in the district. It ranks 43rd in size amongst the 114 school districts in Idaho.
The Gooding Joint School District was ranked in fourth place (in the small district category) on the Digital School Districts Survey,[20] for its "use of technology to govern the district [and to] communicate with students, parents and the community."[21]
Gooding School District was the first district in the nation to win theHealthierUS Challenge "Gold Award of Distinction."[22][23][24]
The main entrance and administration offices of the ISDB.
The grounds and some of the dormitories at the ISDB.
The North Valley Academy charter school was approved December 20, 2007.[25]Kindergarten througheighth grade started in the 2008–2009 school year,[13] grades 9-12 began in the 2009–2010 school year.[26]
TheIdaho School for the Deaf and the Blind (ISDB) was first established in 1906 inBoise and operated there until it burned down on December 8, 1908. The Idaho Legislature passed an act on March 16, 1909, establishing a permanent state school.[27] Governor Frank Gooding donated land for the ISDB so it was moved to Gooding and started accepting students in September 1910.[28]
The school covers a 40-acre (160,000 m2) area and provides dormitories for many of its students and has other facilities, such as a gymnasium and park.[29][30]
Gooding College operated in the city from 1917 (108 years ago) (1917) to 1938 (87 years ago) (1938), offering high school and college courses.[31] The school's largest enrollment was 209 students, in 1928.[31] Buildings of the college were added to theNational Register of Historic Places in 1983, listed as "Gooding College Campus".[31] The surviving building of the campus, which dates to 1920, became atuberculosis hospital in 1946, and was later converted into an inn.[32]
^Gannon, Jack. 1981.Deaf Heritage–A Narrative History of Deaf America, Silver Spring, MD: National Association of the Deaf, pp. 53-54 (PDFArchived 2012-03-28 at theWayback Machine)(PDFArchived 2012-03-28 at theWayback Machine)