Minidoka County, Idaho | |
|---|---|
 Minidoka County Courthouse | |
 Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofIdaho | |
 Idaho's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:42°51′N113°38′W / 42.85°N 113.64°W /42.85; -113.64 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Idaho |
| Founded | January 28, 1913 |
| Named after | Dakota Sioux word meaning "a fountain or spring of water." |
| Seat | Rupert |
| Largest city | Rupert |
| Area | |
• Total | 763 sq mi (1,980 km2) |
| • Land | 758 sq mi (1,960 km2) |
| • Water | 5.3 sq mi (14 km2) 0.7% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 21,613 |
| • Density | 28.5/sq mi (11.0/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | www |
Minidoka County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofIdaho. As of the2020 census, the population was 21,613.[1] Thecounty seat and largest city isRupert.[2]
Minidoka County is part of theBurley, IDMicropolitan Statistical Area.
The name Minidoka is ofDakota Sioux origin meaning "a fountain or spring of water."[3] Minidoka was first used in 1883 as a name for theUnion Pacific'sOregon Short Line, a railroad spur in the middle of theSnake River Plain. The spur later became the site of a watering station along the line. The village ofMinidoka grew up next to the station. The Minidoka name was then given to areclamation project under thenPresidentTheodore Roosevelt which included the construction of theMinidoka Dam, completed in 1904.Minidoka National Historic Site (in adjacentHunt ofJerome County) was part of the original reclamation project and hence shares the name. Minidoka County was created by the Idaho Legislature on January 28, 1913, by a partition ofLincoln County.[4]
Camp Rupert, west ofPaul, was aprisoner of war (POW) camp duringWorld War II.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 763 square miles (1,980 km2), of which 758 square miles (1,960 km2) is land and 5.3 square miles (14 km2) (0.7%) is water.[5]
It is part of theMagic Valley region of theSnake River Plain. Irrigated farmland covers the southern part of the county, whilelava beds cover the northern portion. Theelevation is generally in the range of 4,200 to 4,500 feet (1,300 to 1,400 m). TheSnake River forms the county's southern boundary.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 9,035 | — | |
| 1930 | 8,403 | −7.0% | |
| 1940 | 9,870 | 17.5% | |
| 1950 | 9,785 | −0.9% | |
| 1960 | 14,394 | 47.1% | |
| 1970 | 15,731 | 9.3% | |
| 1980 | 19,718 | 25.3% | |
| 1990 | 19,361 | −1.8% | |
| 2000 | 20,174 | 4.2% | |
| 2010 | 20,069 | −0.5% | |
| 2020 | 21,613 | 7.7% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 22,691 | [6] | 5.0% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790–1960,[8] 1900–1990,[9] 1990–2000,[10] 2010–2020[1] 2020[11] | |||
At the2000 census there were 20,176 people, 6,973 households, and 5,362 families in the county. The population density was 27 inhabitants per square mile (10/km2). There were 7,498 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (3.9/km2). Theracial makeup of the county was 78.07%White, 0.26%Black orAfrican American, 0.88%Native American, 0.42%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 17.83% from other races, and 2.52% from two or more races. 25.46%.[12] wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 18.1% were ofEnglish, 12.9%German and 12.0%American ancestry.
Of the 6,973 households 38.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.40% were married couples living together, 8.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.10% were non-families. 20.00% of households were one person and 9.60% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.32.
The age distribution was 31.60% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 25.20% from 25 to 44, 20.90% from 45 to 64, and 13.20% 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.80 males.
The median household income was $32,021 and the median family income was $36,500. Males had a median income of $28,977 versus $19,521 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,813. About 11.90% of families and 14.80% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 18.90% of those under age 18 and 9.00% of those age 65 or over.
At the2010 census, there were 20,069 people, 7,170 households, and 5,315 families in the county.[13] The population density was 26.5 inhabitants per square mile (10.2/km2). There were 7,665 housing units at an average density of 10.1 per square mile (3.9/km2).[14] Theracial makeup of the county was 80.2% white, 1.2% American Indian, 0.4% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 15.3% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 32.4% of the population.[13] In terms of ancestry, 19.9% wereGerman, 16.8% wereEnglish, 10.2% wereAmerican, and 6.5% wereIrish.[15]
Of the 7,170 households, 37.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.8% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 25.9% were non-families, and 22.0% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.27. The median age was 35.3 years.[13]
The median household income was $40,350 and the median family income was $47,079. Males had a median income of $32,895 versus $22,271 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,747. About 9.4% of families and 13.1% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 20.0% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.[16]
There is one school district in the county:Minidoka County Joint School District 331.[17] The only public high school in the county isMinico High School near Rupert.[18]
The county is in the catchment area, but not the taxation zone, forCollege of Southern Idaho.[19]
Like all of eastern Idaho, Minidoka County has been overwhelmingly Republican since the 1950s. The last Democratic presidential candidate to carry the county wasHarry S. Truman in 1948, and the last to win a majorityFranklin D. Roosevelt in 1940. In the 2024 election, Donald Trump gained more support than any other Republican presidential candidate in county history.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1916 | 963 | 36.22% | 1,135 | 42.69% | 561 | 21.10% |
| 1920 | 1,622 | 59.09% | 1,107 | 40.33% | 16 | 0.58% |
| 1924 | 1,046 | 39.92% | 204 | 7.79% | 1,370 | 52.29% |
| 1928 | 1,832 | 61.15% | 1,132 | 37.78% | 32 | 1.07% |
| 1932 | 1,130 | 33.56% | 2,164 | 64.27% | 73 | 2.17% |
| 1936 | 948 | 30.61% | 2,095 | 67.65% | 54 | 1.74% |
| 1940 | 1,979 | 49.80% | 1,982 | 49.87% | 13 | 0.33% |
| 1944 | 1,781 | 52.02% | 1,635 | 47.75% | 8 | 0.23% |
| 1948 | 1,654 | 48.19% | 1,668 | 48.60% | 110 | 3.21% |
| 1952 | 3,128 | 71.40% | 1,253 | 28.60% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 2,954 | 63.58% | 1,692 | 36.42% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 3,360 | 57.66% | 2,467 | 42.34% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 3,111 | 52.39% | 2,827 | 47.61% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 3,182 | 56.28% | 1,332 | 23.56% | 1,140 | 20.16% |
| 1972 | 4,097 | 68.66% | 1,423 | 23.85% | 447 | 7.49% |
| 1976 | 3,600 | 56.44% | 2,441 | 38.27% | 337 | 5.28% |
| 1980 | 6,035 | 74.22% | 1,689 | 20.77% | 407 | 5.01% |
| 1984 | 5,938 | 80.03% | 1,398 | 18.84% | 84 | 1.13% |
| 1988 | 4,623 | 65.73% | 2,290 | 32.56% | 120 | 1.71% |
| 1992 | 3,304 | 44.55% | 1,815 | 24.47% | 2,298 | 30.98% |
| 1996 | 4,008 | 56.81% | 1,977 | 28.02% | 1,070 | 15.17% |
| 2000 | 4,907 | 75.28% | 1,344 | 20.62% | 267 | 4.10% |
| 2004 | 5,797 | 80.50% | 1,331 | 18.48% | 73 | 1.01% |
| 2008 | 5,087 | 73.83% | 1,630 | 23.66% | 173 | 2.51% |
| 2012 | 5,442 | 78.04% | 1,390 | 19.93% | 141 | 2.02% |
| 2016 | 4,887 | 71.13% | 1,167 | 16.98% | 817 | 11.89% |
| 2020 | 6,265 | 78.38% | 1,550 | 19.39% | 178 | 2.23% |
| 2024 | 6,401 | 80.54% | 1,373 | 17.27% | 174 | 2.19% |
Places adjacent to Minidoka County, Idaho | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofMinidoka County, Idaho,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
State ofIdaho | |
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Boise (capital) | |
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