Power County, Idaho
County in Idaho, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Power County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 7,878.[1] The county seat and largest city is American Falls.[2] The county was created by the Idaho Legislature on January 30, 1913, by a partition of Cassia County. It is named for an early hydroelectric power plant (1902) at the American Falls.[3]
Power County, Idaho | |
|---|---|
Power County Courthouse, American Falls | |
 Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Idaho | |
| Coordinates: 42°41′N 112°50′W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Idaho |
| Founded | January 30, 1913 |
| Named after | power plant at the American Falls Dam |
| Seat | American Falls |
| Largest city | American Falls |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,443 sq mi (3,740 km2) |
| • Land | 1,404 sq mi (3,640 km2) |
| • Water | 38 sq mi (98 km2) 2.7% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 7,878 |
• Estimate (2025) | 8,246  |
| • Density | 5.611/sq mi (2.166/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | www |
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,443 square miles (3,740 km2), of which 1,404 square miles (3,640 km2) is land and 38 square miles (98 km2) (2.7%) is water.[4]
Adjacent counties
- Bannock County – east
- Oneida County – south
- Bingham County – north
- Blaine County – northwest
- Cassia County – southwest
Major highways
National protected areas
- Caribou National Forest (part)
- Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve (part)
- Curlew National Grassland (part)
- Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge (part)
- Sawtooth National Forest (part)
Government
Power County, like Idaho in general, is highly conservative and supports Republican presidential candidates by large margins. The last Democrat to win the county was Lyndon Johnson in 1964.
Power County's commissioners are:[5]
- Ronald Funk (chairman, District 1)
- William Lasley (District 2)
- Delane Anderson (District 3)
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1916 | 1,024 | 47.41% | 1,079 | 49.95% | 57 | 2.64% |
| 1920 | 1,155 | 67.31% | 561 | 32.69% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 757 | 43.13% | 314 | 17.89% | 684 | 38.97% |
| 1928 | 852 | 56.50% | 653 | 43.30% | 3 | 0.20% |
| 1932 | 603 | 34.74% | 1,126 | 64.86% | 7 | 0.40% |
| 1936 | 708 | 39.07% | 1,075 | 59.33% | 29 | 1.60% |
| 1940 | 951 | 50.45% | 931 | 49.39% | 3 | 0.16% |
| 1944 | 895 | 52.77% | 801 | 47.23% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 875 | 52.05% | 795 | 47.29% | 11 | 0.65% |
| 1952 | 1,308 | 68.45% | 603 | 31.55% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 1,108 | 59.03% | 769 | 40.97% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 1,065 | 52.59% | 960 | 47.41% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 966 | 45.42% | 1,161 | 54.58% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 1,222 | 60.26% | 582 | 28.70% | 224 | 11.05% |
| 1972 | 1,405 | 64.45% | 625 | 28.67% | 150 | 6.88% |
| 1976 | 1,374 | 49.96% | 1,286 | 46.76% | 90 | 3.27% |
| 1980 | 2,235 | 71.11% | 727 | 23.13% | 181 | 5.76% |
| 1984 | 2,298 | 76.50% | 678 | 22.57% | 28 | 0.93% |
| 1988 | 1,838 | 61.66% | 1,095 | 36.73% | 48 | 1.61% |
| 1992 | 1,352 | 45.41% | 837 | 28.12% | 788 | 26.47% |
| 1996 | 1,501 | 51.12% | 1,070 | 36.44% | 365 | 12.43% |
| 2000 | 1,872 | 69.10% | 755 | 27.87% | 82 | 3.03% |
| 2004 | 2,105 | 71.16% | 829 | 28.03% | 24 | 0.81% |
| 2008 | 1,754 | 61.72% | 1,027 | 36.14% | 61 | 2.15% |
| 2012 | 1,870 | 64.39% | 982 | 33.82% | 52 | 1.79% |
| 2016 | 1,666 | 60.41% | 699 | 25.34% | 393 | 14.25% |
| 2020 | 2,116 | 68.57% | 865 | 28.03% | 105 | 3.40% |
| 2024 | 2,146 | 71.04% | 785 | 25.98% | 90 | 2.98% |
Demographics
Racial and ethnic composition
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[14] | Pop 1990[15] | Pop 2000[16] | Pop 2010[17] | Pop 2020[18] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 6,086 | 5,908 | 5,592 | 5,164 | 4,826 | 88.92% | 83.38% | 74.18% | 66.06% | 61.26% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 1 | 6 | 5 | 18 | 17 | 0.01% | 0.08% | 0.07% | 0.23% | 0.22% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 224 | 198 | 225 | 161 | 172 | 3.27% | 2.79% | 2.98% | 2.06% | 2.18% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 20 | 33 | 24 | 32 | 18 | 0.29% | 0.47% | 0.32% | 0.41% | 0.23% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | x [19] | x [20] | 3 | 6 | 8 | x | x | 0.04% | 0.08% | 0.10% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 7 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 22 | 0.10% | 0.06% | 0.08% | 0.03% | 0.28% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x [21] | x [22] | 45 | 106 | 191 | x | x | 0.60% | 1.36% | 2.42% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 506 | 937 | 1,638 | 2,328 | 2,624 | 7.39% | 13.22% | 21.73% | 29.78% | 33.31% |
| Total | 6,844 | 7,086 | 7,538 | 7,817 | 7,878 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 7,878. The median age was 35.3 years, with 30.2% of residents under the age of 18 and 16.3% aged 65 or older. For every 100 females there were 101.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 104.1 males age 18 and over.[23]
The racial makeup of the county was 65.8% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 2.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 21.8% from some other race, and 9.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 33.3% of the population.[24]
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[25]
There were 2,689 households in the county, of which 38.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 18.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[23]
There were 2,937 housing units, of which 8.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.9% were owner-occupied and 26.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.9%.[23]
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 7,817 people, 2,641 households, and 2,019 families living in the county.[26] The population density was 5.6 inhabitants per square mile (2.2/km2). There were 2,944 housing units at an average density of 2.1 units per square mile (0.81 units/km2).[27] The racial makeup of the county was 75.1% white, 2.3% American Indian, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 19.5% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 29.8% of the population.[26] In terms of ancestry, 16.7% were German, 16.7% were English, and 7.2% were American.[28]
Of the 2,641 households, 40.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 23.6% were non-families, and 19.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.94 and the average family size was 3.39. The median age was 33.2 years.[26]
The median income for a household in the county was $40,843 and the median income for a family was $46,391. Males had a median income of $35,674 versus $29,844 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,412. About 8.3% of families and 11.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.7% of those under age 18 and 12.3% of those age 65 or over.[29]
2000 census
As of the census[30] of 2000, there were 7,538 people, 2,560 households, and 1,968 families living in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile (1.9 people/km2). There were 2,844 housing units at an average density of 2 units per square mile (0.77 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 83.78% White, 0.09% Black or African American, 3.29% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 11.10% from other races, and 1.38% from two or more races. 21.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.0% were of German, 17.6% English and 10.9% American ancestry.
There were 2,560 households, out of which 40.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.40% were married couples living together, 8.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.10% were non-families. 20.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.38.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 33.80% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 25.40% from 25 to 44, 22.00% from 45 to 64, and 10.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,226, and the median income for a family was $36,685. Males had a median income of $29,676 versus $20,930 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,007. About 10.80% of families and 16.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.10% of those under age 18 and 12.70% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Cities
- American Falls
- Pocatello (partly)
- Rockland
Census-designated place
Unincorporated communities
Education
School districts include:[31]
- American Falls Joint School District 381
- Arbon Elementary School District 383
- Rockland School District 382