American Falls, Idaho facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
American Falls, Idaho
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Power County Courthouse (2007)
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Location of American Falls in Power County, Idaho.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Idaho |
| County | Power |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.61 sq mi (4.18 km2) |
| • Land | 1.61 sq mi (4.18 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 4,410 ft (1,340 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,568 |
| • Density | 2,673.48/sq mi (1,032.46/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
83211
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| Area codes | 208, 986 |
| FIPS code | 16-01900 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2409696 |
American Falls is a city in Idaho, United States. It is the main town, or county seat, of Power County. In 2020, about 4,568 people lived there.
Contents
History of American Falls
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American Falls was originally a famous waterfall on the Snake River. It got its name after some American trappers had their boat go over the falls.
Explorers visited the falls long ago. The Wilson Price Hunt team camped there in 1811. John C. Frémont's group was also there in 1843. The historic Oregon Trail passed north of where the town is now.
Power plants were first built at the falls in 1901. American Falls is special because it was the first town in the U.S. to be completely moved. This happened in 1925 to make way for the American Falls Dam. The old town is now under the water of the reservoir. A bigger dam was finished in 1978.
Geography and Climate
American Falls covers about 1.69 square miles (4.38 square kilometers) of land.
Climate in American Falls
American Falls has a semi-arid climate. This means it is usually dry, but not a desert. It gets some rain and snow, but not a lot.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 953 | — | |
| 1920 | 1,547 | 62.3% | |
| 1930 | 1,280 | −17.3% | |
| 1940 | 1,439 | 12.4% | |
| 1950 | 1,874 | 30.2% | |
| 1960 | 2,123 | 13.3% | |
| 1970 | 2,769 | 30.4% | |
| 1980 | 3,626 | 30.9% | |
| 1990 | 3,757 | 3.6% | |
| 2000 | 4,111 | 9.4% | |
| 2010 | 4,457 | 8.4% | |
| 2020 | 4,568 | 2.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
How Many People Live Here?
In 2010, there were 4,457 people living in American Falls. There were 1,474 homes. About 2,637 people lived in each square mile.
Most people (70.2%) were White. About 25.1% were from other races. Many people (39.0%) were of Hispanic or Latino background.
Many homes (44.6%) had children under 18. The average age in the city was 30.2 years old. About 33.1% of the people were under 18.
Education in American Falls
American Falls High School is the main high school in the city. In 2012, it was recognized as a "four star school."
In 2004, Randy Jensen, who was the Principal of William Thomas Middle School in American Falls, won a special award. He received the National Principal of Secondary Schools Award.
Famous People from American Falls
- Bob Barron, a racing driver
- D. W. Davis, who was the 12th governor of Idaho
- Boyd Grant, a college basketball coach
- Steve Hayes, a basketball player and coach
- María Sánchez, an American-born Mexican soccer player
- Marion Barton Skaggs, a businessman
- Annalee Skarin, a writer of Mormon books
See also
In Spanish: American Falls (Idaho) para niños
