Glenns Ferry, Idaho Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Glenns Ferry, Idaho
City
Location of Glenns Ferry in Elmore County, Idaho.
Country	United States
State	Idaho
County	Elmore
Area
• Total	1.98 sq mi (5.14 km²)
• Land	1.96 sq mi (5.07 km²)
• Water	0.03 sq mi (0.07 km²)
Elevation	2,553 ft (778 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	1,282
• Estimate (2022)	1,293
• Density	647.47/sq mi (250.39/km²)
Time zone	UTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP codes	83623, 83633
Area code(s)	208
FIPS code	16-31690
GNIS feature ID	2410603

Glenns Ferry is a small city located in Elmore County, Idaho, in the United States. In 2020, about 1,293 people lived there. The city is very close to Interstate 84 and the Snake River.

History of Glenns Ferry
Geography and Location
Population and People
- How Many People Live Here?
Famous People From Glenns Ferry
Gallery
See also

History of Glenns Ferry

Glenns Ferry was once a very important and dangerous river crossing on the famous Oregon Trail. Pioneers, who were early settlers traveling west, used to cross the Snake River at a place called Three Island Crossing. This was a difficult journey.

In 1869, a man named Gustavus "Gus" Glenn built a ferry boat. This ferry was about two miles upstream from the old crossing. It helped people and goods cross the river much faster and safer. His boat was big enough to carry two wagons at a time. This new ferry saved travelers almost twenty miles on their journey.

The city of Glenns Ferry was officially started in 1871. A big change happened in 1883 when the Oregon Short Line Railroad was built through the town. This railroad became the city's first major employer, giving many people jobs.

Today, you can visit Three Island Crossing State Park, which opened in 1971. This park has The Oregon Trail History and Education Center. Here, you can learn all about the pioneer travelers and the history of Native American people in the area. Every August, the community of Glenns Ferry holds an event to remember the historic river crossings.

Glenns Ferry was planned out in 1871, right next to where the ferry operated. It is one of only two official cities in Elmore County. The other city is Mountain Home.

Geography and Location

Glenns Ferry is a small city. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city covers a total area of about 1.94 square miles (5.02 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 1.92 square miles (4.97 square kilometers), is land. A small part, about 0.02 square miles (0.05 square kilometers), is water.

Population and People

The Gorby Opera Theatre is one of six sites in Glenns Ferry listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1890	333	—
1910	800	—
1920	1,243	55.4%
1930	1,414	13.8%
1940	1,290	−8.8%
1950	1,515	17.4%
1960	1,374	−9.3%
1970	1,386	0.9%
1980	1,374	−0.9%
1990	1,304	−5.1%
2000	1,611	23.5%
2010	1,319	−18.1%
2019 (est.)	1,303	−1.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

How Many People Live Here?

The census of 2010 counted 1,319 people living in Glenns Ferry. These people lived in 559 households, and 350 of these were families. The city had about 687 people per square mile.

Most of the people in Glenns Ferry were White (82.2%). About 11.8% were from other races. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up 24.6% of the population.

About 27.9% of households had children under 18 living there. Many households (48.5%) were married couples living together. The average household had 2.36 people. The average family had 3.00 people.

The average age of people in the city was 42.6 years old. About 25.6% of residents were under 18. About 23% were 65 years old or older. The population was almost evenly split between males (49.1%) and females (50.9%).