Gooding County, Idaho facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gooding County
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Location within the U.S. state of Idaho
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 Idaho's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Idaho |
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| Founded | January 28, 1913 | |
| Named for | Frank R. Gooding | |
| Seat | Gooding | |
| Largest city | Gooding | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 734 sq mi (1,900 km2) | |
| • Land | 729 sq mi (1,890 km2) | |
| • Water | 4.7 sq mi (12 km2) 0.6% | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 15,598 | |
| • Density | 21.251/sq mi (8.205/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) | |
| Congressional district | 2nd | |
Gooding County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2020 census, about 15,598 people lived there. Its main town, called the county seat, is Gooding. The county was created on January 28, 1913, from a part of Lincoln County. It is named after Frank R. Gooding, who was the 7th governor of Idaho and later a United States Senator.
Contents
Gooding County's Story: A Look Back
Almost 15,000 years ago, a huge event called the Bonneville Flood shaped the Hagerman Valley. This flood left behind thousands of smooth boulders that you can still see today.
Early People and the Oregon Trail
Native Americans settled in the area at least 12,000 years ago. By 1840, they met travelers on the Oregon Trail. Many people on the Oregon Trail stopped at Salmon Falls on the Snake River. Here, they traded fish with the local Native Americans.
Gold and New Settlements
Even though Gooding County is known for farming now, people first came here for gold. Gold was discovered in 1862. However, not many miners stayed for long. By 1870, only a few people lived in the area, mostly around a camp at Salmon Falls.
Railroads and Growing Towns
In the early 1880s, the railroad arrived. A train station called Toponis was built by 1883. Later, a post office opened there. The towns of Toponis and Hagerman Valley became part of Logan County in 1889.
In the early 1900s, more people moved to the area, especially to Wendell and Toponis. Wendell became an official town in 1902. In 1907, a new town was planned on land owned by Frank R. Gooding at the Toponis train station. This town became known as Gooding in 1908. The population grew a lot during this time.
How Gooding County Was Formed
Because of this growth, Gooding County was officially created in 1913. It was formed from parts of Lincoln County. The county's shape changed a bit again in 1919 when Jerome County was formed.
Gooding County's Location and Roads
Gooding County covers about 734 square miles. Most of this is land, with a small amount of water.
Neighboring Counties
Gooding County shares borders with these other counties:
- Elmore County - to the west
- Twin Falls County - to the south
- Jerome County - to the east
- Lincoln County - to the east
- Camas County - to the north
Major Roads
These important highways pass through Gooding County:
Interstate 84
US 26
US 30
SH-46
People of Gooding County
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 6,427 | — | |
| 1930 | 7,419 | 15.4% | |
| 1940 | 9,544 | 28.6% | |
| 1950 | 8,730 | −8.5% | |
| 1960 | 9,544 | 9.3% | |
| 1970 | 8,645 | −9.4% | |
| 1980 | 11,874 | 37.4% | |
| 1990 | 11,633 | −2.0% | |
| 2000 | 14,155 | 21.7% | |
| 2010 | 15,464 | 9.2% | |
| 2020 | 15,598 | 0.9% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 16,061 | 3.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960, 1900–1990, 1990–2000, 2010, 2020 |
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What the 2010 Census Showed
In 2010, there were 15,464 people living in Gooding County. Most people (about 80.7%) were white. A significant part of the population (about 28.1%) was of Hispanic or Latino origin.
Many households had children under 18 living with them. The average age of people in the county was about 34 years old.
Towns and Cities
Gooding County has several cities:
Schools in Gooding County
There are several school districts that serve students in Gooding County:
- Bliss Joint School District 234
- Buhl Joint School District 412
- Gooding Joint School District 231
- Hagerman Joint School District 233
- Jerome Joint School District 261
- Wendell School District 232
Gooding is also home to the Idaho School for the Deaf and the Blind, a special school run by the state government. While the county is near the College of Southern Idaho, it is not part of its tax area.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Gooding para niños
