Horseshoe Bend, Idaho facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Horseshoe Bend, Idaho
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Location of Horseshoe Bend in Boise County, Idaho.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Idaho |
| County | Boise |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.10 sq mi (2.85 km2) |
| • Land | 1.09 sq mi (2.81 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.04 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,674 ft (815 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 707 |
| • Density | 724.01/sq mi (279.66/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
83629
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| Area code(s) | 208, 986 |
| FIPS code | 16-38620 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2410795 |
Horseshoe Bend is a city in Boise County, Idaho. It's located in the southwestern part of the state. In 2010, about 707 people lived there. This made it the biggest city in Boise County.
The city gets its name from the Payette River. The river makes a big U-turn, shaped like a horseshoe, right where the city is. The river changes direction from flowing south to north before heading west.
Contents
History of Horseshoe Bend
Early Days and Gold Rush
Horseshoe Bend started as a busy spot for gold miners. In 1862, gold was found in the Boise Basin mountains. Miners would wait by the river in this area. They waited for the snow to melt in the higher mountains. This way, they could travel to the gold fields.
The settlement was first called Warrinersville. This name came from a man who ran a local sawmill. In 1867, the name was changed to Horseshoe Bend.
Growth and Changes
After the gold rush slowed down, Horseshoe Bend became a strong community. People focused on ranching and logging. Logging means cutting down trees for wood. A railroad was built to the city in 1913. It connected Horseshoe Bend to other towns like Emmett and Long Valley.
In 1998, the biggest employer in the city, Boise Cascade, closed its sawmill. This was a big change for the community. Horseshoe Bend has also tried to become the main city, or county seat, for Boise County. The current county seat is Idaho City.
Highways and Travel
Horseshoe Bend is located along State Highway 55. This is a main road that goes north and south from Boise. Boise is about 23 miles (37 km) south of Horseshoe Bend. You travel over a hill called Spring Valley summit to get there.
SH-52 connects to Emmett and Payette to the west.
SH-55 connects to Boise to the south and McCall to the north.
Highway 55 was named the "Payette River Scenic Byway" in 1977. This means it's a very pretty road to drive on. A new, wider part of the highway was finished in 1991. The older road was curvier and sometimes closed due to landslides.
Fun Things to Do
Outdoor Adventures
Horseshoe Bend is a great place for outdoor fun. Within an hour's drive north, you can find the Payette River basin. This area includes places like Cascade and McCall. These spots offer many outdoor activities.
Community Life and Events
Today, Horseshoe Bend is a mix of ranching life and a "bedroom community." A bedroom community is a place where people live but often travel to a bigger city, like Boise, for work.
The city has several yearly events that bring people together:
There used to be a scenic train ride called the Thunder Mountain Line. It started in the city but stopped running in 2016.
Geography and Climate
City Area
Horseshoe Bend covers about 1.09 square miles (2.82 square kilometers). Most of this area is land. Only a small part, about 0.01 square miles (0.03 square kilometers), is water. This information comes from the United States Census Bureau.
Local Climate
The climate in Horseshoe Bend is usually warm in the summer. It can be described as a hot-summer Mediterranean climate. This means it has hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters.
| Climate data for Horseshoe Bend, Idaho, 1991–2020 simulated normals (2602 ft elevation) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 38.8 (3.8) |
46.2 (7.9) |
55.4 (13.0) |
63.1 (17.3) |
72.5 (22.5) |
81.3 (27.4) |
92.5 (33.6) |
91.0 (32.8) |
80.6 (27.0) |
66.0 (18.9) |
49.8 (9.9) |
39.4 (4.1) |
64.7 (18.2) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 31.3 (−0.4) |
36.5 (2.5) |
43.9 (6.6) |
49.8 (9.9) |
58.3 (14.6) |
65.8 (18.8) |
74.8 (23.8) |
73.4 (23.0) |
64.2 (17.9) |
52.0 (11.1) |
39.6 (4.2) |
31.8 (−0.1) |
51.8 (11.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 23.9 (−4.5) |
27.0 (−2.8) |
32.2 (0.1) |
36.5 (2.5) |
44.2 (6.8) |
50.4 (10.2) |
57.0 (13.9) |
55.8 (13.2) |
47.7 (8.7) |
37.9 (3.3) |
29.5 (−1.4) |
24.1 (−4.4) |
38.9 (3.8) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.85 (47.08) |
1.31 (33.26) |
1.66 (42.11) |
1.38 (35.07) |
1.66 (42.13) |
0.94 (23.78) |
0.29 (7.26) |
0.22 (5.54) |
0.47 (11.90) |
0.99 (25.12) |
1.43 (36.35) |
2.16 (54.81) |
14.36 (364.41) |
| Average dew point °F (°C) | 25.2 (−3.8) |
26.8 (−2.9) |
29.3 (−1.5) |
31.8 (−0.1) |
37.6 (3.1) |
41.2 (5.1) |
42.8 (6.0) |
40.3 (4.6) |
36.9 (2.7) |
32.9 (0.5) |
29.1 (−1.6) |
25.0 (−3.9) |
33.2 (0.7) |
| Source: Prism Climate Group | |||||||||||||
Population Information
How Many People Live Here?
The population of Horseshoe Bend has changed over the years.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1950 | 401 | — | |
| 1960 | 480 | 19.7% | |
| 1970 | 511 | 6.5% | |
| 1980 | 700 | 37.0% | |
| 1990 | 643 | −8.1% | |
| 2000 | 770 | 19.8% | |
| 2010 | 707 | −8.2% | |
| 2019 (est.) | 787 | 11.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, the city had 707 people living in 284 households. A household is a group of people living in one home. There were also 195 families. The population density was about 655 people per square mile. This means how many people live in a certain area.
About 30% of the households had children under 18 years old. Many households were married couples living together. The average age of people in the city was 40 years old. About 24% of the residents were under 18.
See also
In Spanish: Horseshoe Bend (Idaho) para niños
