Jefferson County, Idaho facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jefferson County
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Entering Jefferson County in Grant, Idaho
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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 | February 18, 1913 | |
| Named for | Thomas Jefferson | |
| Seat | Rigby | |
| Largest city | Rigby | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 1,106 sq mi (2,860 km2) | |
| • Land | 1,094 sq mi (2,830 km2) | |
| • Water | 12 sq mi (30 km2) 1.1% | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 30,891 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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34,198  |
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| • Density | 27.930/sq mi (10.784/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) | |
| Congressional district | 2nd | |
Jefferson County is a county located in the state of Idaho. It was created in 1913 and named after Thomas Jefferson, who was the third U.S. President. The biggest city and also the county seat (where the county government is) is Rigby. In 2020, about 30,891 people lived in Jefferson County. It is part of the larger Idaho Falls area.
Contents
Exploring Jefferson County's Land
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Jefferson County covers a total area of about 1,106 square miles. Most of this area, about 1,094 square miles, is land. The remaining 12 square miles, which is about 1.1% of the county, is water.
A Look Back at Jefferson County's History
Travel through Jefferson County began early. In 1864, a stagecoach route from Salt Lake City to Virginia City was set up. Important stops were made at places like Market Lake (now Roberts) and Sand Hole (now Hamer). Small towns started to grow around these stops. Market Lake was one of the first and most important settlements.
The first post office in the county opened at Market Lake in 1868. Around the same time, people also started settling in the Mud Lake area.
New Arrivals and Growth
In 1879, the Utah and Northern Railway reached Camas. This brought many new settlers to Camas and Market Lake. Also in 1879, Mormon settlers arrived when John R. Poole settled the Menan area. More towns followed, including Lewisville in 1882, Rigby in 1883, and Ririe in 1888.
By 1890, the Camas and Market Lake areas were counted in the census. Camas had 379 residents, and Market Lake had 218. By 1900, more areas like Lewisville, Menan, Rigby, and Rudy were added. The total population for these areas reached 3,046. By 1910, the population grew to 5,535 in the areas that would soon become Jefferson County.
Water for Life
Early settlements in Jefferson County needed water from the Snake River. They built many canals to bring water to their farms and homes. The first canal system started in Menan in 1880. Other canals, like the Butte-Market Lake Canal, were built in 1884, and the Big Feeder Canal began in 1895. The Owlsey Canal in western Jefferson County started in 1909. These canals were very important for the growth of the county.
How the County Was Formed
When settlers first arrived in 1864, the area was part of different counties. Over time, county borders changed. In 1885, Bingham County was created. Then, in 1893, all of what is now Jefferson County became part of Fremont County. Finally, Jefferson County was officially created in 1913. It took its current shape in 1917 when Butte County was formed.
Lewisville became the first official village in the county in 1904. Rigby followed in 1906, Menan in 1907, and Roberts in 1910. Ririe became a town by 1920, and Hamer and Mud Lake became towns after 1950.
Neighboring Counties
- Clark County - north
- Fremont County - northeast
- Madison County - east
- Bonneville County - south
- Bingham County - southwest
- Butte County - west
Main Roads
Interstate 15
US 20
SH-22
SH-28
SH-33
SH-48
Protected Natural Areas
- Camas National Wildlife Refuge
- Targhee National Forest (part)
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 9,441 | — | |
| 1930 | 9,171 | −2.9% | |
| 1940 | 10,762 | 17.3% | |
| 1950 | 10,495 | −2.5% | |
| 1960 | 11,672 | 11.2% | |
| 1970 | 11,619 | −0.5% | |
| 1980 | 15,304 | 31.7% | |
| 1990 | 16,543 | 8.1% | |
| 2000 | 19,155 | 15.8% | |
| 2010 | 26,140 | 36.5% | |
| 2020 | 30,891 | 18.2% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 34,198 | 30.8% | |
1790–1960, 1900–1990, 1990–2000, 2010, 2020 |
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2010 Census Information
In 2010, there were 26,140 people living in Jefferson County. They lived in 8,146 households, with 6,698 of these being families. The population density was about 23.9 people per square mile.
Most of the people were white (91.2%). About 10.1% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino background. The average age of people in the county was 30 years old.
The median income for a household was $51,579. This means half of the households earned more than this amount, and half earned less. About 10.2% of all people in the county lived below the poverty line.
Towns and Communities
Cities
Other Communities (Unincorporated)
Education in Jefferson County
The county has several school districts:
- Jefferson County Joint School District 251
- Ririe Joint School District 252
- West Jefferson School District 253
The College of Eastern Idaho serves this county. However, residents of Jefferson County do not pay taxes to support this college.
Famous People from Jefferson County
- Earl W. Bascom, a rodeo pioneer, inventor, actor, and cowboy artist. He is in the Idaho Rodeo Hall of Fame.
- Philo Farnsworth, a famous inventor who helped create television.
- Pat Friday, a singer.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Jefferson (Idaho) para niños
