Jerome County, Idaho Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Jerome County

U.S. county

Jerome County Courthouse

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of Idaho

Idaho's location within the U.S.

Country

United States

State

Idaho

Founded

February 8, 1919

Seat

Jerome

Largest city

Jerome

Area

• Total

602 sq mi (1,560 km²)

• Land

597 sq mi (1,550 km²)

• Water

5.0 sq mi (13 km²) 0.8%

Population

(2020)

• Total

24,237

• Estimate

(2023)

25,479

• Density

40.26/sq mi (15.545/km²)

Time zone

UTC−7 (Mountain)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−6 (MDT)

Congressional district

2nd

Jerome County is a county located in the state of Idaho in the United States. In 2020, about 24,237 people lived there. The biggest city and the main government center is Jerome.

The county was officially created on February 8, 1919. It was formed from a part of Lincoln County. Jerome County might have been named after Jerome Hill, who helped develop an important irrigation project. It could also be named after his son-in-law or grandson, both named Jerome Kuhn. Jerome County is part of the Twin Falls area.

A very important historical site, the Minidoka Relocation Camp, is in Jerome County. This was one of ten camps where Japanese Americans were sent during World War II. It is located near the town of Hunt.

History of Jerome County
- Early Settlements and Water
Geography of Jerome County
- Neighboring Counties
Population Growth
Important Roads
Protected Areas
Towns and Communities
- Cities
- Unincorporated Community
Schools and Education
See also

History of Jerome County

The towns and communities in Jerome County are quite new compared to other parts of Idaho. Even though the famous Oregon Trail and stagecoach routes passed nearby, the area was hard to reach. This was because of the deep Snake River Canyon, which is about 500 feet (150 meters) deep.

The canyon also made it difficult to get water for farming. These challenges meant that early settlers in Idaho didn't choose to live here. Also, when the railroad was built across Idaho in the 1880s, it went about 16 miles (26 km) north of where Jerome City is today.

Things started to change when a ferry began operating at Shoshone Falls in 1884. This made it easier to travel between the railroad and areas south of the Snake River.

Early Settlements and Water

One of the first settlements was Schodde, which had 24 people by 1900. A big change happened in 1905 with the completion of the Milner Dam and the Northside Canal. This brought much-needed water to the north side of the Snake River. With water available, farmers began to move into the region.

The towns of Eden and Hazelton were settled starting in 1905. The town of Jerome itself began to be settled on September 30, 1907. The Idaho Southern Railway reached Jerome in late 1908. By 1910, Jerome had grown to 970 residents and became an official village in 1909.

Eden and Hazelton also became official villages by 1920. Jerome County became Idaho's 43rd county on February 8, 1911.

Geography of Jerome County

Jerome County covers a total area of about 602 square miles (1,559 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 597 square miles (1,546 square kilometers), is land. Only a small part, about 5.0 square miles (13 square kilometers), is water.

Neighboring Counties

Jerome County shares borders with several other counties:

Lincoln County to the north
Gooding County to the west
Twin Falls County to the south
Cassia County to the southeast
Minidoka County to the east

Population Growth

The population of Jerome County has changed over the years. Here's how it has grown:

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1920	5,729	—
1930	8,358	45.9%
1940	9,900	18.4%
1950	12,080	22.0%
1960	11,712	−3.0%
1970	10,253	−12.5%
1980	14,840	44.7%
1990	15,138	2.0%
2000	18,342	21.2%
2010	22,374	22.0%
2020	24,237	8.3%
2023 (est.)	25,479	13.9%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960, 1900–1990, 1990–2000, 2010, 2020

In 2010, there were 22,374 people living in Jerome County. The population density was about 37.5 people per square mile. About 31.0% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino origin.