Rigby, Idaho facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rigby, Idaho
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| Nickname(s):
The Birthplace of Television
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| Motto(s):
Honoring our Heritage,
Looking to the Future |
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Location of Rigby in Jefferson County, Idaho.
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 Rigby, Idaho
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Idaho |
| County | Jefferson |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.37 sq mi (6.13 km2) |
| • Land | 2.36 sq mi (6.10 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2) |
| Elevation | 4,856 ft (1,480 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,038 |
| • Estimate
(2022)
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5,452 |
| • Density | 1,821.73/sq mi (703.52/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
83442
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| Area code(s) | 208 |
| FIPS code | 16-67780 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2410948 |
Rigby is a city in Jefferson County, Idaho, United States. It is also the county seat, which means it's where the county government is located. In 2020, about 5,038 people lived in Rigby. This number grew from 3,945 people in 2010.
Contents
History of Rigby
The first people to live in the Rigby area were Native American tribes. These included the Shoshone, Bannock, Blackfeet, and Nez Perce tribes.
Rigby was started in 1884 by George Albert Cordon, Omer Samuel Call, Josiah Call, and Cyril Josiah Call. They were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The community officially became a city in 1903. It was named after William F. Rigby, an important early settler and church member.
People in Rigby
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 666 | — | |
| 1920 | 1,629 | 144.6% | |
| 1930 | 1,531 | −6.0% | |
| 1940 | 1,978 | 29.2% | |
| 1950 | 1,826 | −7.7% | |
| 1960 | 2,281 | 24.9% | |
| 1970 | 2,324 | 1.9% | |
| 1980 | 2,624 | 12.9% | |
| 1990 | 2,681 | 2.2% | |
| 2000 | 2,998 | 11.8% | |
| 2010 | 3,945 | 31.6% | |
| 2020 | 5,038 | 27.7% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 5,452 | 38.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, there were 3,945 people living in Rigby. They lived in 1,328 households. Many of these households (45.3%) had children under 18. About 57% of households were married couples.
Most people in Rigby (89.5%) were White. About 11.8% of the population was Hispanic or Latino. The average age in the city was 27.6 years old.
Geography and Nature
Rigby is located about 4,856 feet (1,480 meters) above sea level. The city covers an area of about 2.36 square miles (6.1 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Many smaller rivers that flow into the Snake River pass through the Rigby area. These include the Henry’s Fork and South Fork. Because there is so much water, Jefferson County has the largest cottonwood forest west of the Mississippi River.
Rigby's Climate
Rigby has a climate with warm summers. This means it has four distinct seasons.
| Climate data for Rigby, Idaho, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 2008–present | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 49 (9) |
60 (16) |
71 (22) |
85 (29) |
87 (31) |
96 (36) |
97 (36) |
95 (35) |
96 (36) |
85 (29) |
70 (21) |
57 (14) |
97 (36) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 30.7 (−0.7) |
35.4 (1.9) |
47.9 (8.8) |
57.1 (13.9) |
66.7 (19.3) |
75.0 (23.9) |
84.5 (29.2) |
84.3 (29.1) |
74.9 (23.8) |
59.7 (15.4) |
43.1 (6.2) |
29.9 (−1.2) |
57.4 (14.1) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 22.8 (−5.1) |
26.6 (−3.0) |
37.7 (3.2) |
45.0 (7.2) |
54.1 (12.3) |
61.6 (16.4) |
69.5 (20.8) |
68.9 (20.5) |
60.5 (15.8) |
47.2 (8.4) |
34.2 (1.2) |
22.8 (−5.1) |
45.9 (7.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 14.9 (−9.5) |
17.7 (−7.9) |
27.5 (−2.5) |
33.0 (0.6) |
41.5 (5.3) |
48.2 (9.0) |
54.6 (12.6) |
53.5 (11.9) |
46.0 (7.8) |
34.8 (1.6) |
25.2 (−3.8) |
15.7 (−9.1) |
34.4 (1.3) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −23 (−31) |
−14 (−26) |
−3 (−19) |
14 (−10) |
22 (−6) |
32 (0) |
39 (4) |
38 (3) |
28 (−2) |
−1 (−18) |
−7 (−22) |
−16 (−27) |
−23 (−31) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.32 (34) |
0.78 (20) |
1.12 (28) |
1.44 (37) |
1.80 (46) |
1.30 (33) |
0.56 (14) |
0.78 (20) |
1.09 (28) |
1.19 (30) |
0.79 (20) |
1.31 (33) |
13.48 (343) |
| Source 1: NOAA | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service | |||||||||||||
Economy and Jobs
Many people who live in Rigby travel to nearby cities like Rexburg or Idaho Falls for work. Some residents also work for the U.S. government or companies that work with the government. These jobs are often at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), which locals call "The Site."
Arts and Culture
The Farnsworth TV & Pioneer Museum in Rigby shows off the work of Philo Farnsworth. He was an inventor who helped create television. The museum has an original TV tube that he developed.
Most people in Rigby and the areas around it are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Other religious groups like Baptists, Presbyterians, and Lutherans also have churches there. Many Rigby residents are Catholic, but there isn't a Catholic church within the city itself.
Education in Rigby
The local schools are part of the Jefferson County School District 251.
- High Schools:
- Rigby High School serves students in grades 9-12.
- Jefferson High School is an alternative school for students who need extra support.
- Middle Schools:
- Rigby Middle School and Philo T. Farnsworth Middle School serve grades 6-8.
- The mascot for both middle schools and Rigby High School is the "Trojans." Their team colors are maroon and gold.
- Elementary Schools:
- There are six elementary schools: Cottonwood, Midway, South Fork, Jefferson, Roberts, and Harwood Elementary.
- Rigby also has the Rigby Virtual Academy for K-8 and the Early Childhood Center for special needs children aged 3-5.
- These schools also welcome students from nearby towns like Menan, Lewisville, and Roberts. Rigby High School has a long-standing sports rivalry with Madison High School.
Rigby High School has won 10 state championships in Boys Basketball. In 2019, the football team won its first state title. They beat Coeur d'Alene 57-56 in a very exciting double-overtime game.
Notable People from Rigby
- Philo Farnsworth, an inventor and early television pioneer
- Vardis Fisher, an author
- Gail Halvorsen, a retired Air Force pilot
- Brent Hill, a politician
- H. Rex Lee, a former governor of American Samoa
- Wayne Quinton, an inventor of the treadmill and medical devices
- Larry Wilson, a famous NFL player in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Images for kids
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Location of Rigby in Jefferson County, Idaho.
See also
In Spanish: Rigby (Idaho) para niños
