Salmon, Idaho facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Salmon, Idaho
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| Motto(s):
"The Birthplace of Sacajawea"
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Location of Salmon in Lemhi County, Idaho.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Idaho |
| County | Lemhi |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.544 sq mi (6.59 km2) |
| • Land | 2.509 sq mi (6.50 km2) |
| • Water | 0.035 sq mi (0.09 km2) |
| Elevation | 3,947 ft (1,203 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,119 |
| • Density | 1,226.02/sq mi (473.39/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
83467
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| Area code(s) | 208 |
| FIPS code | 16-71650 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2411770 |
Salmon is a city located in Lemhi County, Idaho. In 2020, about 3,119 people lived there. It is the main town and county seat of Lemhi County.
Contents
History
Exploring Salmon's Past
The famous Lewis and Clark Expedition traveled near Salmon. They crossed the Continental Divide at Lemhi Pass, about 30 miles (48 km) southeast of the city. They followed the Salmon River through where the city is today.
Sacagawea's Birthplace
A very important person from the expedition, Sacagawea, was born in the Lemhi Valley near Salmon. She was the only female member of the Lewis and Clark party. To honor her, the Sacajawea Interpretive, Cultural and Educational Center opened in Salmon in August 2003.
Railroad History
From 1910 to 1939, Salmon was the end point for the Gilmore and Pittsburgh Railroad. This railroad is no longer in use today.
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The Owl Club in downtown Salmon, Idaho.
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Intersection. Salmon, Idaho.
People and Population
Who Lives in Salmon?
In 2020, Salmon had 3,119 residents living in 1,263 homes. The city is home to many families and individuals. About 26% of homes had children under 18. Also, 36.8% of homes had people aged 65 or older.
The average age of people in Salmon was 43.3 years. Most residents, about 98.9%, speak only English. About 90% of adults aged 25 and over have finished high school.
Geography and Nature
Where is Salmon Located?
Salmon covers about 2.544 square miles (6.59 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
The Salmon River
The famous Salmon River flows right through the city. This river is a big draw for outdoor fun. People come here for whitewater rafting, fishing, and hunting. These activities bring many tourists and help the local economy. The Lemhi River also joins the Salmon River near downtown Salmon.
Salmon's Climate
Salmon has a semi-arid climate, which means it's quite dry. Winters are cold and dry, while summers are hot with a bit more rain. The hottest temperature ever recorded was 106°F (41°C) in July 1936. The coldest was -37°F (-38°C) in January 1930 and 1937.
| Climate data for Salmon, Idaho, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1905–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 62 (17) |
68 (20) |
77 (25) |
89 (32) |
96 (36) |
103 (39) |
106 (41) |
103 (39) |
99 (37) |
87 (31) |
78 (26) |
62 (17) |
106 (41) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 43.6 (6.4) |
50.1 (10.1) |
66.7 (19.3) |
77.1 (25.1) |
84.9 (29.4) |
92.2 (33.4) |
98.0 (36.7) |
96.1 (35.6) |
89.7 (32.1) |
76.9 (24.9) |
58.4 (14.7) |
46.0 (7.8) |
98.5 (36.9) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 28.2 (−2.1) |
35.8 (2.1) |
49.5 (9.7) |
58.7 (14.8) |
68.3 (20.2) |
75.7 (24.3) |
86.3 (30.2) |
84.8 (29.3) |
74.3 (23.5) |
58.4 (14.7) |
40.8 (4.9) |
28.9 (−1.7) |
57.5 (14.2) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 19.6 (−6.9) |
26.0 (−3.3) |
37.5 (3.1) |
45.2 (7.3) |
54.0 (12.2) |
61.0 (16.1) |
69.0 (20.6) |
66.7 (19.3) |
57.4 (14.1) |
44.6 (7.0) |
31.2 (−0.4) |
20.9 (−6.2) |
44.4 (6.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 11.0 (−11.7) |
16.3 (−8.7) |
25.5 (−3.6) |
31.6 (−0.2) |
39.7 (4.3) |
46.2 (7.9) |
51.6 (10.9) |
48.7 (9.3) |
40.6 (4.8) |
30.8 (−0.7) |
21.6 (−5.8) |
12.9 (−10.6) |
31.4 (−0.3) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −6.1 (−21.2) |
−0.6 (−18.1) |
14.5 (−9.7) |
21.8 (−5.7) |
28.1 (−2.2) |
34.6 (1.4) |
43.5 (6.4) |
40.7 (4.8) |
30.1 (−1.1) |
18.2 (−7.7) |
7.5 (−13.6) |
−3.4 (−19.7) |
−10.5 (−23.6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −37 (−38) |
−35 (−37) |
−20 (−29) |
2 (−17) |
16 (−9) |
20 (−7) |
26 (−3) |
22 (−6) |
13 (−11) |
−3 (−19) |
−14 (−26) |
−32 (−36) |
−37 (−38) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.58 (15) |
0.37 (9.4) |
0.47 (12) |
0.77 (20) |
1.29 (33) |
1.63 (41) |
0.77 (20) |
0.60 (15) |
0.79 (20) |
0.81 (21) |
0.67 (17) |
0.73 (19) |
9.48 (242.4) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 6.7 (17) |
3.8 (9.7) |
1.2 (3.0) |
0.4 (1.0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
3.3 (8.4) |
6.4 (16) |
22.0 (56) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 6.1 | 4.7 | 6.1 | 7.3 | 9.3 | 9.4 | 5.7 | 5.1 | 4.8 | 5.8 | 6.3 | 7.0 | 77.6 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 4.6 | 2.7 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 4.1 | 14.8 |
| Source 1: NOAA | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service | |||||||||||||
Sports and Recreation
Youth Sports Programs
Salmon has many outdoor activities and strong youth sports programs. Kids can join various teams and clubs:
- Salmon Hockey Association
- Salmon Soccer Association
- Lemhi Youth Baseball
- Lemhi Express Softball
- Little Savage Football
High School Sports
Salmon Jr/Sr High School offers many sports for older students. These include wrestling, football, basketball, cross-country, track & field, baseball, softball, golf, volleyball, cheer, ice hockey, and rodeo.
Places to Visit
Top Attractions in Salmon
Salmon has several interesting places to explore:
- The Sacajawea Center: This center teaches about the history of the Salmon and Lemhi River Country. It focuses on the Lewis and Clark Expedition and Sacagawea. The center has a visitor shop, an outdoor theater, gardens, trails, and a dog park.
- Salmon Hockey Rink: This outdoor ice hockey rink is open during winter. It offers amazing mountain views, including the Continental Divide. Many tournaments are held here, bringing visitors to Salmon.
- Nep & Mary Ellen Lynch Center: Also known as The Lynch Center, this facility opened in 2021 at Salmon High School. It is used for school sports like basketball, volleyball, and wrestling. It also has a gym, weight room, and cardio room for athletes.
- Salmon Valley Golf Course: This 9-hole golf course is located in Salmon's large City Park. It was built in 1986 and is usually open from March to October.
City Parks
The City of Salmon has five public parks for everyone to enjoy:
- Kid's Creek Park
- Salmon City Park
- Island Park
- Veterans Memorial Park
- Skate Park
Education
Schools in Salmon
Salmon School District serves students from kindergarten through 12th grade. In Spring 2023, there were 646 students.
- Salmon Pioneer Elementary School (grades K-5)
- Salmon Junior/Senior High School (grades 6-12)
- Salmon Alternative School (grades 7-12)
- Salmon Juvenile Detention Center
New School Plans
The school district is planning a new K-8 school. This new building will replace Salmon Pioneer Elementary School. It is expected to open during the 2026-2027 school year.
Other Schools
Salmon also has Fernwaters Public Charter School for grades K-8. It had 74 students in Spring 2023. This school is building a new facility, expected to open in Fall 2026.
Salmon Seventh-day Adventist Elementary School is the city's only private school for grades 1-8.
Media
Local Radio Stations
Salmon has two local radio stations: KSRA (AM) 960 and KSRA-FM 92.7. They first started broadcasting in 1959 and 1979.
Local Newspaper
The Recorder Herald is a weekly newspaper published every Thursday. It started in 1886 as The Idaho Recorder. Later, it joined with The Salmon Herald and became The Recorder Herald in 1927. It shares local news and events for Salmon and the surrounding area.
Famous People from Salmon
- J. D. Cannon: An American actor, born in Salmon in 1922.
- J.D. Folsom: A former NFL linebacker for the Miami Dolphins.
- Elmer Keith: He created famous revolver cartridges like the .357 magnum and .44 magnum.
- Dick Randolph: The first Libertarian to be elected to a U.S. state legislature. He was born in Salmon in 1936.
- Sacagawea: A famous Native American woman who helped the Lewis and Clark Expedition. She was born near Salmon.
See also
In Spanish: Salmon (Idaho) para niños
