Idaho Falls, Idaho
Encyclopedia
Idaho Falls is a city in and the county seat
of Bonneville County
, Idaho
, United States
, and the largest city in Eastern Idaho
. As of the 2010 census, the population of Idaho Falls was 56,813, with a metro population of 130,374.
Idaho Falls is the principal city of the Idaho Falls, Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area
and the Idaho Falls-Blackfoot, Idaho Combined Statistical Area
. It is the state's largest city outside the Boise metropolitan area and the third-largest metro area behind Boise City-Nampa and Coeur d'Alene, which is connected to the larger Spokane, Washington.
The city serves as a hub to all of eastern Idaho and much of western Wyoming. Due to its relative economic vitality, high quality of life, and proximity to world-class outdoor recreation, it is often featured in various publications' lists of "best places to live." The area is served by the Idaho Falls Regional Airport
and is home to the Idaho Falls Chukars
minor league baseball team.
, a timber frame bridge built across the Snake River
. The 1865 bridge was built by Matt Taylor
, a Montana Trail freighter, who built a toll bridge across a narrow black basaltic gorge of the river that succeeded a ferry seven miles upstream by a few years. Taylor’s bridge served the new tide of westward migration and travel in the region that followed the military suppression of Shoshone
resistance at the Bear River Massacre
near Preston, Idaho
in 1863. The bridge improved travel for settlers moving north and west and for miners, freighters, and others seeking riches in the gold fields of Idaho
and Montana
, especially, the boom towns of Bannack
and Virginia City
in western Montana.
, seven miles upstream at 43°36.112′N 112°3.528′W in the Snake River that was the nesting site for approximately twenty eagles. Previous to Taylor's bridge, in 1864, Harry Rickets built and operated a ferry at this location and so this area of crossing at the Snake River was already known as Eagle Rock to those that did business or that traveled on the Montana Trail. A private bank (the fourth in Idaho), a small hotel, a livery stable, and an eating house also sprang up at the bridge in 1865 along with the post office and stage station.
There had been a few cattle and sheep ranchers in the area for years. In 1874 water rights were established on nearby Willow Creek and the first grain harvested but settlement was sparse consisting of only a couple of families and small irrigation ditches. The first child of European descent born at Eagle Rock was delivered in 1874.
The winds of change blew in the form of the Utah and Northern Railway
that came north from Utah
through Eagle Rock to cross the Snake River at the same narrow gorge as the wooden bridge. The U&NR
was building its road to the large new copper mines at Butte, Montana
with the backing of robber baron Jay Gould
as Union Pacific Railroad
had purchased the U&NR only a few years prior. Grading crews reached Eagle Rock in late 1878 and by early 1879 a wild camp-town with dozens of tents and shanties moved to Eagle Rock with the usual collection of saloons, dancehalls, and gambling holes. The railroad company had 16 locomotives and 300 train cars working between Logan, Utah
and the once quiet stage stop. A new iron railroad bridge was fabricated in Athens, Pennsylvania
at a cost of $30,000 and shipped, by rail, to the site and erected in April and May 1879. The bridge was 800 feet (243.8 m) long and in two spans with an island in the center. The camp-town moved on but Eagle Rock, the little town at the wooden bridge, now had regular train service and was the site for several of the railroad’s buildings, shops, and facilities expanding and completely transforming the town.
Settlers began homesteading
the Upper Snake River Valley
as soon as the railroad came through. The first of the new settlers carved out homesteads to the north at Egin (near present day Parker
) and at Pooles Island (near present day Menan
). Large scale settlement ensued and in a decade there appeared roads, bridges, dams and irrigation canals that brought most of the Upper Snake River Valley under cultivation
. In 1887, following the construction of the Oregon Short Line, most of the railroad facilities were removed to Pocatello
where the new line branched off the U&NR but Eagle Rock was fast becoming the commercial center of an agricultural empire.
, grains, and alfalfa
and became one of the most productive regions of the United States
.
In 1949, the Atomic Energy Commission
opened the National Reactor Testing Station in the desert west of the city, and on Dec. 20, 1951, a nuclear reactor produced useful electricity for the first time in history. There have been more than 50 unique nuclear reactors built at the facility for testing. All but three are shut down now.
On January 3, 1961, the site was the scene of the only fatal nuclear reactor incident in U.S. history. A main nuclear control rod was removed from the SL-1
reactor, causing the reactor to become prompt-critical resulting in a power excursion. Three people died in the reactor room, and when rescue workers arrived to recover the bodies, they emitted 500 R/hr. The force of the explosion was so severe that one body had to be removed from the ceiling, where it was pinned by a control rod ejected from the reactor. The three men were buried in lead coffins and that entire section of the site was buried.
The Idaho National Laboratory
(INL), as it is now known, remains a major economic engine for the city of Idaho Falls, employing more than 8,000 people and functioning as an internationally renowned research center. INL operates and manages the world famous Advanced Test Reactor
(ATR).
The community's economy was mostly agriculturally focused until the opening of the National Reactor Testing Station in the desert west of Idaho Falls in 1949. The city subsequently became largely dependent on high-income jobs from the Idaho National Laboratory
(INL), known locally simply as "The Site." The laboratory
made several cutbacks in 1993. Since then the town has added call centers, a growing retail, entertainment, and restaurant sector, and a regional medical center.
Idaho Falls was named by Business Week as one of the 2010 List of "Best Places to Raise Kids". In addition, Forbes.com selected Idaho Falls as one of the "2010 Best Small Places for Business & Careers". Also Money.CNN.com included Idaho Falls as one of their "Top 100 Cities in 2010".
Idaho Falls has become a regional business hub. It hosts the headquarters of the United Potato Growers of Idaho and District 7 of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. It is also the home to several small to medium sized national corporations such as North Wind, Inc., Melaleuca, Inc and Press-A-Print
.
The median home price in Idaho Falls was $224,800 in January 2007.
Idaho Falls, Idaho / U.S. avg:
The Museum of Idaho is a regional attraction which showcases local artifacts and history. It also brings in major traveling exhibits such as dinosaur bones, Gutenberg Bibles, Titanic remnants, and "Bodies: the Exhibition." Idaho Falls is the first city of its size to house the popular attraction.
Downtown Idaho Falls once struggled as the city expanded eastward, but it has been revitalized in recent years due to the efforts of local business owners, the City of Idaho Falls, and other organizations such as the Downtown Development Corporation and the Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce. Today, it is home to a handful of locally owned shops, stores, restaurants, galleries, theaters, and future revitalization efforts.
The city attracts many tourists visiting nearby Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park
s, Jackson Hole
, and the world-class fishing on the Snake River
. Due to its proximity to so many outdoor destinations, Idaho Falls was recently named to National Geographic's list of "100 Best Adventure Towns".
The Idaho Falls Redevelopment Agency (IFRA) is pursuing plans to expand the greenbelt near the interchange of Memorial Drive and Broadway, and going north to "E" Street. This will extend the activity area of the greenbelt, and create a closer proximity for the public to access local Historic Downtown merchants.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 17.4 square miles (45.1 km²), of which, 17.1 square miles (44.3 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (1.67%) is water.
Idaho Falls experiences a continental climate
(Köppen
Dfb). with cold winters and warm, dry summers.
reported there were 50,730 people, 18,793 households, and 13,173 families residing in the city, though MSN real estate reports an area population of 110,220. The population density
was 2,972.2 people per square mile (1,147.4/km²). There were 19,771 housing units at an average density of 1,158.4 per square mile (447.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.09% White, 0.62% African American, 0.76% Native American, 1.05% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 3.81% from other races
, and 1.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.18% of the population.
There were 18,793 households out of which 37.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.5% were married couples
living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.9% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.3% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 97.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $40,512, and the median income for a family was $47,431. Males had a median income of $39,082 versus $23,001 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $18,857. About 7.8% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.7% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.
The top five ethnic groups in Idaho Falls are:
In a 2008 estimate, it was found that Idaho Falls had a violent crime rate of 0.9 times the national average and a property crime rate of 0.97 times the national average.
and Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho), according to a USA Today
article, Idaho Falls is now the largest city in the United States without a traditional college.
Idaho Falls is home to a few higher ed options, including Eastern Idaho Technical College
, established in 1969 as a vocational-technical college. Stevens-Henager College
and University of Phoenix
have also opened local resource centers in order to aid students in online degree programs.
A unique satellite campus called University Place features dual enrollment
for students in both Pocatello-based Idaho State University
and Moscow-based University of Idaho
. Students generally earn core classes at University Place and then transfer to ISU's or UI's main campus to finish their degrees. However, a few dozen degree programs, both undergraduate and graduate, are fully offered at University Place. The campus also boasts high-tech facilities such as the Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES). CAES is run by a partnership of Idaho's three research universities (UI, ISU, Boise State) and the Idaho National Laboratory
.
Despite the current lack of a traditional college, a relatively high percentage of residents hold advanced degrees and perform significant research, largely thanks to the presence of the INL
.
The two school districts have a total of four major public high schools and two alternative high schools. The District 91 high schools are Idaho Falls High School
, Skyline High School
, and Emerson High School, the alternative high school. The District 93 high schools are Hillcrest High School
, Bonneville High School
, and Lincoln High School, the alternative high school.
Each fall, the varsity football teams from Idaho Falls and Skyline high schools compete in the Emotion Bowl at Idaho Falls' Ravsten Stadium, which is shared by the two schools The winning team and its fans traditionally paint the goalposts of the stadium in their school colors (orange for I.F. and blue for Skyline) after each Emotion Bowl.
The junior high schools in District 91 are Clair E. Gale Junior High School, Taylorview Junior High School
, and Eagle Rock Junior High School. In District 93, the middle schools are Sandcreek Middle School, Rocky Mountain Middle School
, and Telford Academy Alternative Middle School.
The Idaho Falls area also offers four public charter school options: Taylor's Crossing Public Charter School, White Pine Charter School, Monticello Montessori Public Charter School, and Odessey High Charter School. There are currently 25 public elementary schools, including A. H. Bush, District 91's Magnet School for Math and Science. Additionally, numerous private schools provide educational opportunities at varying grade levels.
, as designated by Sister Cities International
: Tokai, Ibaraki
, Japan
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Bonneville County
Bonneville County, Idaho
Bonneville County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2010 census, the county had a population of 104,234. Its county seat and largest city is Idaho Falls...
, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and the largest city in Eastern Idaho
Eastern Idaho
Eastern Idaho is a generic term used to describe areas of Idaho which lie east of the Magic Valley region. It is generally understood to include: Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Bonneville, Butte, Caribou, Clark, Custer, Franklin, Fremont, Jefferson, Madison, Oneida, Power and Teton...
. As of the 2010 census, the population of Idaho Falls was 56,813, with a metro population of 130,374.
Idaho Falls is the principal city of the Idaho Falls, Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area
Idaho Falls metropolitan area
The Idaho Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in eastern Idaho, anchored by the city of Idaho Falls...
and the Idaho Falls-Blackfoot, Idaho Combined Statistical Area
Combined Statistical Area
The United States Office of Management and Budget defines micropolitan and metropolitan statistical areas. Metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas consist of one or more counties...
. It is the state's largest city outside the Boise metropolitan area and the third-largest metro area behind Boise City-Nampa and Coeur d'Alene, which is connected to the larger Spokane, Washington.
The city serves as a hub to all of eastern Idaho and much of western Wyoming. Due to its relative economic vitality, high quality of life, and proximity to world-class outdoor recreation, it is often featured in various publications' lists of "best places to live." The area is served by the Idaho Falls Regional Airport
Idaho Falls Regional Airport
Idaho Falls Regional Airport , formerly known as Fanning Field, is a public airport located in the northwest part of Idaho Falls, in Bonneville County, Idaho, USA. The airport has two runways. The airport terminal has been expanded twice and partially re-built once...
and is home to the Idaho Falls Chukars
Idaho Falls Chukars
The Idaho Falls Chukars are a minor league baseball affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. They play in Idaho Falls, Idaho, at Melaleuca Field which holds 3,400 fans. The dimensions of the ball park are 340'left, 400'center, 350'right. The playing surface is Natural Grass...
minor league baseball team.
Montana Trail origins
What became Idaho Falls was the site of Taylor’s Crossing on the Montana TrailMontana Trail
The Montana Trail was wagon road that served gold rush towns such as Bannack, Virginia City and later Helena, Montana during the Montana gold rush era of the 1860s and 1870s. It branched from the Oregon Trail in southeastern Idaho and ran north through eastern Idaho along a well-established native...
, a timber frame bridge built across the Snake River
Snake River
The Snake is a major river of the greater Pacific Northwest in the United States. At long, it is the largest tributary of the Columbia River, the largest North American river that empties into the Pacific Ocean...
. The 1865 bridge was built by Matt Taylor
James Madison Taylor
James Madison Taylor, better known as Matt Taylor, was an early settler of southeastern Idaho. He built a toll bridge over the Snake River at Black Rock Canyon. Idaho Falls was eventually established at the site of this bridge...
, a Montana Trail freighter, who built a toll bridge across a narrow black basaltic gorge of the river that succeeded a ferry seven miles upstream by a few years. Taylor’s bridge served the new tide of westward migration and travel in the region that followed the military suppression of Shoshone
Shoshone
The Shoshone or Shoshoni are a Native American tribe in the United States with three large divisions: the Northern, the Western and the Eastern....
resistance at the Bear River Massacre
Bear River Massacre
The Bear River Massacre, or the Battle of Bear River and the Massacre at Boa Ogoi, took place in present-day Idaho on January 29, 1863. The United States Army attacked Shoshone gathered at the confluence of the Bear River and Beaver Creek in what was then southeastern Washington Territory. The...
near Preston, Idaho
Preston, Idaho
Preston is a city in Franklin County, Idaho, United States. The population was 4,682 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Franklin County. It is part of the Logan, Utah-Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
in 1863. The bridge improved travel for settlers moving north and west and for miners, freighters, and others seeking riches in the gold fields of Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
and Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, especially, the boom towns of Bannack
Bannack, Montana
Bannack is a ghost town in Beaverhead County, Montana, United States, located on Grasshopper Creek, approximately upstream from where Grasshopper Creek joins with the Beaverhead River south of Dillon.-History:...
and Virginia City
Virginia City, Montana
Virginia City is a town in and the county seat of Madison County, Montana, United States. In 1961, the town and the surrounding area was designated a National Historic Landmark District, the Virginia City Historic District...
in western Montana.
Eagle Rock
Mail service postmarks indicate by 1866 the emerging town had become known as Eagle Rock. The name was derived from an isolated basalt island in the Snake RiverSnake River
The Snake is a major river of the greater Pacific Northwest in the United States. At long, it is the largest tributary of the Columbia River, the largest North American river that empties into the Pacific Ocean...
, seven miles upstream at 43°36.112′N 112°3.528′W in the Snake River that was the nesting site for approximately twenty eagles. Previous to Taylor's bridge, in 1864, Harry Rickets built and operated a ferry at this location and so this area of crossing at the Snake River was already known as Eagle Rock to those that did business or that traveled on the Montana Trail. A private bank (the fourth in Idaho), a small hotel, a livery stable, and an eating house also sprang up at the bridge in 1865 along with the post office and stage station.
The winds of change blew in the form of the Utah and Northern Railway
Utah and Northern Railway
The Utah and Northern Railway is a defunct railroad that was operated in the Utah Territory and later in the Idaho Territory and Montana Territory in the western United States during the 1870s and 1880s. It was the first railroad in Idaho and in Montana....
that came north from Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
through Eagle Rock to cross the Snake River at the same narrow gorge as the wooden bridge. The U&NR
Utah and Northern Railway
The Utah and Northern Railway is a defunct railroad that was operated in the Utah Territory and later in the Idaho Territory and Montana Territory in the western United States during the 1870s and 1880s. It was the first railroad in Idaho and in Montana....
was building its road to the large new copper mines at Butte, Montana
Butte, Montana
Butte is a city in Montana and the county seat of Silver Bow County, United States. In 1977, the city and county governments consolidated to form the sole entity of Butte-Silver Bow. As of the 2010 census, Butte's population was 34,200...
with the backing of robber baron Jay Gould
Jay Gould
Jason "Jay" Gould was a leading American railroad developer and speculator. He has long been vilified as an archetypal robber baron, whose successes made him the ninth richest American in history. Condé Nast Portfolio ranked Gould as the 8th worst American CEO of all time...
as Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
had purchased the U&NR only a few years prior. Grading crews reached Eagle Rock in late 1878 and by early 1879 a wild camp-town with dozens of tents and shanties moved to Eagle Rock with the usual collection of saloons, dancehalls, and gambling holes. The railroad company had 16 locomotives and 300 train cars working between Logan, Utah
Logan, Utah
-Layout of the City:Logan's city grid originates from its Main and Center Street block, with Main Street running north and south, and Center east and west. Each block north, east, south, or west of the origin accumulates in additions of 100 , though some streets have non-numeric names...
and the once quiet stage stop. A new iron railroad bridge was fabricated in Athens, Pennsylvania
Athens, Pennsylvania
Athens is a borough in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, two miles south of the N. Y. State line on the Susquehanna and Chemung rivers. Population in 1900, 3,749; and in 1910, 3,796. The population was 3,415 at the 2000 census...
at a cost of $30,000 and shipped, by rail, to the site and erected in April and May 1879. The bridge was 800 feet (243.8 m) long and in two spans with an island in the center. The camp-town moved on but Eagle Rock, the little town at the wooden bridge, now had regular train service and was the site for several of the railroad’s buildings, shops, and facilities expanding and completely transforming the town.
Settlers began homesteading
Homesteading
Broadly defined, homesteading is a lifestyle of simple self-sufficiency.-Current practice:The term may apply to anyone who follows the back-to-the-land movement by adopting a sustainable, self-sufficient lifestyle. While land is no longer freely available in most areas of the world, homesteading...
the Upper Snake River Valley
Snake River Plain
The Snake River Plain is a geologic feature located primarily within the state of Idaho in the United States of America. It stretches about westward from northwest of the state of Wyoming to the Idaho-Oregon border. The plain is a wide flat bow-shaped depression, and covers about a quarter of Idaho...
as soon as the railroad came through. The first of the new settlers carved out homesteads to the north at Egin (near present day Parker
Parker, Idaho
Parker is a city in Fremont County, Idaho, United States. The population was 319 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Rexburg, Idaho Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Parker is located at ....
) and at Pooles Island (near present day Menan
Menan, Idaho
Menan is a city in Jefferson County, Idaho, United States. It is part of the Idaho Falls, Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 707 at the 2000 census.-History:Menan was the first settlement of Latter-day Saints in the Snake River Valley...
). Large scale settlement ensued and in a decade there appeared roads, bridges, dams and irrigation canals that brought most of the Upper Snake River Valley under cultivation
Tillage
Tillage is the agricultural preparation of the soil by mechanical agitation of various types, such as digging, stirring, and overturning. Examples of human-powered tilling methods using hand tools include shovelling, picking, mattock work, hoeing, and raking...
. In 1887, following the construction of the Oregon Short Line, most of the railroad facilities were removed to Pocatello
Pocatello, Idaho
Pocatello is the county seat and largest city of Bannock County, with a small portion on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in neighboring Power County, in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Idaho. It is the principal city of the Pocatello metropolitan area, which encompasses all of Bannock...
where the new line branched off the U&NR but Eagle Rock was fast becoming the commercial center of an agricultural empire.
Idaho Falls
In 1891 the town voted to change its name to Idaho Falls, in reference to the rapids that existed below the bridge (the rapids were enhanced to falls some years later). In 1895 the largest irrigation canal in the world, the Great Feeder, began diverting water from the Snake River and aided in converting tens of thousands of acres of desert into green farmland in the vicinity of Idaho Falls. The area grew sugar beets, potatoes, peasPEAS
P.E.A.S. is an acronym in artificial intelligence that stands for Performance, Environment, Actuators, Sensors.-Performance:Performance is a function that measures the quality of the actions the agent did....
, grains, and alfalfa
Alfalfa
Alfalfa is a flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae cultivated as an important forage crop in the US, Canada, Argentina, France, Australia, the Middle East, South Africa, and many other countries. It is known as lucerne in the UK, France, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, and known as...
and became one of the most productive regions of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
In 1949, the Atomic Energy Commission
United States Atomic Energy Commission
The United States Atomic Energy Commission was an agency of the United States government established after World War II by Congress to foster and control the peace time development of atomic science and technology. President Harry S...
opened the National Reactor Testing Station in the desert west of the city, and on Dec. 20, 1951, a nuclear reactor produced useful electricity for the first time in history. There have been more than 50 unique nuclear reactors built at the facility for testing. All but three are shut down now.
On January 3, 1961, the site was the scene of the only fatal nuclear reactor incident in U.S. history. A main nuclear control rod was removed from the SL-1
SL-1
The SL-1, or Stationary Low-Power Reactor Number One, was a United States Army experimental nuclear power reactor which underwent a steam explosion and meltdown on January 3, 1961, killing its three operators. The direct cause was the improper withdrawal of the central control rod, responsible for...
reactor, causing the reactor to become prompt-critical resulting in a power excursion. Three people died in the reactor room, and when rescue workers arrived to recover the bodies, they emitted 500 R/hr. The force of the explosion was so severe that one body had to be removed from the ceiling, where it was pinned by a control rod ejected from the reactor. The three men were buried in lead coffins and that entire section of the site was buried.
The Idaho National Laboratory
Idaho National Laboratory
Idaho National Laboratory is an complex located in the high desert of eastern Idaho, between the town of Arco to the west and the cities of Idaho Falls and Blackfoot to the east. It lies within Butte, Bingham, Bonneville and Jefferson counties...
(INL), as it is now known, remains a major economic engine for the city of Idaho Falls, employing more than 8,000 people and functioning as an internationally renowned research center. INL operates and manages the world famous Advanced Test Reactor
Advanced Test Reactor
The Advanced Test Reactor is a research reactor at the Idaho National Laboratory, located east of Arco, Idaho. This reactor is primarily designed and used to test materials to be used in other, larger-scale and prototype reactors. It can operate at a maximum power of 250 MW and has a "Four...
(ATR).
Economy
Idaho Falls serves as a regional hub for health care, travel and business in eastern Idaho.The community's economy was mostly agriculturally focused until the opening of the National Reactor Testing Station in the desert west of Idaho Falls in 1949. The city subsequently became largely dependent on high-income jobs from the Idaho National Laboratory
Idaho National Laboratory
Idaho National Laboratory is an complex located in the high desert of eastern Idaho, between the town of Arco to the west and the cities of Idaho Falls and Blackfoot to the east. It lies within Butte, Bingham, Bonneville and Jefferson counties...
(INL), known locally simply as "The Site." The laboratory
Laboratory
A laboratory is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific research, experiments, and measurement may be performed. The title of laboratory is also used for certain other facilities where the processes or equipment used are similar to those in scientific laboratories...
made several cutbacks in 1993. Since then the town has added call centers, a growing retail, entertainment, and restaurant sector, and a regional medical center.
Idaho Falls was named by Business Week as one of the 2010 List of "Best Places to Raise Kids". In addition, Forbes.com selected Idaho Falls as one of the "2010 Best Small Places for Business & Careers". Also Money.CNN.com included Idaho Falls as one of their "Top 100 Cities in 2010".
Idaho Falls has become a regional business hub. It hosts the headquarters of the United Potato Growers of Idaho and District 7 of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. It is also the home to several small to medium sized national corporations such as North Wind, Inc., Melaleuca, Inc and Press-A-Print
Press-A-Print
Press-A-Print International LLC is an American business that sells a business opportunity in the specialty printing industry. With over 3,500 Owner/Operators, Press-A-Print is the largest group of independent specialty printers/distributors....
.
The median home price in Idaho Falls was $224,800 in January 2007.
Idaho Falls, Idaho / U.S. avg:
- Area population 122,995 / 647,500
- Median home price $224,800 / $235,000
- Cost-of-living index 99.8 / 100.0
- Unemployment rate 2.7% / 4.6%
- Job growth—5 years 18.84% / 4.90%
- Job growth—1 year 2.74% / 1.66%
- Median household income $47,719 / $46,326
Culture
Idaho Falls has established itself as a regional cultural destination. The Willard Art Center, The Colonial Theatre and Civic Auditorium are home to year-round, diverse musical concerts, plays, and events. The greenbelt along the Snake River hosts many community events, such as the Melaleuca Freedom Celebration (on the Fourth of July), the Roaring Youth Jam, and the Farmers' Market, among others.The Museum of Idaho is a regional attraction which showcases local artifacts and history. It also brings in major traveling exhibits such as dinosaur bones, Gutenberg Bibles, Titanic remnants, and "Bodies: the Exhibition." Idaho Falls is the first city of its size to house the popular attraction.
Downtown Idaho Falls once struggled as the city expanded eastward, but it has been revitalized in recent years due to the efforts of local business owners, the City of Idaho Falls, and other organizations such as the Downtown Development Corporation and the Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce. Today, it is home to a handful of locally owned shops, stores, restaurants, galleries, theaters, and future revitalization efforts.
The city attracts many tourists visiting nearby Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park is a United States National Park located in northwestern Wyoming, U.S. The Park consists of approximately and includes the major peaks of the long Teton Range as well as most of the northern sections of the valley known as Jackson Hole. Only south of Yellowstone...
s, Jackson Hole
Jackson Hole
Jackson Hole, originally called Jackson's Hole, is a valley located in the U.S. state of Wyoming, near the western border with Idaho. The name "hole" derives from language used by early trappers or mountain men, who primarily entered the valley from the north and east and had to descend along...
, and the world-class fishing on the Snake River
Snake River
The Snake is a major river of the greater Pacific Northwest in the United States. At long, it is the largest tributary of the Columbia River, the largest North American river that empties into the Pacific Ocean...
. Due to its proximity to so many outdoor destinations, Idaho Falls was recently named to National Geographic's list of "100 Best Adventure Towns".
Greenbelt
Idaho Falls has an extensive greenbelt, or riverbelt, along miles of the Snake River that flows through the center of the city. It is maintained by the City of Idaho Falls, and often receives donations and grants which allow for occasional expansion.The Idaho Falls Redevelopment Agency (IFRA) is pursuing plans to expand the greenbelt near the interchange of Memorial Drive and Broadway, and going north to "E" Street. This will extend the activity area of the greenbelt, and create a closer proximity for the public to access local Historic Downtown merchants.
Neighborhoods
Notable Idaho Falls neighborhoods include:- Historic Downtown - Downtown lies along the east side of the river between Memorial Drive (on the greenbelt) and Yellowstone Avenue. More eateries, wineries, shops, and art centers are popping up downtown each year. Many community events occur in and around downtown, particularly concerts, art shows, the renowned Fourth of July fireworks celebration, and a farmers' market on Saturday mornings.
- The Numbered Streets - The numbered streets area was the first planned neighborhood in Idaho Falls. The tree-lined streets run west and east between South Boulevard and Holmes Avenue. Traffic on the odd-numbered streets travels east, and west on the even-numbered streets. This area has recently become a desirable location because of the re-development of nearby Historic Downtown. Kate Curley Park is located in the neighborhood, as is the Wesley W. Deist Aquatic Center, and the Eleventh Street Historic District.
- West Side - Across the Snake River to the west, this area has more of a small-town feel, as it lacks the congestion and activity of the east side. The north portion of the west side was established in the 1960s with homes, and saw more overall growth up until the '80s. Today, the west side is expected to boom in population and commercial activity due to major developments such as Taylor Crossing and Snake River Landing, as well as the Areva uranium enrichment facility planned west of the city. The west side also houses Idaho Falls Regional Airport as well as the entirety of I-15's brief jaunt through the city.
Geography and climate
The elevation of Idaho Falls is 4700 feet (1,432.6 m).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 17.4 square miles (45.1 km²), of which, 17.1 square miles (44.3 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (1.67%) is water.
Idaho Falls experiences a continental climate
Humid continental climate
A humid continental climate is a climatic region typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot summers and cold winters....
(Köppen
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
Dfb). with cold winters and warm, dry summers.
Demographics
The 2000 censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
reported there were 50,730 people, 18,793 households, and 13,173 families residing in the city, though MSN real estate reports an area population of 110,220. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,972.2 people per square mile (1,147.4/km²). There were 19,771 housing units at an average density of 1,158.4 per square mile (447.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.09% White, 0.62% African American, 0.76% Native American, 1.05% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 3.81% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.18% of the population.
There were 18,793 households out of which 37.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.5% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.9% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.3% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 97.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $40,512, and the median income for a family was $47,431. Males had a median income of $39,082 versus $23,001 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $18,857. About 7.8% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.7% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.
The top five ethnic groups in Idaho Falls are:
- English - 22%
- German - 16%
- Irish - 7%
- Mexican - 5%
- Swedish - 4%
In a 2008 estimate, it was found that Idaho Falls had a violent crime rate of 0.9 times the national average and a property crime rate of 0.97 times the national average.
Higher education
Despite originally being selected as the site for both the University of IdahoUniversity of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
and Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho), according to a USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
article, Idaho Falls is now the largest city in the United States without a traditional college.
Idaho Falls is home to a few higher ed options, including Eastern Idaho Technical College
Eastern Idaho Technical College
Eastern Idaho Technical College is a regional technical college in Idaho Falls, Idaho, United States. It was founded in 1969.The college's divisions include: Business, Office, and Technology; Health Professions; Trades and Industry; and General Education...
, established in 1969 as a vocational-technical college. Stevens-Henager College
Stevens-Henager College
Stevens–Henager College, headquartered in Ogden, Utah, United States, North America, is a private, for-profit, coeducational college, owned by CollegeAmerica. Established in 1891, the college has five campuses in Idaho and Utah. It offers online and on-campus programs in varied educational spectra...
and University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix
The University of Phoenix is a for-profit institution of higher learning. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Apollo Group Inc. which is publicly traded , an S&P 500 corporation based in Phoenix, Arizona...
have also opened local resource centers in order to aid students in online degree programs.
A unique satellite campus called University Place features dual enrollment
Dual enrollment
In education, dual enrollment involved students being enrolled in two separate, academically related institutions. It may also refer to any individual who is participating in two related programs, but such a general form of usage is uncommon....
for students in both Pocatello-based Idaho State University
Idaho State University
Idaho State University is a public university located in Pocatello, Idaho. It has outreach programs in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Falls, Boise, and Twin Falls....
and Moscow-based University of Idaho
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
. Students generally earn core classes at University Place and then transfer to ISU's or UI's main campus to finish their degrees. However, a few dozen degree programs, both undergraduate and graduate, are fully offered at University Place. The campus also boasts high-tech facilities such as the Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES). CAES is run by a partnership of Idaho's three research universities (UI, ISU, Boise State) and the Idaho National Laboratory
Idaho National Laboratory
Idaho National Laboratory is an complex located in the high desert of eastern Idaho, between the town of Arco to the west and the cities of Idaho Falls and Blackfoot to the east. It lies within Butte, Bingham, Bonneville and Jefferson counties...
.
Despite the current lack of a traditional college, a relatively high percentage of residents hold advanced degrees and perform significant research, largely thanks to the presence of the INL
Idaho National Laboratory
Idaho National Laboratory is an complex located in the high desert of eastern Idaho, between the town of Arco to the west and the cities of Idaho Falls and Blackfoot to the east. It lies within Butte, Bingham, Bonneville and Jefferson counties...
.
K-12 Education
Idaho Falls is divided into two public school districts: Idaho Falls School District 91 and Bonneville Joint School District 93. District 91, the primary school district, covers the western half of Bonneville County and most of urban Idaho Falls. District 93 covers most of the eastern half of Bonneville County, including Ammon and Iona, and buses high school students from distant areas including Swan Valley and Irwin.The two school districts have a total of four major public high schools and two alternative high schools. The District 91 high schools are Idaho Falls High School
Idaho Falls High School
Idaho Falls High School , commonly referred to as I.F., is a high school located in central Idaho Falls, Idaho. The school's current building opened in 1952, though the school itself has been in operation for well over a century. IFHS is one of two high schools in Idaho School District 91, along...
, Skyline High School
Skyline High School (Idaho)
Skyline High School is a senior high school in Idaho Falls, Idaho. The school is on the west side of Idaho Falls and was built in 1968.-History:Skyline was the second high school built in Idaho Falls...
, and Emerson High School, the alternative high school. The District 93 high schools are Hillcrest High School
Hillcrest High School (Idaho)
Hillcrest High School is a high school in Ammon, Idaho. Hillcrest has one principal, Doug McLaren, and two assistant principals, Heath Jackson and Elisa Saffle. It is a public school servicing grades 9-12. The school currently has an enrollment of 1,320 students with 95 faculty members...
, Bonneville High School
Bonneville High School (Idaho)
Bonneville High School is a high school in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Average annual enrollment is 1,000 students.-References:* http://idaho.schooltree.org/public/Bonneville-High-024071.html* http://www3.d93.k12.id.us/schools/bhs/...
, and Lincoln High School, the alternative high school.
Each fall, the varsity football teams from Idaho Falls and Skyline high schools compete in the Emotion Bowl at Idaho Falls' Ravsten Stadium, which is shared by the two schools The winning team and its fans traditionally paint the goalposts of the stadium in their school colors (orange for I.F. and blue for Skyline) after each Emotion Bowl.
The junior high schools in District 91 are Clair E. Gale Junior High School, Taylorview Junior High School
Taylorview Junior High School
Taylorview Junior High School is a school in Idaho Falls, Idaho which caters to students between the 7th and 9th grades. The school, named for its view of Taylor Mountain, has 868 students and a teacher-student ratio of 1:18...
, and Eagle Rock Junior High School. In District 93, the middle schools are Sandcreek Middle School, Rocky Mountain Middle School
Rocky Mountain Middle School
Rocky Mountain Middle School is an average sized school in the town of Idaho Falls, Idaho. It is in Bonneville Joint School District No. 93 and has grades 7 through 8. It has many different classes and exploratory classes. The building was originally Bonneville High School from 1957 until 1977...
, and Telford Academy Alternative Middle School.
The Idaho Falls area also offers four public charter school options: Taylor's Crossing Public Charter School, White Pine Charter School, Monticello Montessori Public Charter School, and Odessey High Charter School. There are currently 25 public elementary schools, including A. H. Bush, District 91's Magnet School for Math and Science. Additionally, numerous private schools provide educational opportunities at varying grade levels.
Notable people
- Chandler BrossardChandler BrossardChandler Brossard was an American novelist, writer, editor, and teacher.He was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and grew up in Washington, D.C. Brossard was chiefly self-educated, having left school at age eleven...
- beat novelist, author of Who Walk in Darkness - Billy ButlerBilly Butler (baseball)Billy Ray Butler is a Major League Baseball Designated Hitter for the Kansas City Royals. He has also played first base, left field and right field...
- first baseman, Kansas City RoyalsKansas City RoyalsThe Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
. In 2009, became one of only seven men under 23 ever to hit 50 doubles in one MLB season. - Gregory C. CarrGregory C. CarrGregory C. Carr is an American entrepreneur and philanthropist. His most notable philanthropic venture is the restoration of Mozambique's famous Gorongosa National Park, which has been ravaged by civil war and environmental destruction...
- telecommunications pioneer and philanthropist. Currently notable as head of Gorongosa National ParkGorongosa National ParkGorongosa National Park is at the southern end of the Great African Rift Valley in the heart of central Mozambique. The 3,770 square kilometer park includes the valley floor and parts of surrounding plateaus...
restoration in Mozambique. - Barzilla W. ClarkBarzilla W. ClarkBarzilla Worth Clark was a politician from Idaho. He served as the 16th Governor of Idaho from 1937 to 1939, and was a member of the Idaho Democratic Party....
, Governor of Idaho 1937-1939. Served as Mayor of Idaho Falls, 1913–15, 1926-36. - Mike CrapoMike CrapoMichael Dean "Mike" Crapo is the senior United States Senator from the state of Idaho and a member of the Republican Party.Born in the city of Idaho Falls, Crapo is a graduate of Brigham Young University and Harvard Law School. He practiced law in his home city throughout the 1980s, while...
- U.S. Senator (R-ID), serving since 1998 - Dame DarcyDame DarcyDame Darcy is an alternative cartoonist. Her comic book, Meatcake, has been published by Fantagraphics since 1993. Darcy has also released several graphic novels, Frightful Fairytales, Dame Darcy's Meatcake Compilation, The Illustrated Jane Eyre, Dollerium , Comic Book Tattoo, and Gasoline .-...
- avant-garde cartoonist and author of MeatcakeMeatcake (comics)Meatcake is a comic book series written by Dame Darcy. Originally published by Caliber Press, Meatcake has been published by Fantagraphics in the United States since 1993 and is still in publication, despite varied and prolonged periods of time between the releases of issues.... - Jared GoldJared GoldJared Gold is a fashion designer of avant-garde American Gothic fashion.-Biography:Gold grew up in Idaho Falls and was already a child piano prodigy long before he discovered fashion design. In 1990 he attended the Piano Conservatory of Hawaii for a year and soon after took up the harpsichord....
- fashion designer, featured on America's Next Top ModelAmerica's Next Top ModelAmerica's Next Top Model is a reality television show in which a number of women compete for the title of America's Next Top Model and a chance to start their career in the modeling industry.... - Gregg Hale - Guitar player for Multi-platinum selling British band SpiritualizedSpiritualizedSpiritualized are an English space rock band formed in 1990 in Rugby, Warwickshire by Jason Pierce after the demise of his previous outfit, space-rockers Spacemen 3...
. - Mary KornmanMary KornmanMary Kornman was an American child actress who was the leading female star of the Our Gang series during the Pathé silent era.-Our Gang:...
- Actress, best known for her leading role in the popular Our GangOur GangOur Gang, also known as The Little Rascals or Hal Roach's Rascals, was a series of American comedy short films about a group of poor neighborhood children and the adventures they had together. Created by comedy producer Hal Roach, the series is noted for showing children behaving in a relatively...
comedies. - Yo MurphyYo MurphyLlewellyn "Yo" Murphy is a former Gridiron football player of multiple professional leagues. He is currently the head coach of the Tampa Breeze of the Lingerie Football League. He was originally signed by the BC Lions as an undrafted free agent in 1993...
- former CFLCanadian Football LeagueThe Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
/NFLNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
wide receiver. Played at Idaho Falls High SchoolIdaho Falls High SchoolIdaho Falls High School , commonly referred to as I.F., is a high school located in central Idaho Falls, Idaho. The school's current building opened in 1952, though the school itself has been in operation for well over a century. IFHS is one of two high schools in Idaho School District 91, along...
. - Wilson RawlsWilson RawlsWilson Rawls, born Woodrow Wilson Rawls, was an American writer best known for his books Where the Red Fern Grows and Summer of the Monkeys.- Childhood :...
- novelist, author of popular children's books Where the Red Fern GrowsWhere the Red Fern GrowsWhere the Red Fern Grows is a children's novel written by Wilson Rawls about a boy who buys and trains two Redbone Coonhound hunting dogs. This book is a popular choice for early middle school reading classes, with a reading level appropriate to grades 4 and up.-Plot summary:Before leaving work one...
and Summer of the MonkeysSummer of the MonkeysSummer of the Monkeys is a 1976 children's novel written by Wilson Rawls. The book was published by Doubleday and was the winner of the William Allen White Book Award and the California Young Reader Medal.... - Brandi SherwoodBrandi SherwoodBrandi Sherwood is an American model and pageant winner. She was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho. She was Miss USA 1997 and Miss Teen USA 1989 and was a frequent rotating Barker's Beauty model on the US daytime television game show The Price Is Right from 2002-2009.-Pageant history:In 1997, she won...
- model and actor who became Miss Teen USAMiss Teen USAMiss Teen USA is a beauty pageant run by the Miss Universe Organization for girls aged 14–19. The reigning titleholder is Danielle Doty of Texas....
, Miss Idaho USAMiss Idaho USAThe Miss Idaho USA pageant is a competition that selects the representative for the state of Idaho in the Miss USA pageant.Idaho is one of the least successful states in the history of the competition, with only four placements in fifty-seven years...
, and Miss USAMiss USAThe Miss USA beauty contest has been held annually since 1952 to select the United States entrant in the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization operates both pageants, as well as Miss Teen USA... - John L. SmithJohn L. SmithJohn L. Smith is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the special teams coach at the University of Arkansas, under head coach Bobby Petrino...
- renowned former NCAA head football coach at Michigan State, LouisvilleUniversity of LouisvilleThe University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
, Utah State, and IdahoUniversity of IdahoThe University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state... - Daxter Lussier - professional skateboarder best known for his feature parts in "The Storm" and "Black Cat" skate movies. First skateboarder to grind 15+ stairs.
- Oscar Ramiro Ortega-HernandezOscar Ramiro Ortega-HernandezOscar Ramiro Ortega-Hernandez is an American charged in the attempted assassination of President of the United States Barack Obama on November 11, 2011...
- allegedly a would-be presidential assassin
Sister city
Idaho Falls has a sister cityTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
, as designated by Sister Cities International
Sister Cities International
Sister Cities International is a nonprofit citizen diplomacy network that creates and strengthens partnerships between United States and international communities. More than 2,000 cities, states and counties are partnered in 136 countries around the world...
: Tokai, Ibaraki
Tokai, Ibaraki
is a village located in Naka District, Ibaraki, Japan. It is approximately 120 km north of Tokyo, Japan on the Pacific coast.As of 1 January 2005, the village has an estimated population of 35,467 and a population density of 946.29 persons per km²...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...