Shoshone, Idaho
Encyclopedia
Shoshone is the county seat
and largest city of Lincoln County
, Idaho
, United States
. The population was 1,398 at the 2000 census. In contrast to the Shoshone
Native American
tribe for which it is named, the city's name is correctly pronounced "Show-shown," with a silent 'e'.
region. The much larger community of Twin Falls
26 miles (41.8 km) to the south never developed a strong railroad presence due to the logistical issues presented by its location south of the Snake River Canyon
. For many years Shoshone was the only Amtrak
stop in south central Idaho.
A few miles north of Shoshone are the Shoshone Ice Caves, hollow subterranean lava tubes that stay cool enough for the ice inside them to remain frozen throughout the summer. In the days before refrigeration, this feature, coupled with the railroad, made Shoshone popular with travelers as "the only place for hundreds of miles where one could get a cold beer."
Shoshone is home to a Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) facility with a helipad.
The town also has a small medical clinic, and recently built a new K-12 school building.
In recent years Shoshone has become a bedroom community for people working in neighboring Blaine County
due to an often dramatic difference in cost of living between the two locales. The resort cities of Ketchum
and Sun Valley
are 55 miles (88.5 km) north on Highway 75
. This commuting phenomenon has contributed greatly to recent growth in the Shoshone area. Shoshone also has a few historical buildings.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1 square miles (2.6 km²), all land,
though the Little Wood River
runs through the town.
Much of the land around Shoshone is lava
rock, which can make excavation for building problematic,
and limits the amount of useful farmland.
The four highways converge in Shoshone, the southern terminus of SH-75. Traffic between the Magic Valley
and Sun Valley passes through Shoshone, maintaining its early heritage as a brief rest stop for travelers.
of 2000, there were 1,398 people, 547 households, and 355 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,432.0 people per square mile (550.8/km²). There were 615 housing units at an average density of 629.9 per square mile (242.3/km²). Apartments are scarce, and most of the neighborhoods are decades old. There has been a small amount of new construction and Shoshone has experienced slow growth since the year 2000, due in part to commuters who work in Sun Valley
but choose to live in Shoshone because of the comparatively lower cost of living.
The racial makeup of the city was 88.91% White, 0.07% African American, 1.43% Native American, 0.79% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 7.65% from other races
, and 1.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.30% of the population.
There were 547 households out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples
living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,036, and the median income for a family was $35,787. Males had a median income of $29,479 versus $20,417 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,756. About 11.1% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.1% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.
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....
and largest city of Lincoln County
Lincoln County, Idaho
Lincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2000 census the county had a population of 4,044 The county seat and largest city is Shoshone....
, 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...
. The population was 1,398 at the 2000 census. In contrast to the 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....
Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
tribe for which it is named, the city's name is correctly pronounced "Show-shown," with a silent 'e'.
History
Shoshone has long been considered the main railroad station in Idaho's Magic ValleyMagic Valley
The Magic Valley is a region in south-central Idaho consisting of Blaine, Camas, Cassia, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka and Twin Falls Counties. It is particularly associated with the agricultural region in the Snake River Plain located in the area...
region. The much larger community of Twin Falls
Twin Falls, Idaho
Twin Falls is the county seat and largest city of Twin Falls County, Idaho, United States. The population was 44,125 at the 2010 censusTwin Falls is the largest city of Idaho's Magic Valley region...
26 miles (41.8 km) to the south never developed a strong railroad presence due to the logistical issues presented by its location south of the Snake River Canyon
Snake River Canyon (Idaho)
Snake River Canyon is a large canyon formed by the Snake River in the Magic Valley region of southern Idaho. It is well known as the site of an unsuccessful 1974 attempt by Evel Knievel to jump it in the Skycycle X-2....
. For many years Shoshone was the only Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
stop in south central Idaho.
A few miles north of Shoshone are the Shoshone Ice Caves, hollow subterranean lava tubes that stay cool enough for the ice inside them to remain frozen throughout the summer. In the days before refrigeration, this feature, coupled with the railroad, made Shoshone popular with travelers as "the only place for hundreds of miles where one could get a cold beer."
Economy
Today, Shoshone still has one bar, but also boasts a cafe, a movie theater, and a grocery store—unusual for such a small town. While limited retail jobs exist, Shoshone is primarily a farming and dairy community.Shoshone is home to a Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior which administers America's public lands, totaling approximately , or one-eighth of the landmass of the country. The BLM also manages of subsurface mineral estate underlying federal, state and private...
(BLM) facility with a helipad.
The town also has a small medical clinic, and recently built a new K-12 school building.
In recent years Shoshone has become a bedroom community for people working in neighboring Blaine County
Blaine County, Idaho
Blaine County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2010 Census the county had a population of 21,376. The county seat and largest city is Hailey. The county is home to the Sun Valley ski resort....
due to an often dramatic difference in cost of living between the two locales. The resort cities of Ketchum
Ketchum, Idaho
Ketchum is a city in Blaine County, Idaho, United States, in the central part of the state. The population was 3,003 at the 2000 census. It is in the Wood River Valley, adjacent to Sun Valley; the two communities share many resources and both sit in the same valley beneath Bald Mountain, with its...
and Sun Valley
Sun Valley, Idaho
Sun Valley is a resort city in Blaine County in the central part of the U.S. state of Idaho, adjacent to the city of Ketchum, lying within the greater Wood River valley. Tourists from around the world enjoy its skiing, hiking, ice skating, trail riding, tennis, and cycling. The population was 1,427...
are 55 miles (88.5 km) north on Highway 75
Idaho State Highway 75
State Highway 75 is a two-lane highway that travels through the Sawtooth Range of central Idaho from Shoshone to Challis. The road is designated as one of Idaho's scenic byways and provides access to Sawtooth National Recreation Area...
. This commuting phenomenon has contributed greatly to recent growth in the Shoshone area. Shoshone also has a few historical buildings.
Culture
Shoshone hosts the Mannie Shaw's Old Time Fiddler's Jamboree in the city park each year on the second Sunday in July.Geography
Shoshone is located at 42°56′12"N 114°24′28"W (42.936742, -114.407816).According to the U.S. 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 1 square miles (2.6 km²), all land,
though the Little Wood River
Little Wood River
Little Wood River is a river in south-central Idaho in the United States. It is a tributary of the Malad River, which in turn is tributary to the Snake River and Columbia River....
runs through the town.
Much of the land around Shoshone is lava
Lava
Lava refers both to molten rock expelled by a volcano during an eruption and the resulting rock after solidification and cooling. This molten rock is formed in the interior of some planets, including Earth, and some of their satellites. When first erupted from a volcanic vent, lava is a liquid at...
rock, which can make excavation for building problematic,
and limits the amount of useful farmland.
Highways
- US 26
- US 93U.S. Route 93 in IdahoU.S. Route 93 is a north–south U.S. Highway in the U.S. state of Idaho.-Route description:US 93 enters Idaho from a point immediately north of the border casino town of Jackpot, Nevada....
- SH-24Idaho State Highway 24Idaho State Highway 24 is a long state highway in Idaho that runs east west from Shoshone, Idaho on the far west to Minidoka and Acequia on the far east. It passes Dietrich, Owinza, and Kimima and runs approximately north of Paul and Burley and 15 north of Rupert. U.S. Highway 93 borders the...
- SH-75Idaho State Highway 75State Highway 75 is a two-lane highway that travels through the Sawtooth Range of central Idaho from Shoshone to Challis. The road is designated as one of Idaho's scenic byways and provides access to Sawtooth National Recreation Area...
- Sawtooth Scenic Byway
The four highways converge in Shoshone, the southern terminus of SH-75. Traffic between the Magic Valley
Magic Valley
The Magic Valley is a region in south-central Idaho consisting of Blaine, Camas, Cassia, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka and Twin Falls Counties. It is particularly associated with the agricultural region in the Snake River Plain located in the area...
and Sun Valley passes through Shoshone, maintaining its early heritage as a brief rest stop for travelers.
Demographics
As of the 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...
of 2000, there were 1,398 people, 547 households, and 355 families residing in the city. 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 1,432.0 people per square mile (550.8/km²). There were 615 housing units at an average density of 629.9 per square mile (242.3/km²). Apartments are scarce, and most of the neighborhoods are decades old. There has been a small amount of new construction and Shoshone has experienced slow growth since the year 2000, due in part to commuters who work in Sun Valley
Sun Valley, Idaho
Sun Valley is a resort city in Blaine County in the central part of the U.S. state of Idaho, adjacent to the city of Ketchum, lying within the greater Wood River valley. Tourists from around the world enjoy its skiing, hiking, ice skating, trail riding, tennis, and cycling. The population was 1,427...
but choose to live in Shoshone because of the comparatively lower cost of living.
The racial makeup of the city was 88.91% White, 0.07% African American, 1.43% Native American, 0.79% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 7.65% 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 1.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.30% of the population.
There were 547 households out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% 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, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,036, and the median income for a family was $35,787. Males had a median income of $29,479 versus $20,417 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 $14,756. About 11.1% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.1% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.
External links
- Shoshone City.com - city information
- Visit Idaho.org - Shoshone Indian Ice Caves
- Historical Information