Sugar City, Idaho
Encyclopedia
Sugar City is a city in Madison County
, Idaho
, United States
. The population was 1,242 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Rexburg, Idaho
Micropolitan Statistical Area
.
for the Fremont County Sugar Company, which was part of the Utah-Idaho Sugar Company
, supporting a sugar beet
processing factory built in 1903-1904. Since it was created to support the factory, construction workers and early factory families were housed in tents, leading to the nickname "Rag Town". By 1904, the town consisted of 35 houses, two stores, a hotel, an opera house, several boarding houses, two lumber yards, a meat market, and a schoolhouse. The first Mormon
ward was the Sugar City Ward, with Bishop
Mark Austin. One of his counselors was James Malone, a construction engineer for E. H. Dyer
, who was not a Mormon.
In early years the factory had a labor shortage, leading to a local community of Nikkei
—Japan
ese migrants and their descendants.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,242 people, 326 households, and 292 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,582.5 people per square mile (614.8/km²). There were 336 housing units at an average density of 428.1 per square mile (166.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.83% White, 0.16% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.81% Asian, 4.51% from other races
, and 1.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.29% of the population.
There were 326 households out of which 57.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 80.7% were married couples
living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 10.4% were non-families. 8.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.81 and the average family size was 4.08.
In the city the population was spread out with 40.6% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 22.3% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 6.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females there were 101.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,500, and the median income for a family was $46,333. Males had a median income of $30,139 versus $22,917 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $12,737. About 6.1% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.5% of those under age 18 and 2.3% of those age 65 or over.
is a small high school
located in the town of Sugar City and is part of the Sugar-Salem School District. The district takes in students from the surrounding area, from the community referred to locally as Plano on the west to beyond the town of Newdale
on the east. On the north it borders Fremont County
, following the Henry's fork of the Snake River
, and on the south it borders with Madison School District and the city of Rexburg
.
Madison County, Idaho
Madison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2000 Census the county had a population of 27,467 . The county seat and largest city is Rexburg. Madison County is part of the Rexburg, ID, Micropolitan Statistical Area.- History :The area was originally settled by members...
, 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 1,242 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Rexburg, Idaho
Rexburg, Idaho
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 17,257 people, 4,274 households, and 2,393 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,534.4 people per square mile . There were 4,533 housing units at an average density of 928.4 per square mile...
Micropolitan Statistical Area
Rexburg micropolitan area
The Rexburg Micropolitan 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 Rexburg....
.
History
Sugar City was a company townCompany town
A company town is a town or city in which much or all real estate, buildings , utilities, hospitals, small businesses such as grocery stores and gas stations, and other necessities or luxuries of life within its borders are owned by a single company...
for the Fremont County Sugar Company, which was part of the Utah-Idaho Sugar Company
Utah-Idaho Sugar Company
The Utah-Idaho Sugar Company was a large sugar beet processing company owned and controlled by the LDS Church and its leaders, based in Utah. It was notable for providing a valuable cash crop to Utah and surrounding states, and also for being part of the Sugar Trust, leading to antitrust...
, supporting a sugar beet
Sugar beet
Sugar beet, a cultivated plant of Beta vulgaris, is a plant whose tuber contains a high concentration of sucrose. It is grown commercially for sugar production. Sugar beets and other B...
processing factory built in 1903-1904. Since it was created to support the factory, construction workers and early factory families were housed in tents, leading to the nickname "Rag Town". By 1904, the town consisted of 35 houses, two stores, a hotel, an opera house, several boarding houses, two lumber yards, a meat market, and a schoolhouse. The first Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
ward was the Sugar City Ward, with Bishop
Bishop (Mormonism)
Bishop is the highest priesthood office of the Aaronic priesthood in the Latter Day Saint movement. A bishop is usually the leader of a local congregation of church members. The Latter Day Saint concept of the office differs significantly from the role of bishops in other Christian denominations,...
Mark Austin. One of his counselors was James Malone, a construction engineer for E. H. Dyer
E. H. Dyer
Ebenezer Herrick Dyer was an American businessman who established the first successful commercial beet sugar mill in the U.S., and as such was called the "father of the American beet sugar industry"....
, who was not a Mormon.
In early years the factory had a labor shortage, leading to a local community of Nikkei
Japanese diaspora
The Japanese diaspora, and its individual members known as , are Japanese emigrants from Japan and their descendants that reside in a foreign country...
—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...
ese migrants and their descendants.
Geography
Sugar City is located at 43°52′20"N 111°44′50"W (43.872317, -111.747331).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 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all of it land.
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 1,242 people, 326 households, and 292 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 1,582.5 people per square mile (614.8/km²). There were 336 housing units at an average density of 428.1 per square mile (166.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.83% White, 0.16% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.81% Asian, 4.51% 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 1.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.29% of the population.
There were 326 households out of which 57.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 80.7% 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, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 10.4% were non-families. 8.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.81 and the average family size was 4.08.
In the city the population was spread out with 40.6% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 22.3% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 6.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females there were 101.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,500, and the median income for a family was $46,333. Males had a median income of $30,139 versus $22,917 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 $12,737. About 6.1% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.5% of those under age 18 and 2.3% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Sugar-Salem High SchoolSugar-Salem High School
Sugar-Salem High School is a public high school located in Sugar City, Idaho. and is part of the Sugar-Salem School District. The district takes in students from the surrounding area, from the community referred to locally as Plano, Idaho on the west to beyond the town of Newdale, Idaho on the east...
is a small high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
located in the town of Sugar City and is part of the Sugar-Salem School District. The district takes in students from the surrounding area, from the community referred to locally as Plano on the west to beyond the town of Newdale
Newdale, Idaho
Newdale is a city in Fremont County, Idaho, United States. The population was 358 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Rexburg, Idaho Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Newdale is located at , one mile below the Teton Dam....
on the east. On the north it borders Fremont County
Fremont County, Idaho
Fremont County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. The county was established in 1893, and was named for the explorer John C. Frémont. As of the 2000 census the county had a population of 11,819 . The county seat and largest city is St. Anthony...
, following the Henry's fork of 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...
, and on the south it borders with Madison School District and the city of Rexburg
Rexburg, Idaho
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 17,257 people, 4,274 households, and 2,393 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,534.4 people per square mile . There were 4,533 housing units at an average density of 928.4 per square mile...
.
Notable natives
- Harold G. HillamHarold G. HillamHarold Gordon Hillam has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1990. Hillam was the fifteenth general president of the LDS Church's Sunday School organization from 1995 to 2000 and was the president of the Boise Idaho Temple from 2005 to 2008.Hillam was...
- Emeritus General AuthorityGeneral authorityIn The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a general authority is a member of certain leadership organizations who are given administrative and ecclesiastical authority over the church...
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, former member of the Presidency of the Seventy - Laurel Thatcher UlrichLaurel Thatcher UlrichLaurel Thatcher Ulrich , is a historian of early America and the history of women and a university professor at Harvard University...
, Pulitzer-prize winning author of A Midwife's Tale