Twin Falls, Idaho
Encyclopedia
- For the motion picture, see Twin Falls Idaho (film)Twin Falls Idaho (film)Twin Falls Idaho is a 1999 independent film directed by Michael Polish, who co-wrote and co-stars in the film with his identical twin brother, Mark Polish.-Plot:...
Twin Falls is the county seat
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 Twin Falls County
Twin Falls County, Idaho
Twin Falls County is a county in the south central part of the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2000 Census, the county had a population of 64,284 . The county seat and largest city is Twin 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...
. The population was 44,125 at the 2010 census
United States Census, 2010
The Twenty-third United States Census, known as Census 2010 or the 2010 Census, is the current national census of the United States. National Census Day was April 1, 2010 and is the reference date used in enumerating individuals...
Twin Falls is the largest city of Idaho's 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...
region. As the largest city in a 100-mile (166-kilometer) radius, Twin Falls serves as a regional commercial center for both south-central Idaho and northeastern Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
.
Twin Falls is the principal city of the Twin Falls, ID Micropolitan Statistical Area
Twin Falls micropolitan area
The Twin Falls Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in the Magic Valley region of Idaho, anchored by the city of Twin Falls....
, which officially includes Jerome
Jerome County, Idaho
Jerome County is a county in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2000 Census the county had a population of 18,342 . The county seat and largest city is Jerome....
and Twin Falls Counties. The resort community of Jackpot
Jackpot, Nevada
Jackpot is an unincorporated community in Elko County, Nevada, United States. The Zip Code Tabulation Area for its ZIP code, 89825, had a population of 1,189 as of the 2010 census. Located less than 1 mile from the Idaho border on U.S...
, Nevada, in Elko County
Elko County, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 45,291 people, 15,638 households, and 11,493 families residing in the county. The population density was 3/sq mi . There were 18,456 housing units at an average density of 1/sq mi...
is unofficially considered part of the greater Twin Falls area.
History
Excavations at Wilson Butte Cave near Twin Falls in 1959 revealed evidence of human activity, including arrowheads, that rank among the oldest dated artifacts in North AmericaNorth America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. Later 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...
tribes predominant in the area included the Northern 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....
and Bannock
Bannock (tribe)
The Bannock tribe of the Northern Paiute are an indigenous people of the Great Basin. Their traditional lands include southeastern Oregon, southeastern Idaho, western Wyoming, and southwestern Montana...
.
The first people of European ancestry to visit the Twin Falls area are believed to be members of a group led by Wilson Price Hunt, which attempted to blaze an all-water trail westward from St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, to Astoria, Oregon
Astoria, Oregon
Astoria is the county seat of Clatsop County, Oregon, United States. Situated near the mouth of the Columbia River, the city was named after the American investor John Jacob Astor. His American Fur Company founded Fort Astoria at the site in 1811...
, in 1811 and 1812. Hunt's expedition met with disaster when much of his expedition was destroyed and one man was killed in rapids 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...
known as Caldron Linn near present-day Murtaugh
Murtaugh, Idaho
Murtaugh is a city in Twin Falls County, Idaho, United States. The population was 139 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Twin Falls, Idaho Micropolitan Statistical Area...
. Hunt and the surviving members of his expedition completed the journey to Astoria by land.
In 1812 and 1813, Robert Stuart
Robert Stuart (explorer)
Robert Stuart was the son of Charles Stuart, a partner of John Jacob Astor who as one of the North West Company men, or Nor'westers, enlisted by Astor to help him found his intended fur empire...
successfully led an overland expedition eastward from Astoria to St. Louis which passed through the Twin Falls area. Stuart's route formed the basis of what became the Oregon Trail
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is a historic east-west wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon and locations in between.After 1840 steam-powered riverboats and steamboats traversing up and down the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers sped settlement and development in the flat...
. Some 150 years later, Robert Stuart Junior High School in Twin Falls was named in his honor.
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....
, but the lack of infrastructure and the canyon's geography made irrigating the dry surrounding area improbable at best.
To address this issue, in 1900 the Twin Falls Land and Water Company was formed largely to build an irrigation canal system for the area. Three years later I. B. Perrine
I. B. Perrine
Ira Burton Perrine was an Idaho farmer, rancher and businessman. Perrine is generally credited as the founder of Twin Falls and other towns in the Magic Valley region....
, who had been a successful farmer and rancher in the Snake River Canyon, obtained private financing under the provisions of the Carey Act of 1894
Carey act
The Carey Act of 1894 allowed private companies in the U.S. to erect irrigation systems in the western semi-arid states, and profit from the sales of water. The Carey Act was enacted into law by Congress by the Act of August 18, 1894 , as amended...
to build Milner Dam
Milner Dam
Milner Dam is a rockfill dam near Burley in south central Idaho. It impounds the Snake River in a reservoir named Milner Lake. The dam spans the river across two islands, with three embankments....
on the Snake River near Caldron Linn. Completed in 1905, Milner Dam and its accompanying canals made commercial irrigation outside the Snake River Canyon practical for the first time. As a result Perrine is generally credited as the founder of Twin Falls.
Twin Falls city was founded in 1904 as a planned community
Planned community
A planned community, or planned city, is any community that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion. Land use conflicts are less frequent in planned communities since...
, designed by celebrated Franco-American architect Emmanuel Louis Masqueray
Emmanuel Louis Masqueray
Emmanuel Louis Masqueray was a Franco-American preeminent figure in the history of American architecture, both as a gifted designer of landmark buildings and as an influential teacher of the profession of architecture.-Biography:...
, with proceeds from sales of townsite lots going toward construction of irrigation canals. The city is named for a nearby waterfall on the Snake River of the same name. In 1907 Twin Falls became the seat of the newly-formed Twin Falls County.
The original townsite follows a unique design. It is laid out on northeast-to-southwest and northwest-to-southeast roads. The northwest-to-southeast roads were numbered and called avenues, while the northeast-to-southwest roads were numbered and called streets. Only two central streets, the northwest-to-southeast Main Avenue and the northeast-to-southwest Shoshone Street, were named. It is purported that the reason this was done was to allow sun to come into every room in the home at some point during the day. This system created situations where one side of a street may have an entirely different address than the other, and where the corner of "3rd and 3rd," for example, was in more than one location. In 2003 the numbered northeast-to-southwest streets were renamed to alleviate decades of confusion. Later city roads, such as Blue Lakes Boulevard, Addison Avenue and Washington Street, are laid out in standard north-south and east-west orientations.
After Milner Dam was constructed agricultural production in south-central Idaho increased substantially. Twin Falls became a major regional economic center serving the agriculture industry, a role which it has sustained to the present day. The city became a processing center for several agricultural commodities, notably bean
Bean
Bean is a common name for large plant seeds of several genera of the family Fabaceae used for human food or animal feed....
s and 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...
s. In later years other food processing operations augmented the local economy. By 1960 Twin Falls had become one of Idaho's largest cities even though its origins were still within living memory for many.
Twin Falls became the center of national attention in September 1974 thanks to an attempt by Evel Knievel
Evel Knievel
Evel Knievel , born Robert Craig Knievel, was an American daredevil and entertainer. In his career he attempted over 75 ramp-to-ramp motorcycle jumps between 1965 and 1980, and in 1974, a failed jump across Snake River Canyon in the Skycycle X-2, a steam-powered rocket...
to jump the Snake River Canyon in a specially-modified rocket cycle. Watched by millions on television, the attempt ultimately failed due to high winds and a premature deployment of Knievel's parachute. The foundation of the launch ramp, which lies on private land, can still be seen.
During the last quarter of the 20th century, gradual diversification of the agriculture-based economy allowed the city to continue to grow. Major Twin Falls employers in 2006 included computer maker Dell, Inc., Glanbia
Glanbia
Glanbia plc is an international nutritional solutions and cheese group, headquartered in Ireland. Glanbia is listed on the Irish and London Stock Exchange . The Group has four segments; US Cheese & Global Nutritionals, Dairy Ireland, Joint Ventures & Associates and Other Business...
., and Jayco, a recreational vehicle
Recreational vehicle
Recreational vehicle or RV is, in North America, the usual term for a Motor vehicle or trailer equipped with living space and amenities found in a home.-Features:...
manufacturer. In September 2009 Dell announced it would close its Twin Falls facility by January 2010.
In recent years Twin Falls has become quite multicultural. Thanks in large part to a refugee center operated by the College of Southern Idaho
College of Southern Idaho
College of Southern Idaho is an American public community college. Its main campus is in Twin Falls, Idaho, with outreach programs in Boise, Hailey, Burley and Gooding....
, since 1995 significant numbers of people from Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
and the former Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
have settled in Twin Falls. The city also has a sizeable Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
population.
Government
The City of Twin Falls has a council-managerCouncil-manager government
The council–manager government form is one of two predominant forms of municipal government in the United States; the other common form of local government is the mayor-council government form, which characteristically occurs in large cities...
form of government. The seven-member Twin Falls City Council is directly elected in non-partisan municipal elections to four-year terms. The mayor, who holds little executive power, is periodically selected among current city council members to chair meetings. City council meetings are usually held on Mondays.
The city's day-to-day operations are overseen by a city manager, who is appointed by the city council. The city government through various citizen boards oversees parks and recreation, planning and zoning, sanitation and garbage collection, street maintenance, wastewater collection, and maintains police and fire departments. Twin Falls Public Library, Twin Falls Municipal Golf Course and Joslin Field-Magic Valley Regional Airport are also under the city's jurisdiction.
Education
Idaho's public schools, under which public schools in Twin Falls are placed, perform well under the shadow of low per-pupil spending. The state of New York, for example, spends $18,126 for every student , but graduates only 73.6% of their students. Idaho, on the other hand, spends $7,091 for every student, and graduates 80.6% of their students. Each year students at Twin Falls highschools have the option take the ACT test. In 2010 students from Twin Falls, as well as all over Idaho, performed well, finishing in the top ten of all states. Students in Twin Falls tested higher in all areas tested than the state's average. In late 2010, the superintendent of Idaho's public schools proposed numerous changes in Idaho's public education. The changes passed Idaho legislature and the Twin Falls School District, in accordance with law, adopted those changes. Jeb BushJeb Bush
John Ellis "Jeb" Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd Governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007. He is a prominent member of the Bush family: the second son of former President George H. W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush; the younger brother of former President George W...
, Former Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
governor, and brother of former President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
stated that Idaho's educational reforms should serve as a model for the rest of the country.
Twin Falls is home to the College of Southern Idaho
College of Southern Idaho
College of Southern Idaho is an American public community college. Its main campus is in Twin Falls, Idaho, with outreach programs in Boise, Hailey, Burley and Gooding....
, a large community college
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
in the northwestern part of the city. Several Idaho universities, including Boise State University
Boise State University
Boise State University is a public university located in Boise, Idaho. Originally founded in 1932 as a junior college by the Episcopal Church, the university became an independent institution in 1934, and has been awarding baccalaureate and master degrees since 1965...
, 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 the 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...
, offer classes on the CSI campus. The nursing program received money from the 2007-2008 state budget to construct a state of the art nursing facility which compliments the nursing program. The CSI Men's Basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team won the NJCAA Division I Championship in early 2011.
Public schools are administered by the Twin Falls School District, including Twin Falls High School
Twin Falls High School
Twin Falls High School is a high school in Twin Falls, Idaho, United States. It is one of two regular high schools operated by the Twin Falls School District.-School history:...
, Canyon Ridge High School
Canyon Ridge High School
Canyon Ridge High School is a public high school in Twin Falls, Idaho, operated by the Twin Falls School District. Canyon Ridge is the second high school in the city, and first opened its doors in August 2009....
, the alternative Magic Valley High School
Magic Valley High School
Magic Valley High School is an alternative high school in Twin Falls, Idaho....
, two middle schools and seven elementary schools. Also, Twin Falls is home to Xavier Charter School
Xavier Charter School
Xavier Charter School is a public charter school in Twin Falls, Idaho.-History:Xavier Charter School opened in 2007 offering kindergarten through eighth grade classes. A ninth grade class was added for the 2008-09 school year, and an eleventh grade was added for the 09-10 school year...
and the recently established Wings Charter Middle School.
On March 14, 2006, registered voters approved a bond to build an additional high school. A city-wide contest was held to determine the school's nickname. In November 2006, the Twin Falls School Board selected "Riverhawks," thus officially giving birth to the Canyon Ridge High School
Canyon Ridge High School
Canyon Ridge High School is a public high school in Twin Falls, Idaho, operated by the Twin Falls School District. Canyon Ridge is the second high school in the city, and first opened its doors in August 2009....
Riverhawks. Also on the bond were plans to make general improvements to existing school facilities and to convert the junior high schools to middle school
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
s. These projects were completed for the 2009-10 school year. The addition of Canyon Ridge High School meant that the student population was split nearly in half. Athletics for both schools are designated 4A rather than 5A by IHSAA
Idaho High School Activities Association
The Idaho High School Activities Association oversees high school athletics in the state of Idaho. Idaho high schools are classified in five categories based on their enrollment...
Private schools include Lighthouse Christian School
Lighthouse Christian School
Lighthouse Christian School is a private Christian school in Twin Falls, IdahoLighthouse Christian Middle/High School is fully accredited through the Association of Christian Schools International , Northwest Association of Accredited Schools , and the State of Idaho....
, St. Edward's Catholic School and Twin Falls Christian Academy
Twin Falls Christian Academy
Twin Falls Christian Academy is a private Christian school in Twin Falls, Idaho. This school opened its doors in 1975. It is a ministry of Grace Baptist Church....
.
Crime Rate
According to City-Data.com Twin Falls's crime rate dramatically decreased between the years of 2003 through 2009. As of 2009, the crime rate in Twin Falls was lower than the U.S. average.Twin Falls is the home to the unaccredited diploma mill
Diploma mill
A diploma mill is an organization that awards academic degrees and diplomas with substandard or no academic study and without recognition by official educational accrediting bodies. The purchaser can then claim to hold an academic degree, and the organization is motivated by making a profit...
Suffield University
Suffield University
Suffield University is a degree mill, an unaccredited internet school specializing in what it calls Life Experience Degrees, issued upon payment, with life experience assessment based on the word of the applicant. Suffield is not accredited by any accreditation body recognized by its country...
that has illegally operated in Connecticut, Maine, Oregon, and Texas.
Economy
Twin Falls, the state's 7th largest city, is the fastest growing city in South-Central Idaho. As of April 2011 unemployment in Twin Falls county stood at 9.5%, below Idaho's average of 9.6%. From 1998 to 2007 the unemployment rate was steadily decreasing to a low of just under 2%. Then, in tandem with the national economy, the unemployment rate increased to nearly 9.5% as of April 2011.Most growth seen today has taken place over the last 20 years, with an acceleration of growth just between 2006-2011. However, there are businesses that have been a mainstay for many decades.
Twin Falls is the home of award-winning cheese producer Glanbia
Glanbia
Glanbia plc is an international nutritional solutions and cheese group, headquartered in Ireland. Glanbia is listed on the Irish and London Stock Exchange . The Group has four segments; US Cheese & Global Nutritionals, Dairy Ireland, Joint Ventures & Associates and Other Business...
foods. The corporation selected Twin Falls due to its being one of the world's premier farming regions and as such Twin Falls's economy is based on agriculture. Falls Brand, another award-winning food company is located in the southern part of Twin Falls. In early 2011, Falls Brands' Old Fashioned Basque Chorizo sausage won the "Hold The Mustard" award presented by the National Meat Association (NMA) every year during their annual, "NMA Annual Gourmet Sausagefest." Another mainstay is The College of Southern Idaho(CSI). Boasting a student-population of 3,433 students, this Junior College is a popular alternative to students not yet ready to attend a four-year university. Many students are from out of state living in CSI's residential halls. These entities are examples of nationally successful, long-standing job opportunities for residents of Twin Falls.
Other large employers include Amalgamated Sugar Company
Amalgamated Sugar Company
The Amalgamated Sugar Company is a sugar beet refining company run on a cooperative basis. It was founded in 1897 in Logan, Utah, and is now located in Nampa, Idaho, United States. The company markets its sugar under the White Satin brand.-Founding:...
, makers of White Satin sugar and Lamb Weston which has a food processing plant located in west Twin Falls. It employs no less than 500 residents and its annual revenue is about $100 million per annum.
In spite of a troubled national economy Twin Falls has seen rapid development. Many major retail outlets have opened stores in Twin Falls between 2006-2011.
In November 2009 a new WalMart Supercenter opened bringing to the region an estimated 100 additional jobs. Less than a year later, in October 2010, C3, a customer call center, opened operations. It was a large boost to an already busy economy providing close to 1,000 jobs., and in July of 2011 C3 announced that an additional 300 C3 jobs would be created in Twin Falls due to brisk business. In November of 2011 Agro-Farms, maker of the Chobani brand Greek style yogurt, announced that they will construct a state of the art processing facility in Twin Falls which will produce the company's Greek style yogurt. With the announcement came the prospect of 400 initial jobs and at least $100 million for constructing the processing facility and the possibility of close to $300 million in additional revenue for Southern Idaho dairymen on an annual basis. Creating 40-50 new jobs, Magic Valley 14 Cinemas will construct a new theater equipped with IMAX screens and D-Box seating. Magic Valley Cinema's plans to open their new complex in December 2011. The new entertainment center comes in the wake of unprecedented growth in the magic valley.
In response to a growing population base, registered Twin Falls county voters voted to construct a new hospital in the northwest section of Twin Falls, In Spring of 2011 St. Luke's opened a new 700,000 sq/ft. facility. One of the feature of the new hospital is that all 186 rooms are private with family accommodations.
Other businesses opening within the last five years: Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Coldwater Creek. Wanting to catch some momentum a movement has begun to rebuild downtown in hopes of moving some business back to where it originated. In 2012, Twin Falls will host the 2012 Idaho GOP convention which is expected to create more positive economic activity.
China Mountain Wind, LLC. has proposed and may construct a 300000 acres (1,214.1 km²) wind farm after the Environmental Impacts are weighed. Twin Falls County, the seat of which is the city of Twin Falls, can expect to generate $33.4M in tax revenues. Local schools and services will receive a portion of the tax revenue. The construction of the wind farm will bring to the area 396-749 full and part time jobs during construction and 24-46 new jobs to maintain the facility.
Media
The Times-News is a local daily morning newspaper based in Twin Falls.Over-the-air television stations include:
- KMVTKMVTKMVT is the CBS affiliated television station in Twin Falls, Idaho. Its digital signal is broadcast over Channel 11. Its transmitter is located on Flat Top Butte near Jerome.-History:...
(CBS) - KTWT (CW) (digital substation)
- KTID (MyNetworkTVMyNetworkTVMyNetworkTV is a television broadcast syndication service in the United States, owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a division of News Corporation...
and Mexicanal) (digital substation) - KIPT (PBSPublic Broadcasting ServiceThe Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
) - KXTFKXTFKXTF is the Fox network affiliate in Twin Falls, Idaho, broadcasting on digital channel 34. The station is owned by Intermountain West Communications Company.-History:...
(FoxFox Broadcasting CompanyFox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
) - KTFT (NBCNBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
) - KSAW (ABCAmerican Broadcasting CompanyThe American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
) - KYTL (Azteca AmericaAzteca AméricaAzteca América is a broadcast television network marketed toward Spanish-speaking families residing in the United States. As a rapidly-growing Spanish language network, Azteca América now reaches 89% of the Hispanic households in the U.S., operating in sixty-two markets nationwide. Wholly owned by...
)
Cable television subscribers also receive stations from Boise
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
and Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
.
Several radio stations broadcast in the Twin Falls area, including (but not limited to):
- 88.9 KEFX - The Effect Radio Network (christian rock)
- 89.9 KAWZ - CSN International
- 92.7 KTPZ - The Music Monster (Top 40)
- 95.7 KEZJ - Idaho Country (Country)
- 96.5 KLIX - Kool Oldies (Oldies)
- 98.3 KSNQ - The Snake (Classic Rock)
- 99.9 KZDX - Hot 100 FM (Hot Adult contemporary/Top 40)
- 102.1 KIRQ - IRock (Modern rockModern rockModern rock is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre...
) - 102.9 KMVX - Mix 103 (Adult contemporary)
- 103.7 KSKI (Modern rockModern rockModern rock is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre...
) - 104.7 KIKX (Classic rockClassic rockClassic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
) - 106.1 KKMV - Kat Kountry (CountryCountry musicCountry music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
) - 106.7 KYUN - Canyon Country (CountryCountry musicCountry music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
) - 970 KFTA - La Fantastica 970 (Regional MexicanRegional MexicanRegional Mexican is a radio format for music radio, typically defined to include Banda, Ranchera, Mariachi and Norteña. It is the most popular radio format targeting Hispanic Americans in the United States....
)
Twin Falls had the first live call-in radio show in the nation. It was called "Party Line" and was hosted by L. James Koutnik on KLIX KLIX (AM)
KLIX (AM)
KLIX is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format serving the Twin Falls, Idaho, USA area. The station is currently owned by Townsquare Media and licensed to Townsquare Media Twin Falls License LLC...
radio. The FCC attempted to time delay the program but the host, and his willing conspirator, station owner Charlie Tuma, thwarted this effort and continued to allow live callers on the air.
Transportation
Although Twin Falls has the distinction of being the largest Idaho city not directly on the Interstate Highway SystemInterstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, , is a network of limited-access roads including freeways, highways, and expressways forming part of the National Highway System of the United States of America...
, the city is served by several major highways including U.S. Route 30
U.S. Route 30
U.S. Route 30 is an east–west main route of the system of United States Numbered Highways, with the highway traveling across the northern tier of the country. It is the third longest U.S. route, after U.S. Route 20 and U.S. Route 6. The western end of the highway is at Astoria, Oregon; the...
and U.S. Route 93
U.S. Route 93
U.S. Route 93 is a major north–south United States highway in the western United States. The southern terminus is at U.S. Route 60 in Wickenburg, Arizona. The northern terminus is at the Canadian border north of Eureka in Lincoln County, Montana, where the roadway continues into Roosville,...
. Access to Interstate 84
Interstate 84 in Idaho
In the U.S. state of Idaho, Interstate 84 heads southeast from the Oregon state line, it spurs to Interstate 184 in Boise. Eventually I-84 spurs Interstate 86 and mainline I-84 heads southeast towards Utah and I-86 is continues due east and heads to Pocatello, meeting with Interstate 15.-Future:...
is afforded by a junction with U.S. Route 93 approximately 5 miles (8.3 km) north of the city in Jerome County. Idaho State Highway 74
Idaho State Highway 74
State Highway 74 is a short state highway that affords access between U.S. Route 93 and downtown Twin Falls. The road is located entirely in Twin Falls County.-Route description:...
provides direct access from downtown Twin Falls to southbound locations on U.S. Route 93, including Hollister
Hollister, Idaho
Hollister is a city in Twin Falls County, Idaho, United States. The population was 237 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Twin Falls, Idaho Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, Rogerson
Rogerson, Idaho
Rogerson is an unincorporated community in Twin Falls County, Idaho, United States. It is located approximately 18 miles north of the Nevada border on U.S. Route 93. It is near Salmon Falls Dam....
, and Jackpot, Nevada.
Trans IV, a small public transportation system operated by the College of Southern Idaho, is also available.
Limited commercial air service is provided at Joslin Field-Magic Valley Regional Airport
Magic Valley Regional Airport
Magic Valley Regional Airport , also known as Joslin Field- Gateway to the Great Rift, is a public airport located 4 miles south of Twin Falls, in Twin Falls County, Idaho, USA...
. As of August 2008 daily flights to Salt Lake City International Airport
Salt Lake City International Airport
Salt Lake City International Airport is a major public airport in Utah. A joint civil-military facility, it is located in western Salt Lake City, approximately four miles from the central business district...
are operated by SkyWest Airlines
Skywest Airlines
Skywest Airlines Pty Ltd is a regional airline company based in Perth, Western Australia, Australia; servicing key towns in the state of Western Australia, Darwin, Northern Territory and Melbourne, Victoria; as well as charter flights to Bali, Indonesia....
using the Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia
Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia
-Accidents:*Brazilian Air Force on July 8, 1988 an Embraer EMB 120RT Brasília registration FAB-2001 crashed during and engine-out landing at São José dos Campos. Five of the 9 occupants died....
. As of June 2010, twice weekly service to and from McCarran International Airport
McCarran International Airport
McCarran International Airport is the principal commercial airport serving Las Vegas and Clark County, Nevada, United States. The airport is located five miles south of the central business district of Las Vegas, in the unincorporated area of Paradise in Clark County. It covers an area of and...
in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
are operated by Allegiant Air
Allegiant Air
Allegiant Air is an American low-cost airline owned by Allegiant Travel Co. that operates scheduled and charter flights. Allegiant Travel Company is a publicly traded company with 1,300 employees and one billion USD market capitalization...
.
Geography
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 12.0 square miles (31.1 km²), all of it land.
The Snake River Canyon forms the city's northern limits, separating it from Jerome County
Jerome County, Idaho
Jerome County is a county in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2000 Census the county had a population of 18,342 . The county seat and largest city is Jerome....
. There are three waterfall
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
s in the immediate area. Shoshone Falls
Shoshone Falls
Shoshone Falls is a waterfall on the Snake River located approximately five miles east of Twin Falls, Idaho. Sometimes called the "Niagara of the West," Shoshone Falls is 212 feet high—45 feet higher than Niagara Falls—and flows over a rim 1,000 feet wide.A park overlooking the waterfall is...
is located approximately five miles east of Twin Falls city. Pillar Falls
Pillar Falls
Pillar Falls is a waterfall near Twin Falls, Idaho. Several basalt pillars divide the Snake River into multiple channels, through which the river drops about 20 feet ....
is located approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) upstream from the Perrine Bridge while Twin Falls
Twin Falls (Idaho)
Twin Falls is a waterfall on the Snake River in southern Idaho in the Snake River Canyon. The falls is a few miles east of its namesake city, Twin Falls. It is upstream of Pillar Falls and Shoshone Falls. Twin Falls is downstream from Milner Dam. Water flow over Twin Falls is controlled by dams...
, the city's namesake, is located upstream of Shoshone Falls.
Shoshone Falls
Shoshone Falls
Shoshone Falls is a waterfall on the Snake River located approximately five miles east of Twin Falls, Idaho. Sometimes called the "Niagara of the West," Shoshone Falls is 212 feet high—45 feet higher than Niagara Falls—and flows over a rim 1,000 feet wide.A park overlooking the waterfall is...
is taller than Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls
The Niagara Falls, located on the Niagara River draining Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, is the collective name for the Horseshoe Falls and the adjacent American Falls along with the comparatively small Bridal Veil Falls, which combined form the highest flow rate of any waterfalls in the world and has...
by about 36 feet (11 m).
Perrine Bridge
The I. B. Perrine Bridge at Twin Falls, Idaho, United States is a truss arch four-lane bridge carrying U.S. Highway 93 over the Snake River Canyon. Perrine Bridge is approximately long and above the Snake River...
, which spans the Snake River Canyon immediately north of the city, is one of only a handful of artificial structures worldwide where BASE jumping
BASE jumping
BASE jumping, also sometimes written as B.A.S.E jumping, is an activity that employs an initially packed parachute to jump from fixed objects...
is legal. In September 2005 Miles Daisher of Twin Falls set a BASE jumping world record by jumping off Perrine Bridge 57 times in a 24-hour period. In July 2006 Dan Schilling jumped off the bridge 201 times in 21 hours to raise money for charity. Unlike Daisher, Schilling was hoisted to the top of the bridge by a crane after every jump. http://www.idahostatesman.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060710/NEWS06/607100311
Climate
Twin Falls experiences a semi-arid climate.Monthly temperature averages in Twin Falls range from 34.9 °F (1.6 °C) in January to 85 °F (29.4 °C) in July, with lows below freezing from December through March. Highs reach 90 °F (32.2 °C) on average 18.8 days per year, but very rarely exceed 100 °F (37.8 °C). Winter snowfall averages 29.5 inches (74.9 cm) per year, though much heavier amounts have fallen. However, in Twin Falls proper after an average snowfall it is uncommon to see more than six inches of snow on streets and sidewalks. Summer and autumn months are very dry in Twin Falls, with less than 1 inches (2.5 cm) inch of precipitation falling each month between June and October. It is not uncommon to experience fast moving, intense electrical storms common in the deserts of the southwestern portion of the USA.
Demographics
According to 2009 estimates from the United States Census BureauUnited 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 population swelled to 42,741, an increase of nearly 20% from the 2000 United States Census, with an average household size of 3.20 residents. There were 9,422 owner-occupied homes with an average value, as of 2009, of $136,000.
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...
is 3,743 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the city is 92.00% White, 0.50% Black, 0.90% Native American, 1.00% Asian, .10% Pacific Islander, 2.90% 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 2.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.3% of the population.
There were 15,458 households out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49% 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, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.1% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 14, 15.6% from 15 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.2 years. For every 100 females there were 95.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $40,970 and the mean income for a family was $49,295.
Notable People
- Gary L. BennettGary L. BennettGary L. Bennett is an American scientist and engineer, specializing in aerospace and energy. He has worked for NASA and the US Department of Energy on advanced space power systems and advanced space propulsion systems...
- W. Mark FeltW. Mark FeltWilliam Mark Felt, Sr. was an agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation , who retired in 1973 as the Bureau's Associate Director...
, the informant in the Watergate scandalWatergate scandalThe Watergate scandal was a political scandal during the 1970s in the United States resulting from the break-in of the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C., and the Nixon administration's attempted cover-up of its involvement...
known as Deep ThroatDeep ThroatDeep Throat is the pseudonym given to the secret informant who provided information to Bob Woodward of The Washington Post in 1972 about the involvement of United States President Richard Nixon's administration in what came to be known as the Watergate scandal...
, graduated from Twin Falls High School in 1931 - Christina HendricksChristina HendricksChristina Rene Hendricks is an actress known for her role as Joan Holloway in the AMC cable television series Mad Men, and as Saffron in Fox's short-lived series Firefly. Hendricks was named "the sexiest woman in the world" in 2010 in a poll of female readers taken by Esquire magazine.-Personal...
, of the renowned AMC series Mad MenMad MenMad Men is an American dramatic television series created and produced by Matthew Weiner. The series premiered on Sunday evenings on the American cable network AMC and are produced by Lionsgate Television. It premiered on July 19, 2007, and completed its fourth season on October 17, 2010. Each...
, grew up in Twin Falls and despite moving while in high school, Hendricks still considers Twin Falls her hometown - Sharon Allen, listed on Forbes Magazine as the 98th most powerful woman in the world
- Bryce Black, designer from Project Runway (season 9)Project Runway (season 9)Project Runway Season 9 is the ninth season of the television show Project Runway. The season began airing on July 28, 2011 and features 20 designers who hope to become "the next great American designer."...
Notable musicians who spent parts of their childhood in Twin Falls include Gary Puckett
Gary Puckett & The Union Gap
Gary Puckett & The Union Gap was an American pop rock group operating in the late 1960s...
, Paul Durham of Black Lab, Nikki Sixx
Nikki Sixx
Nikki Sixx is an American musician, songwriter, author, fashion designer, radio host, and photographer, best known as the co-founder and bassist of the band Mötley Crüe. Prior to forming Mötley Crüe, Sixx was a member of Sister before going on to form London with his Sister band mate Lizzie Grey...
of Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil...
, and Doug Martsch
Doug Martsch
Doug Martsch is an American musician. Martsch, a native of Boise, Idaho, is best known for his distinctive vocals and guitar style in the band Built to Spill. He has also worked with Calvin Johnson of Beat Happening in The Halo Benders. Martsch's first band was Farm Days, with Andy Capps and Brett...
of Built to Spill
Built to Spill
Built to Spill is an American indie rock band based in Boise, Idaho. The band has released seven full-length albums. Their most recent album, There Is No Enemy, was released on October 6, 2009.-History:...
.
Pop culture references
- In 1999, Bruce WillisBruce WillisWalter Bruce Willis , better known as Bruce Willis, is an American actor, producer, and musician. His career began in television in the 1980s and has continued both in television and film since, including comedic, dramatic, and action roles...
, a resident of nearby Blaine CountyBlaine County, IdahoBlaine 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....
, chose Twin Falls to serve as the fictional Midland City in the film adaptation of Kurt VonnegutKurt VonnegutKurt Vonnegut, Jr. was a 20th century American writer. His works such as Cat's Cradle , Slaughterhouse-Five and Breakfast of Champions blend satire, gallows humor and science fiction. He was known for his humanist beliefs and was honorary president of the American Humanist Association.-Early...
's novel Breakfast of ChampionsBreakfast of Champions (film)Breakfast of Champions is a 1999 American comedy film adapted and directed by Alan Rudolph from the novel of the same name by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.-Plot:...
. Several Twin Falls locations, notably the Rob Green auto dealership on Blue Lakes Boulevard North, are prominently featured in the film. - In the 2001 movie 3000 Miles to Graceland3000 Miles to Graceland3000 Miles to Graceland is a 2001 American crime film, starring Kurt Russell, Kevin Costner, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Bokeem Woodbine, Christian Slater, and Kevin Pollak. It is a story of theft and betrayal, revolving around a plot to rob the Riviera Casino during a convention of Elvis...
, Michael Zane (Kurt RussellKurt RussellKurt Vogel Russell is an American television and film actor. His first acting roles were as a child in television series, including a lead role in the Western series The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters...
) and Murphy (Kevin CostnerKevin CostnerKevin Michael Costner is an American actor, singer, musician, producer, director, and businessman. He has been nominated for three BAFTA Awards, won two Academy Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards. Costner's roles include Lt. John J...
) play a violent cat and mouse game with each other all the way to Twin Falls to launder the money they had stolen from an earlier casino heist. - In the video game Resistance 2Resistance 2Resistance 2 is a science fiction first person shooter video game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3. The game was released in North America on November 4, 2008, Japan on November 13, 2008, and in Europe on November 28, 2008...
, the player must activate anti-aircraft towers in Twin Falls in order to stop an alien invasion. Also, one of the main characters is from Twin Falls. - "Twin Falls", Built to SpillBuilt to SpillBuilt to Spill is an American indie rock band based in Boise, Idaho. The band has released seven full-length albums. Their most recent album, There Is No Enemy, was released on October 6, 2009.-History:...
's song from their 1994 album There's Nothing Wrong with Love, mentions Harrison Elementary and is based on Martsch's experiences growing up in the city - Ben Folds FiveBen Folds FiveBen Folds Five is an alternative rock trio formed in 1993 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The group comprises Ben Folds , Robert Sledge , and Darren Jessee . The group achieved mainstream success in the alternative, indie and pop music scenes...
released a live cover of "Twin Falls" on their 1998 album Naked Baby PhotosNaked Baby PhotosNaked Baby Photos is a compilation album comprising outtake material from recordings of Ben Folds Five's first two studio albums and live performances. Most of the tracks are previously unreleased rarities....