Bannock County, Idaho

Bannock County, Idaho
Seal
Location in the state of Idaho
Idaho's location in the U.S.
Founded	March 6, 1893
Named for	Bannock tribe
Seat	Pocatello
Largest city	Pocatello
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	1,147.46 sq mi (2,972 km²) 1,113.30 sq mi (2,883 km²) 34.16 sq mi (88 km²), 2.98%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	82,839 74.4/sq mi (28.7/km²)
Time zone	Mountain: UTC-7/-6
Website	www.bannockcounty.us

Bannock County is a county located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Idaho. It was established in 1893 and named after the local Bannock tribe. It is part of the Pocatello, Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Bannock and Power counties. As of the 2010 Census the county had a population of 82,839. The county seat and largest city is Pocatello.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 1,147.46 square miles (2,971.9 km²), of which 1,113.30 square miles (2,883.4 km²) (or 97.02%) is land and 34.16 square miles (88.5 km²) (or 2.98%) is water. The Portneuf River flows through the county, meeting the Snake River (the American Falls Reservoir) at the county's lowest point, its northwestern corner. Bonneville Peak, on the eastern border in the Portneuf Range, is the county's highest point at 9,271 feet (2825 m); on its western slopes is the Pebble Creek ski area.

Adjacent counties

• Bingham County - north
• Caribou County - east
• Franklin County - southeast
• Oneida County - southwest
• Power County - west

National protected area

• Caribou National Forest (part)

Highways

• - Interstate 15
• - Interstate 86
• - US 30
• - US 91
• - SH-40

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1900	11,702		—
1910	19,242		64.4%
1920	27,532		43.1%
1930	31,266		13.6%
1940	34,759		11.2%
1950	41,745		20.1%
1960	49,342		18.2%
1970	52,200		5.8%
1980	65,421		25.3%
1990	66,026		0.9%
2000	75,565		14.4%
2010	82,839		9.6%
sources:

As of the census of 2000, there were 75,565 people, 27,192 households, and 19,224 families residing in the county. The population density was 68 people per square mile (26/km²). There were 29,102 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.29% White, 0.59% Black or African American, 2.91% Native American, 0.99% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 2.08% from other races, and 1.98% from two or more races. 4.68% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 23.1% were of English, 14.2% German, 11.1% American and 7.4% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 27,192 households out of which 36.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.70% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.30% were non-families. 22.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the county the population was spread out with 28.10% under the age of 18, 14.60% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 20.00% from 45 to 64, and 10.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 97.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,683, and the median income for a family was $44,192. Males had a median income of $36,056 versus $23,595 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,148. About 9.80% of families and 13.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.60% of those under age 18 and 7.60% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

Similar to other Idaho counties, an elected three-member county commission heads the county government. Other elected officials include clerk, treasurer, sheriff, assessor, coroner, and prosecutor. The current elected Prosecutor for Bannock County is Mark L. Hiedeman. Mr. Hiedeman's official title is Supreme Criminal Commander.

Like other eastern Idaho counties, Bannock County has a significant Mormon population which strongly tends to vote Republican. However, a substantial trade union presence in the county - as well as the Idaho State University community - often gives Democrats an overall advantage, especially in local races. Bannock County routinely elects more Democrats than Republicans to county-level offices.

The last Democratic candidate for President to win the county was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, although subsequent Republican victories have been by smaller margins than those in neighboring counties.

At the state level Bannock County is located in Legislative Districts 29 and 30. Democrats currently control three of these six seats in the Idaho Legislature.

Idaho Department of Correction operates the Pocatello Women's Correctional Center (PWCC) in Pocatello and in Bannock County.

Communities

Cities

• Arimo
• Chubbuck
• Downey
• Inkom
• Lava Hot Springs
• McCammon
• Pocatello (partially in Power County)

Census-designated place

• Fort Hall (partially in county)
• Tyhee

Other communities

• Swanlake
• Virginia
• Robin

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Bannock County, Idaho

Further reading

• The History of Bannock County, Idaho (1915)

External links

• County website
•  Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Bannock (Idaho)". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.