Gem County, Idaho

Gem County
	Gem County, Idaho
	; Seal
	; Seal
	; Location in the state of Idaho
	; Idaho's location in the U.S.
Founded	March 15, 1915
Named for	The state nickname,; "Gem State".
Seat	Emmett
Largest city	Emmett
Area; - Total; - Land; - Water	; 565.75 sq mi (1,465 km²); 562.58 sq mi (1,457 km²); 3.17 sq mi (8 km²), 0.56%
Population; - (2010); - Density	; 16,719; 29.8/sq mi (11.5/km²)
Time zone	Mountain: UTC-7/-6
Website	www.co.gem.id.us

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Gem County is a county in the U.S. state of Idaho. The population was 16,719 at the 2010 census,^[1] and the county seat and largest city is Emmett.^[2]

Gem County is part of the Boise City–Nampa, Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Gem County is home to the Idaho ground squirrel.

[edit] History

Named for the state nickname, "Gem State," the county was established on March 15, 1915, partitioned from Canyon County and Boise County. Fur trappers were in the area as early as 1818, and Alexander Ross explored Squaw Creek in 1824. Prospectors and miners moved through the county in 1862 in route to the gold rush in the Boise Basin around Idaho City, and by the next year irrigation began along the Payette River.^[3] The Black Canyon diversion dam on the river was built in the early 1920s, east of Emmett.^[4]

[edit] Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 565.75 square miles (1,465.3 km²), of which 562.58 square miles (1,457.1 km²) (or 99.44%) is land and 3.17 square miles (8.2 km²) (or 0.56%) is water.^[5]

[edit] Adjacent counties

Adams County - (north)
Valley County - (northeast)
Boise County - (east)
Ada County - (south)
Canyon County - (southwest)
Payette County - (west)
Washington County - (northwest)

[edit] National protected area

Boise National Forest (part)

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.	%±
1920	6,427	—
1930	7,419	15.4%
1940	9,544	28.6%
1950	8,730	−8.5%
1960	9,127	4.5%
1970	9,387	2.8%
1980	11,972	27.5%
1990	11,844	−1.1%
2000	15,181	28.2%
2010	16,719	10.1%
sources:^[1]^[6]

As of the census^[7] of 2000, there were 15,181 people, 5,539 households, and 4,176 families residing in the county. The population density was 27 people per square mile (10/km²). There were 5,888 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.79% White, 0.73% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.07% Black or African American, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 3.16% from other races, and 1.83% from two or more races. 6.92% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.9% were of American, 17.5% German, 13.1% English and 7.2% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 5,539 households out of which 34.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.40% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.60% were non-families. 20.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the county the population was spread out with 28.00% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 15.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,460, and the median income for a family was $40,195. Males had a median income of $31,036 versus $20,755 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,340. About 11.60% of families and 13.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.60% of those under age 18 and 13.90% of those age 65 or over.