Jerome County, Idaho Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Jerome County

U.S. county

Jerome County Courthouse

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of Idaho

Idaho's location within the U.S.

Country

United States

State

Idaho

Founded

February 8, 1919

Seat

Jerome

Largest city

Jerome

Area

• Total

602 sq mi (1,560 km²)

• Land

597 sq mi (1,550 km²)

• Water

5.0 sq mi (13 km²) 0.8%

Population

(2020)

• Total

24,237

• Density

40.26/sq mi (15.545/km²)

Time zone

UTC−7 (Mountain)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−6 (MDT)

Congressional district

2nd

Jerome County is a county in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2020 Census the county had a population of 24,237. The county seat and largest city is Jerome. The county was created by the Idaho Legislature on February 8, 1919, by a partition of Lincoln County. It was named after either Jerome Hill, a developer of the North Side Irrigation Project, his son-in-law Jerome Kuhn, or his grandson Jerome Kuhn, Jr.

Jerome County is part of the Twin Falls, ID Micropolitan Statistical Area.

The Minidoka Relocation Camp, one of ten Japanese American internment camps set up during World War II, was located in Hunt of Jerome County, six miles (9.7 km) north west of Eden.

History
Geography
- Adjacent counties
Demographics
- 2010 census
Major highways
National protected areas
Communities
- Cities
- Unincorporated community
Education
See also

History

Jerome county's settlements are among Idaho's youngest. While Jerome County was located quite close to the Oregon Trail and subsequent stagecoach lines, it was also divided from them by the 500 ft (150 m) deep Snake River Canyon. The depth of the canyon also eliminated the possibility of drawing water for farming operations. Together, those factors made the area unattractive to early Idahoans looking to settle during the territorial and early statehood era. Construction of the railroad across Idaho in the 1880s also bypassed the Jerome area with the route being run 16 miles (26 km) north of the present center of Jerome City. A ferry commenced operation at Shoshone Falls on April 15, 1884, facilitating travel between the railroad and settlements south of the Snake River.

The Schodde settlement on Jerome County's western border north of Milner was established as the Schoddie Precinct under Lincoln County with a 1900 census population of 24. Completion of the Milner Dam and associated Northside Canal in 1905 brought a water supply to the north side of the Snake River that also brought farmers to the region. Eden and Hazelton were settled starting in 1905. Settlement at Jerome commenced September 30, 1907, and the Idaho Southern Railway reached Jerome on December 28, 1908. By the 1910 Census, Jerome Village contained 970 residents having been incorporated in 1909. Also by that time, Lincoln County established two precincts of Hillsdale (400 residents) and Jerome (2,032 residents). The towns of Eden and Hazelton were part of the Hillsdale precinct and the Schoddie precinct ceased to exist. By the 1920 Census, Eden and Hazelton also were incorporated as villages.

Jerome, Eden, and Hazelton were all part of Lincoln County at their formation. Eden and Hazelton became part of Minidoka County at its creation in 1913. Jerome County became the 43rd of Idaho's 44 counties on February 8, 1911. It is three days older than Caribou County.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 602 square miles (1,560 km²), of which 597 square miles (1,550 km²) is land and 5.0 square miles (13 km²) (0.8%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Lincoln County - north
Gooding County - west
Twin Falls County - south
Cassia County - southeast
Minidoka County - east

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1920	5,729	—
1930	8,358	45.9%
1940	9,900	18.4%
1950	12,080	22.0%
1960	11,712	−3.0%
1970	10,253	−12.5%
1980	14,840	44.7%
1990	15,138	2.0%
2000	18,342	21.2%
2010	22,374	22.0%
2020	24,237	8.3%
2023 (est.)	25,479	13.9%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960, 1900–1990, 1990–2000, 2010, 2020

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 22,374 people, 7,540 households, and 5,656 families residing in the county. The population density was 37.5 inhabitants per square mile (14.5/km²). There were 8,101 housing units at an average density of 13.6 per square mile (5.3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 80.0% white, 1.3% American Indian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 15.8% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 31.0% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 16.7% were German, 11.4% were English, 8.8% were American, and 7.0% were Irish.

Of the 7,540 households, 42.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.7% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 25.0% were non-families, and 20.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.39. The median age was 31.7 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,188 and the median income for a family was $45,947. Males had a median income of $30,889 versus $23,383 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,947. About 12.0% of families and 15.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.1% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.