Adams County, Idaho

Adams County is a rural county in the state of Idaho. As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 4,379, Established in 1911, the county was named for second U.S. President John Adams. Adams County is home to the Brundage Mountain ski area, northeast of New Meadows, and the Little Ski Hill, just west of McCall.

Geography

The west boundary line of Adams County abuts the east line of the state of Oregon, across the Snake River.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.5%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Idaho County - north
Valley County - east
Gem County - southeast
Washington County - south
Baker County, Oregon - southwest
Wallowa County, Oregon - northwest

Highways

25px - US 95
25px - SH-55 - Payette River Scenic Byway

National protected areas

Hells Canyon National Recreation Area (part)
Payette National Forest (part)

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 4,379. The median age was 54.9 years. 17.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 30.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 108.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 109.4 males age 18 and over.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|+Adams County, Idaho – Racial and ethnic composition

!Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)

!Pop 2000

!Pop 2010

!% 2000

!% 2010

|White alone (NH)

|3,318

|3,768

|style='background: #ffffe6; |3,992

|95.45%

|94.77%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |91.16%

|Black or African American alone (NH)

|style='background: #ffffe6; |3

|0.06%

|0.10%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.07%

|Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)

|47

|36

|style='background: #ffffe6; |27

|1.35%

|0.91%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.62%

|Asian alone (NH)

|16

|style='background: #ffffe6; |8

|0.14%

|0.40%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.18%

|Pacific Islander alone (NH)

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0

|0.03%

|0.05%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00%

|Other race alone (NH)

|17

|style='background: #ffffe6; |18

|0.49%

|0.05%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.41%

|Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)

|32

|54

|style='background: #ffffe6; |179

|0.92%

|1.36%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.09%

|Hispanic or Latino (any race)

|54

|94

|style='background: #ffffe6; |152

|1.55%

|2.36%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.47%

|Total

|3,476

|3,976

|style='background: #ffffe6; |4,379

|100.00%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%

The racial makeup of the county was 92.7% White, 0.1% Black or African American, 0.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.1% from some other race, and 5.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.5% of the population.

There were 1,927 households in the county, of which 20.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 16.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The population density was . There were 2,636 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 96.1% white, 1.0% American Indian, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.1% black or African American, 0.7% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.4% of the population.

Of the 1,748 households, 22.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.6% were married couples living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.2% were non-families, and 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.70. The median age was 50.0 years.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census, there were 3,476 people, 1,421 households, and 1,031 families in the county. The population density was . There were 1,982 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 96.29% White, 1.41% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.06% Black or African American, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.92% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. 1.55% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 25.6% were of American, 17.9% German, 11.8% English and 7.0% Irish ancestry.

There were 1,421 households, out of which 28.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.30% were married couples living together, 5.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.40% were non-families. 23.20% 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 2.42 and the average family size was 2.83.

The county population contained 23.90% under the age of 18, 4.60% from 18 to 24, 22.60% from 25 to 44, 32.70% from 45 to 64, and 16.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,423, and the median income for a family was $32,335. Males had a median income of $29,097 versus $14,408 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,908. About 11.70% of families and 15.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.90% of those under age 18 and 11.70% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Council
New Meadows

Unincorporated communities

Alpine
Bear
Beer Bottle Crossing
Cuprum
Devils Ladder
Fruitvale
Glendale
Goodrich
Helena
Indian Valley
Meadows
Mesa
Pine Ridge
Starkey
Tamarack
Wildhorse
Woodland

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Adams County.

† county seat

{| class="wikitable sortable"

!Rank!!City/Town/etc.!!Municipal type!!Population (2010 Census)

|-style=background-color:#FFFACD

|1||† Council||City||839

|-style=background-color:#FFFACD

|2||New Meadows||City||438

Politics

Education

School districts include:

Cambridge Joint School District 432
Council School District 13
McCall-Donnelly Joint School District 421
Meadows Valley School District 11
Salmon River School District 243

Residents are in the area (but not the taxation zone) for College of Western Idaho.