Power County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 7,878. The county seat and largest city is American Falls. The county was created by the Idaho Legislature on January 30, 1913, by a partition of Cassia County. It is named for an early hydroelectric power plant (1902) at the American Falls.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (2.7%) is water.

Adjacent counties

  • Bannock County – east
  • Oneida County – south
  • Bingham County – north
  • Blaine County – northwest
  • Cassia County – southwest

Major highways

  • 20px Interstate 86
  • 20px US 30
  • 20px SH-37
  • 20px SH-39

National protected areas

  • Caribou National Forest (part)
  • Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve (part)
  • Curlew National Grassland (part)
  • Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge (part)
  • Sawtooth National Forest (part)

Government

Power County, like Idaho in general, is highly conservative and supports Republican presidential candidates by large margins. The last Democrat to win the county was Lyndon Johnson in 1964.

Power County's commissioners are:

  • Ronald Funk (chairman, District 1)
  • William Lasley (District 2)
  • Delane Anderson (District 3)

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Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 7,878. The median age was 35.3 years, with 30.2% of residents under the age of 18 and 16.3% aged 65 or older. For every 100 females there were 101.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 104.1 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 65.8% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 2.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 21.8% from some other race, and 9.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 33.3% of the population.

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 2,689 households in the county, of which 38.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 18.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The population density was . There were 2,944 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 75.1% white, 2.3% American Indian, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 19.5% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 29.8% of the population.

Of the 2,641 households, 40.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 23.6% were non-families, and 19.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.94 and the average family size was 3.39. The median age was 33.2 years.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,538 people, 2,560 households, and 1,968 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 2,844 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 83.78% White, 0.09% Black or African American, 3.29% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 11.10% from other races, and 1.38% from two or more races. 21.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.0% were of German, 17.6% English and 10.9% American ancestry.

There were 2,560 households, out of which 40.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.40% were married couples living together, 8.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.10% were non-families. 20.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.38.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 33.80% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 25.40% from 25 to 44, 22.00% from 45 to 64, and 10.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,226, and the median income for a family was $36,685. Males had a median income of $29,676 versus $20,930 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,007. About 10.80% of families and 16.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.10% of those under age 18 and 12.70% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

thumb|An aerial view of the Power County wind farm in Power County

Cities

  • American Falls
  • Pocatello (partly)
  • Rockland

Census-designated place

  • Arbon Valley

Unincorporated communities

  • Arbon
  • Neeley
  • Pauline
  • Roy

Education

School districts include:

  • American Falls Joint School District 381
  • Arbon Elementary School District 383
  • Rockland School District 382

See also

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

References

  • County website
  • County Parcel Map