Cassia County, Idaho
| Cassia County, Idaho | ||
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 Location in the U.S. state of Idaho |
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 Idaho's location in the U.S. |
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| Founded | February 20, 1879 | |
| Named for | Cassia Creek | |
| Seat | Burley | |
| Largest city | Burley | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 2,580 sq mi (6,682 km2) | |
| • Land | 2,565 sq mi (6,643 km2) | |
| • Water | 15 sq mi (39 km2), 0.6% | |
| Population | ||
| • (2010) | 22,952 | |
| • Density | 8.9/sq mi (3/km²) | |
| Congressional district | 2nd | |
| Time zone | Mountain: UTC-7/-6 | |
| Website | www |
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Cassia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2010 Census the county had a population of 22,952.[1] The county seat and largest city is Burley.[2]
Cassia County is included in the Burley, ID Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
History
Cassia County was created by the Idaho Territorial Legislature on February 20, 1879, by a partition of Owyhee County, with the county seat at Albion.[3] A western portion became Twin Falls County in 1907. The county assumed its present boundaries when an eastern portion became Power County on January 30, 1913. The county seat was moved to Burley in 1918. The county was named for Cassia Creek, which in turn was named either for John Cazier, a member of the Mormon Battalion and an emigrant train captain, or for a plant found in the area.
Government
Elected Officials
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.
County Commission
- District 1: Paul Christensen
- District 2: Robert Kunau
- District 3: Dennis Crane (chair)
Other Elected Officials
- Clerk: Joseph Larsen
- Treasurer: Patty Justesen
- Sheriff: Jay Heward
- Assessor: Dwight Davis
- Coroner: Craig Rinehart
- Prosecuting Attorney: Douglas Abenroth
At the state level Cassia County is located entirely in Legislative District 27.[4] District 27 comprises both Cassia and Minidoka Counties. In the Idaho Senate, Cassia County is represented by Senator Dean Cameron of Rupert. In the Idaho House of Representatives, both are residents of Cassia County: in Seat A Representative Scott Bedke of Oakley and in Seat B Representative Fred Wood of Burley.
Cassia County is located in Idaho's 2nd congressional district and represented by Mike Simpson.
Politics
At every level Cassia County is a Republican Party stronghold. All county-level offices are held by Republicans and have been for decades. Republican primaries are tantamount to election to office as Democrats rarely field challenges for county or state legislative office. Cassia County is one of the most consistently Republican counties in the states and in the gubernatorial election of 2010 Republican Butch Otter carried Cassia County with 76.54% to Democrat Kieth Allred's 16.73%.[5] In the presidential election of 2012 Mitt Romney, whose father lived for a few years in his youth in Oakley, carried Cassia County with 85.2% while Barack Obama received 13.1%.[6] The last Democratic presidential candidate to carry Cassia County was Franklin Roosevelt in the election of 1940 edging out Wendell Wilkie by around 100 votes.
State legislators from Cassia County traditionally hold their seats for long periods of time. Two of the longest serving legislators in Idaho history were from Cassia County: Vard Chatburn of Albion who served in the House of Representatives from 1957 to 1986 and Denton Darrington in the Senate who served from 1982 to 2012. Because legislators rarely lose their seats, legislators representing Cassia County are often in leadership or chair committees. Since 2012, Representative Bedke has served as Speaker of the House. Bruce Newcomb of Burley also served as Speaker from 1998 to 2006.
Though born in Burley, Congressman Simpson now lives in Idaho Falls. The only other member of congress with ties to the county is Henry Dworshak who represented Idaho's 2nd congressional district and later served in the Senate. He lived in Burley and was the publisher of the Burley Bulletin. A Burley elementary school is named after him.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,580 square miles (6,700 km2), of which 2,565 square miles (6,640 km2) is land and 15 square miles (39 km2) (0.6%) is water.[7] The county's highest point is Cache Peak at an elevation of 10,339 feet (3,151 m) above sea level in the Albion Mountains, and the lowest is Milner Lake, a reservoir on the Snake River, at 4,134 feet (1,260 m).
The northern half of the county is part of the Magic Valley region of the Snake River Plain, and numerous mountain ranges extend north from the southern boundary and diminish as they approach the river, which flows from east to west.
The Silent City of Rocks National Reserve, containing exposed granitic batholith as old as 2.5 billion years, is located in the southern part of the county.
Adjacent Counties
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- Minidoka County - north
- Blaine County - north
- Power County - northeast
- Oneida County - east
- Box Elder County, Utah - southeast
- Elko County, Nevada - southwest
- Twin Falls County - west
- Jerome County - northwest
Highways
National protected areas
- City of Rocks National Reserve
- Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge (part)
- Sawtooth National Forest (part)
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 1,312 | — | |
| 1890 | 3,143 | 139.6% | |
| 1900 | 3,951 | 25.7% | |
| 1910 | 7,197 | 82.2% | |
| 1920 | 15,659 | 117.6% | |
| 1930 | 13,116 | −16.2% | |
| 1940 | 14,430 | 10.0% | |
| 1950 | 14,629 | 1.4% | |
| 1960 | 16,121 | 10.2% | |
| 1970 | 17,017 | 5.6% | |
| 1980 | 19,427 | 14.2% | |
| 1990 | 19,532 | 0.5% | |
| 2000 | 21,416 | 9.6% | |
| 2010 | 22,952 | 7.2% | |
| Est. 2014 | 23,540 | [8] | 2.6% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11] 1990-2000[12] 2010-2014[1] |
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2000 census
As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 21,416 people, 7,060 households, and 5,485 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile (3/km²). There were 7,862 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 84.69% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 0.80% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 12.06% from other races, and 1.87% from two or more races. 18.74% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 23.1% were of English, 13.8% American and 12.9% German ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 7,060 households out of which 42.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.20% were married couples living together, 8.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.30% were non-families. 19.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.99 and the average family size was 3.46.
In the county the population was spread out with 34.10% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 24.50% from 25 to 44, 19.60% from 45 to 64, and 12.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 101.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $33,322, and the median income for a family was $38,162. Males had a median income of $29,132 versus $19,851 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,087. About 11.10% of families and 13.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.60% of those under age 18 and 8.00% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 22,952 people, 7,666 households, and 5,758 families residing in the county.[14] The population density was 8.9 inhabitants per square mile (3.4/km2). There were 8,372 housing units at an average density of 3.3 per square mile (1.3/km2).[15] The racial makeup of the county was 81.8% white, 0.8% American Indian, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 14.2% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 24.9% of the population.[14] In terms of ancestry, 22.3% were English, 11.8% were German, 10.6% were American, and 5.1% were Irish.[16]
Of the 7,666 households, 41.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.8% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 24.9% were non-families, and 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.46. The median age was 32.0 years.[14]
The median income for a household in the county was $39,866 and the median income for a family was $47,995. Males had a median income of $36,402 versus $22,156 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,782. About 12.4% of families and 15.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.7% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.[17]
Education
Cassia County is served primarily by one school district, Cassia Joint School District #151, which was consolidated in the 1950s.
Public High Schools
- Burley High School - Burley
- Cassia Alternative High School - Burley
- Declo High School - Declo
- Oakley High School - Oakley
- Raft River High School - Malta
Communities
Cities
Unincorporated communities
- Almo
- Elba
- Idahome
- Raft River
- Sublett
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Cassia County, Idaho
- USS Cassia County (LST-527) - U.S. Navy ship - 1944-56
References
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- ↑ Idaho.gov - Cassia County accessed 2009-05-29
- ↑ Idaho Legislative District Map
- ↑ http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/RESULTS/2010/General/cnty_Gov.htm
- ↑ http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/RESULTS/2008/General/cnty_pres.htm
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External links
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Jerome County | Minidoka County and Blaine County | Power County | |
| Twin Falls County |  |
Oneida County | ||
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| Elko County, Nevada | Box Elder County, Utah |
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Municipalities and communities of Cassia County, Idaho, United States
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| Unincorporated communities |
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| Footnotes |
‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
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