Bingham County, Idaho

Bingham County
Bingham County
County
	United States Post Office in Blackfoot, Idaho.
	Location within the U.S. state of Idaho
	Idaho's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 43°13′N 112°24′W / 43.22°N 112.4°W
Country	United States
State	Idaho
Founded	January 13, 1885
Named for	Henry H. Bingham
Seat	Blackfoot
Largest city	Blackfoot
Area
• Total	2,120 sq mi (5,500 km2)
• Land	2,094 sq mi (5,420 km2)
• Water	26 sq mi (70 km2) 1.2%
Population (2020)
• Total	47,992
• Estimate (2022)	49,923
• Density	23/sq mi (9/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	www.co.bingham.id.us

Bingham County is a county in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2020 census, the population was 47,992.^[1] The county seat and largest city is Blackfoot.^[2]

Bingham County comprises the Blackfoot, ID Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Idaho Falls-Rexburg-Blackfoot, ID Combined Statistical Area.

History

Bingham County was created January 13, 1885. It was named for Henry H. Bingham, a congressman from Pennsylvania and friend of William Bunn, Idaho's Territorial Governor. The county was formed from Oneida County and was later partitioned itself to form Bannock (1893), Fremont (1893), Bonneville (1911), Power (1913), and Butte (1917) counties.^[3]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,120 square miles (5,500 km²), of which 2,094 square miles (5,420 km²) is land and 26 square miles (67 km²) (1.2%) is water.^[4] The Snake River flows southwest through the middle of Bingham County; at the county's southwest corner the river flows into the American Falls Reservoir. At the SE county corner is the Blackfoot Reservoir and Dam, impounding waters of the Blackfoot River. Outflow from the Blackfoot Dam flows northwesterly through the lower part of Bingham County, discharging into the Snake River.

Smaller buttes called the East Butte and the Middle Butte located in the Snake River Plain are visible south of US Route 20.

Adjacent counties

Jefferson County - north
Bonneville County - east
Caribou County - southeast
Bannock County - south
Power County - southwest
Blaine County - west
Butte County - northwest

Highways

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	13,575		—
1900	10,447		−23.0%
1910	23,306		123.1%
1920	18,310		−21.4%
1930	18,561		1.4%
1940	21,044		13.4%
1950	23,271		10.6%
1960	28,218		21.3%
1970	29,167		3.4%
1980	36,489		25.1%
1990	37,583		3.0%
2000	41,735		11.0%
2010	45,607		9.3%
2020	47,992		5.2%
2023 (est.)	50,395	^[5]	5.0%
U.S. Decennial Census^[6] 1790–1960,^[7] 1900–1990,^[8] 1990–2000,^[9] 2010–2020^[1]

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 45,607 people, 14,999 households, and 11,731 families in the county.^[10] The population density was 21.8 inhabitants per square mile (8.4/km²). There were 16,141 housing units at an average density of 7.7 units per square mile (3.0 units/km²).^[11] The racial makeup of the county was 80.6% white, 6.5% American Indian, 0.6% Asian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 9.8% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 17.2% of the population.^[10] In terms of ancestry, 22.3% were English, 12.7% were German, 5.9% were American, and 5.0% were Irish.^[12]

Of the 14,999 households, 43.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.4% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 21.8% were non-families, and 18.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 3.02 and the average family size was 3.45. The median age was 31.8 years.^[10]

The median income for a household in the county was $44,128 and the median income for a family was $51,750. Males had a median income of $39,703 versus $25,815 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,633. About 13.2% of families and 14.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.4% of those under age 18 and 10.5% of those age 65 or over.^[13]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 41,735 people, 13,317 households, and 10,706 families in the county. The population density was 20 people per square mile (7.7 people/km²). There were 14,303 housing units at an average density of 7 units per square mile (2.7 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 82.43% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 6.70% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 7.95% from other races, and 2.14% from two or more races. 13.30% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 23.6% were of English, 12.5% American, 8.9% German and 5.1% Danish ancestry.

There were 13,317 households, out of which 44.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.70% were married couples living together, 9.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.60% were non-families. 17.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.10 and the average family size was 3.52.

The county population contained 34.90% under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 19.70% from 45 to 64, and 10.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 100.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,423, and the median income for a family was $40,312. Males had a median income of $31,950 versus $21,591 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,365. About 9.90% of families and 12.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.30% of those under age 18 and 7.20% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Alridge^[14]
Cerro Grande^[15]
Clarkson^[16]
Coffee Point^[17]
Collins^[18]
Jameston^[19]
Gibson^[20]
Goshen^[21]
McDonaldville^[22]
Morgan^[23]
Pingree
Rising River^[24]
Rose^[25]
Springfield
Sterling^[26]
Thomas^[27]
Wapello^[28]
Wolverine^[29]
Woodville^[30]

Politics

Bingham County voters are reliably Republican. In no national election since 1948 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.

United States presidential election results for Bingham County, Idaho^[31]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	15,295	76.49%	4,124	20.62%	577	2.89%
2016	10,907	65.61%	2,924	17.59%	2,794	16.81%
2012	13,440	76.03%	3,822	21.62%	416	2.35%
2008	12,230	71.29%	4,424	25.79%	502	2.93%
2004	12,734	76.87%	3,605	21.76%	226	1.36%
2000	10,628	73.47%	3,310	22.88%	527	3.64%
1996	8,391	56.39%	4,304	28.92%	2,186	14.69%
1992	7,333	45.86%	3,565	22.29%	5,093	31.85%
1988	10,131	68.89%	4,346	29.55%	228	1.55%
1984	11,900	78.72%	3,064	20.27%	152	1.01%
1980	11,781	76.07%	2,933	18.94%	773	4.99%
1976	7,327	60.83%	4,347	36.09%	371	3.08%
1972	6,886	64.33%	2,476	23.13%	1,343	12.55%
1968	6,484	60.23%	2,988	27.76%	1,293	12.01%
1964	5,364	50.63%	5,231	49.37%	0	0.00%
1960	5,934	55.06%	4,843	44.94%	0	0.00%
1956	5,853	63.17%	3,412	36.83%	0	0.00%
1952	6,114	66.87%	3,024	33.07%	5	0.05%
1948	3,162	49.04%	3,197	49.58%	89	1.38%
1944	3,223	48.41%	3,428	51.49%	7	0.11%
1940	3,662	48.90%	3,815	50.95%	11	0.15%
1936	2,354	34.86%	4,215	62.42%	184	2.72%
1932	2,894	42.52%	3,802	55.85%	111	1.63%
1928	3,236	64.27%	1,778	35.31%	21	0.42%
1924	2,693	53.45%	696	13.82%	1,649	32.73%
1920	3,293	73.55%	1,184	26.45%	0	0.00%
1916	1,885	43.34%	2,306	53.02%	158	3.63%
1912	1,410	47.91%	814	27.66%	719	24.43%
1908	3,277	59.93%	1,749	31.99%	442	8.08%
1904	3,186	71.15%	890	19.87%	402	8.98%
1900	1,436	47.10%	1,613	52.90%	0	0.00%