Butte County, Idaho

Butte County, Idaho
Seal
Location in the U.S. state of Idaho
Idaho's location in the U.S.
Founded	February 6, 1917
Named for	Big Southern Butte
Seat	Arco
Largest city	Arco
Area
• Total	2,234 sq mi (5,786 km2)
• Land	2,232 sq mi (5,781 km2)
• Water	2.0 sq mi (5 km2), 0.1%
Population
• (2010)	2,891
• Density	1.3/sq mi (1/km²)
Congressional district	2nd
Time zone	Mountain: UTC-7/-6

Butte County is a rural county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,891, making it the third-least populous county in Idaho. Its county seat and largest city is Arco. The county was established in 1917 from parts of Blaine County.

Butte County is included in the Idaho Falls, ID Metropolitan Statistical Area. Much of the eastern part of the county is the vast Idaho National Laboratory, which extends eastward into neighboring counties.

Geography

Big Southern Butte was used as a landmark by pioneers.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,234 square miles (5,790 km²), of which 2,232 square miles (5,780 km²) is land and 2.0 square miles (5.2 km²) (0.1%) is water.

The Little Lost River is located in Butte County. Its waters, along with the Big Lost River, disappear from the surface to flow underground into the Snake River Plain aquifer in Butte County.

The county was named for the volcanic buttes that rise from the desert plain; the largest is Big Southern Butte, located in the southern part of the county. It rises 2,500 feet (760 m) above the desert floor and was used as a landmark by pioneers.

The southwestern portion of the county includes the visitor center at the Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, which extends south & west into three other counties.

Adjacent counties

• Clark County - northeast
• Jefferson County - east
• Bingham County - southeast
• Blaine County - southwest
• Lemhi County - northwest
• Custer County - northwest

Highways

• US 20
• US 26
• US 93
• SH-22
• SH-33

National protected areas

• Caribou-Targhee National Forest (part)
• Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve (part)
• Salmon-Challis National Forest (part)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1920	2,940		—
1930	1,934		−34.2%
1940	1,877		−2.9%
1950	2,722		45.0%
1960	3,498		28.5%
1970	2,925		−16.4%
1980	3,342		14.3%
1990	2,918		−12.7%
2000	2,899		−0.7%
2010	2,891		−0.3%
Est. 2014	2,622		−9.3%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,899 people, 1,089 households, and 802 families residing in the county. The population density was 1 people per square mile (0/km²). There were 1,290 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.65% White, 0.28% Black or African American, 0.69% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 2.38% from other races, and 1.76% from two or more races. 4.14% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 25.3% were of English, 13.4% American, 8.5% German, 6.3% Irish and 5.5% Swedish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 1,089 households out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.20% were married couples living together, 7.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.30% were non-families. 23.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the county the population was spread out with 29.00% under the age of 18, 6.30% from 18 to 24, 24.00% from 25 to 44, 25.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 101.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,473, and the median income for a family was $36,950. Males had a median income of $37,750 versus $20,962 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,948. About 14.70% of families and 18.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.70% of those under age 18 and 8.10% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 2,891 people, 1,129 households, and 788 families residing in the county. The population density was 1.3 inhabitants per square mile (0.50/km²). There were 1,354 housing units at an average density of 0.6 per square mile (0.23/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.5% white, 0.4% American Indian, 0.2% Pacific islander, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% black or African American, 2.0% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.1% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 33.4% were English, 18.5% were German, 10.6% were American, 9.1% were Irish, 7.6% were Danish, and 7.2% were Scottish.

Of the 1,129 households, 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.8% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.2% were non-families, and 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.10. The median age was 41.7 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,413 and the median income for a family was $47,225. Males had a median income of $42,500 versus $26,563 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,414. About 9.0% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.2% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Arco
• Butte City
• Moore

Unincorporated communities

• Darlington
• Lost River
• Howe

See also

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

External links

• County Assessor Parcel Map