Mountain Home, Idaho

Mountain Home, Idaho
City
Elmore County Courthouse in 2009
Location in Elmore County and the state of Idaho
Mountain Home, Idaho Location in the United States
Coordinates:
Country	United States
State	Idaho
County	Elmore
Government
• Mayor	Tom Rist
Area
• Total	6.36 sq mi (16.47 km2)
• Land	6.07 sq mi (15.72 km2)
• Water	0.29 sq mi (0.75 km2)
Elevation	3,146 ft (959 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	14,206
• Estimate (2012)	13,791
• Density	2,340.4/sq mi (903.6/km2)
Time zone	Mountain (MST) (UTC-7)
• Summer (DST)	MDT (UTC-6)
ZIP code	83647
Area code(s)	208
FIPS code	16-54730
GNIS feature ID	0374044

Mountain Home is the largest city and the county seat of Elmore County, Idaho, USA. The population was 14,206 at the 2010 census. Mountain Home is the principal city of the Mountain Home, Idaho Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Elmore County.

Mountain Home was originally a post office at Rattlesnake Station, a stagecoach stop on the Overland Stage Line, about seven miles (11 km) east of the city, on present-day US-20 towards Fairfield. With the addition of the Oregon Short Line Railroad in 1883, the post office was moved downhill and west to the city's present site.

Mountain Home Air Force Base, an Air Combat Command installation, is located 12 miles (20 km) southwest of the city. Opened in 1943 during World War II, the base was originally a bomber training base and later an operational Strategic Air Command bomber and missile base (1953–65). It switched to Tactical Air Command and fighters in January 1966; TAC was succeeded by ACC in 1992.

Geography

Mountain Home is located at (43.136812, -115.694474), at an elevation of 3,146 feet (959 m) above sea level.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.36 square miles (16.47 km²), of which 6.07 square miles (15.72 km²) is land and 0.29 square miles (0.75 km²) is water.

About 8 miles (13 km) to the northwest are the Crater Rings, a National Natural Landmark.

Mountain Home experiences a semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk) with short, cold winters and hot, dry summers.

Climate data for Mountain Home (1971–2000)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °F (°C)	37.6 (3.1)	44.9 (7.2)	53.6 (12)	62.5 (16.9)	71.6 (22)	82.3 (27.9)	91.7 (33.2)	91.2 (32.9)	79.5 (26.4)	66.2 (19)	48.5 (9.2)	38.2 (3.4)	63.98 (17.77)
Average low °F (°C)	20.4 (−6.4)	24.4 (−4.2)	29.7 (−1.3)	35.1 (1.7)	42.8 (6)	50.4 (10.2)	56.7 (13.7)	55.5 (13.1)	45.8 (7.7)	35.4 (1.9)	26.9 (−2.8)	20.3 (−6.5)	36.95 (2.76)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	1.32 (33.5)	0.97 (24.6)	1.19 (30.2)	0.92 (23.4)	0.86 (21.8)	0.59 (15)	0.38 (9.7)	0.20 (5.1)	0.68 (17.3)	0.76 (19.3)	1.32 (33.5)	1.38 (35.1)	10.57 (268.5)
Source: NOAA (normals, 1971–2000)

Highways

A main street in the city

• - Interstate 84 bypasses the city, running about a mile east; it links with Boise 45 miles (72 km) to the northwest and Twin Falls 86 miles (138 km) to the southeast
• - US 20 splits from I-84 at exit 95, and heads eastbound toward Fairfield and over to Idaho Falls in eastern Idaho
• - SH-51 heads south-southwest towards Bruneau and on to Elko, Nevada, changing to Nevada State Route 225 midway through the Duck Valley Indian Reservation
• - SH-67 heads west-southwest toward the air base and on to Grand View via SH-167

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1890	233		—
1900	529		127.0%
1910	1,411		166.7%
1920	1,644		16.5%
1930	1,243		−24.4%
1940	1,193		−4.0%
1950	1,887		58.2%
1960	5,984		217.1%
1970	6,451		7.8%
1980	7,540		16.9%
1990	7,913		4.9%
2000	11,143		40.8%
2010	14,206		27.5%
Est. 2014	13,780		−3.0%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

Bengoechea Hotel

A street in the city

At the 2010 census, there were 14,206 people, 5,648 households and 3,686 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,340.4 inhabitants per square mile (903.6/km²). There were 6,249 housing units at an average density of 1,029.5 per square mile (397.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 83.2% White, 3.3% African American, 1.0% Native American, 2.9% Asian, 0.6% Pacific Islander, 4.8% from other races, and 4.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.9% of the population.

There were 5,648 households of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.7% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.06.

The median age in the city was 29.8 years. 27.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 12.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.1% were from 25 to 44; 20.7% were from 45 to 64; and 9.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.3% male and 48.7% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census, there were 11,143 people, 4,337 households and 2,957 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,150.8 per square mile (830.6/km²). There were 4,738 housing units at an average density of 914.5 per square mile (353.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.89% White, 2.61% African American, 0.94% Native American, 1.73% Asian, 0.31% Pacific Islander, 3.41% from other races, and 3.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.33% of the population.

There were 4,337 households of which 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.11.

Railroad Park

29.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 101.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.5 males.

The median household income was $37,307 and the median family income was $41,485. Males had a median income of $28,724 and females $21,905. The per capita income was $17,029. About 8.6% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.9% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

• Richard McKenna - novelist (The Sand Pebbles)
• Ford Rainey - actor
• Victor Wooten - musician

External links

• Official website
• Mountain Home School District - official site