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The city of Idaho
Falls, originally known as Eagle Rock, found
its beginnings with the influx of miners, fur
trades, trappers, travelers, pioneers, and
early settlers. That, along with the
development of the railroad, ferries, and
bridges which spanned the Snake River,
solidified the existence of Idaho Falls. Idaho
Falls is situated on the valley floor astride
the Snake River at an elevation of 4,744 feet
and is the County Seat of Bonneville County.
Idaho Falls lies 50 miles north of Pocatello
and 100 miles from Yellowstone and Grand Teton
National Parks. It is one of Eastern Idaho's
regional centers for shopping, medical care,
education, and cultural awareness. There are
superb opportunities for recreational activity
in the nearby mountains. Wildlife is abundant
in this area; you can catch sight of deer,
elk, and many other animals among the golden
leaves of the aspen trees and the forests of
pines that inhabit this wonderland of nature.
The dryness of this region seems to temper the
hot and cold temperatures that can occur in
this part of Eastern Idaho. The residents of
Idaho Falls enjoy a semi-arid alpine climate.
The summers are extensive and mild which is
ideal for fishing, biking, hiking, horseback
riding, swimming, barbecues, and floating the
Snake River. July nights are typically in the
low 50s while the daytime temperatures range
in the mid 80s. Fall on the valley floor is
generally peaceful and gorgeous. January
temperatures range from 27 degrees in the
daytime to an average of 10 degrees at night.
Winters are comparatively long, but not
severe. Spring tends to be short in Idaho
Falls with a below average growing season. You
need to plant your garden early to ensure
success.
The waterfalls are the focal point of Idaho
Falls and are created by a diversion dam which
provides hydroelectric power. The original dam
was built in 1909; today's dam was constructed
as part of a $55.3 million hydroelectric power
project in 1982. The citizenry of Idaho Falls
paid $48.0 million in taxes to fabricate the
hydroelectric power plant. The U.S. Department
of Energy in turn funded $7.3 million allowing
for completion of the power plant. There are a
total of three power plants that produce
hydroelectric power for Idaho Falls, combined
they produce fifty percent of the electricity
needed.
Idaho Falls is a clean and prosperous
community with friendly residents. This city
offers something for a variety of interests,
no matter the weather or season. Shopping is
unlimited with excellent stores, a healthy
downtown, various box stores, and a 60-acre
shopping mall. The Grand Teton Mall is made up
of 76 stores offering everything from apparel
to food. From May through October, one can
find a shopping alternative at the annual
Farmers' Market located downtown in the
KeyBank parking lot. With year-around
activities, recreational opportunities, and
excellent schools, it is no wonder young
families and retirees are proud to call Idaho
Falls home.
Idaho Falls Profile
History
The
Shoshone-Bannock and Northern Piute inhabited
the Idaho Falls region long before the Lewis &
Clark expedition of 1805. The Fort Hall
trading post was established in 1834, a short
thirty miles to the south and was one of the
first settlements in the area. Trappers were
followed by missionaries who had been
dispatched to convert the Indians to
Christianity. Father DeSmet, who is famous in
this part of the world held his first
religious service in the Teton Valley, in the
Driggs area, or Pierre's Hole as it was known
then by the trappers.
Settlers by the thousands traveled through the
area along the Oregon Trail. It was not until
the discovery of gold in 1860 that settlers
were attracted to this region in great
numbers. The gold rush established a need for
goods and services. The town of Eagle Rock
sprang up to meet the needs of the miners who
settled the area, later the town was renamed
Idaho Falls, as it is known today. In 1864
Harry Rickets saw the need and built a ferry
across the Snake River nine miles north of the
city of Idaho Falls. J.M. (Matt) Taylor, a
freighter, built a bridge across the Snake
River later that same year, referred to as the
log toll bridge. The log toll bridge was
originally known as Taylor's Bridge, then the
Eagles Rock. In 1891 its name was changed to
Idaho Falls Bridge.
Miners abandoned the Idaho Falls area as the
gold diminished and gold mining no longer
appeared profitable. Finding it extremely
difficult to earn a living mining for gold,
the early miners and settlers turned to
farming and ranching. These agricultural
geniuses built irrigation systems diverting
water from the Snake River turning this arid
land into an agricultural paradise. This high
desert oasis developed into one of the richest
agricultural areas in the United States.
Present-day farmers produce most of the state
of Idaho's potatoes, grain, and several other
agricultural crops.
Medical
Facilities
Idaho Falls
has a wide range of medical facilities with
top-notch professionals and state-of-the-art
equipment, making it home to the finest health
care in the region. The area has full-service
hospitals, varous freestanding clinics, same
day surgery centers, and home health care
services. Virtually every type of health care
professional is available for your health and
wellness needs.
Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center
3100 Channing Way
Idaho Falls, ID 83404
(208) 529-6111
EIRMC is the largest medical facility in the
region. It is a full-service hospital which
provides care for residents of Idaho Falls,
surrounding communities, Montana, and Wyoming.
In October of 2001, the hospital opened a new
Cancer Center, fully equipped with the latest
radiation therapy capabilities.
The Heart Center includes two surgery suites
for cardiac surgery, digital cardiac
catheterization labs, and an array of
diagnostic and interventional tools. The
Cardiac Rehab provides an education and
exercise program for patients who have had
heart attacks, heart surgery, and other heart
problems. A three-phase program is offered.
Services provided: Behavioral Health Center,
Bio-Medical Services, Cardiac Lab and
Cardio-Pulmonary, Nuclear Cardiology, Rehab
Facility, Day Surgery Center, Diabetes
Education, Echo Cardiology, EEG Lab, EKG Lab,
Emergency Services, Medical Imaging, Wellness
Center, Women's Center, Comprehensive
Inpatient Rehabilitation Program, Comprehensive
Outpatient Rehab Therapy Services, Physical
Therapist, Occupational Therapists, Speech
Pathologists, Critical Care Unit, Microbiology
/ Immunology, Outpatient Surgery (Day Surgery)
Pharmacy.
Mountain View Hospital
2325 Coronado
Idaho Falls, ID 83404
(208) 557-2700
This 20-bed Acute Care Facility opened its
doors in December 2002. The hospital has six
operating rooms, six labor / delivery suites,
and a dedicated caesarean room. The imaging
department includes MRI, CT, Radiography, and
Fluoroscopy, Ultrasound, two state-of-the-art
Mammography units, and Stereo Tactic Needle
Biopsy.
Mountain View Hospital also includes extensive
physical therapy modalities, including an
ultra modern exercise / therapy pool, weight
room, and indoor running track. There are also
medical office buildings on the hospital
grounds.
Population
Bonneville
County is the fourth largest county in the
state, Idaho Falls being the largest city in
the county. This is a growing community with
the largest increase seen between the years of
2001-02. Economic diversity and aggressive
economic development are strong reasons for
this area's stamina and progress.
Idaho Falls Population
1980 1990 2002
39,739 43,973 51,096
Climate &
Topography
Temperature Range
Spring: 31º-77º
Summer: 41º-86º
Fall:
12º-60º Winter:
10º-44º
Annual
Precipitation...................................................9.8
inches
Annual
Snowfall........................................................30.3
inches
Growing
Season.........................................................130
Days
Elevation.....................................................................4,744
feet
Transportation
Air
Service: Idaho Falls Regional Airport
has two carriers, SkyWest and Horizon,
servicing the airport. The airport is
approximately two miles west of downtown Idaho
Falls, with a 9001-foot runway. There are
fifteen flights daily, not including charter
flights. Four major rental car companies
service the airport as well.
The Idaho Falls Airport Historic District is
associated with the beginning of commercial
aviation in Idaho Falls and its many
surrounding communities. It took seven long
years (1930-1937) to build the Idaho Falls
Municipal Airport and make it a fully
operational air transport facility capable of
servicing planes, people, and airmail. This
facility functioned both as a final
destination and as a link in the ever
increasingly connected communities of the West
from 1930, to the present. The historic
district consists of a hangar, administrator's
cabin, a beacon tower, and the surrounding
landscaped area representing the original
site of operations of the Idaho Falls Airport.
State Aeronautics Director Arthur C. Blomgren,
along with U.S. Department of Commerce
officials, visited Idaho Falls in 1929,
inspecting sites for a proposed local airport.
Work on new airport facilities began later
that same year under the leadership of Idaho
Falls Mayor Brazilla Clark when the city
acquired the present airport property. The
first landing strip and beacon tower were
completed in 1930. 2140 N. Skyline Drive,
Idaho Falls, ID 83402, (208) 529-1221.
Rail Service: Union Pacific
provides freight service only.
Trucking Service: There are
scheduled freight carrier services, overnight
parcel service, and overnight mail service
available.
Route Direction
Miles
Jurisdiction Designation (Route)
To Access
Federal
Interstate..................I-15...........................N-S.....................1
Federal
Interstate................I-15B..........................E-W.....................0
Federal
Interstate................US-20........................E-W.....................0
Federal Interstate................US-26........................E-W.....................5
Federal
Interstate................US-91........................N-S......................0
Bus Service: Bus service
provided daily by 17 busses. Local Charter
Services are available.
Greyhound Bus Lines
850 Denver
Idaho Falls, ID 83402
(208) 522-0912
Taxi: There are several taxi
/ transportation companies in Idaho Falls.
Public Transit Authority: (208)
529-1489
General Information, Idaho Falls Bus System is
divided into four distinct areas (blue, green,
red & yellow) to better serve this ever
expanding community. Home pick-up is available
if you are unable to access the public transit
system.
Labor Force
& Employment
Bonneville
County unemployment has remained below the
national and state average throughout the past
ten years. With a skilled and dedicated work
force, combined with economic diversity and
economic development, the future should bring
continued growth in the employment sector.
Several large malt plants of Anhueser Busch
and Grupo Modelo have announced expansion into
the county, which should help stabilize prices
and production for barley farmers. The
production plants are highly automated and
they will bring some competitive jobs into the
county which should add to the tax base. Added
commercial activity in the health and retail
sectors is in the works and promises to bring
more jobs into the area.
Civilian Labor Force
(February) 2003
2004
Total Labor
Force..........................................50,287..............................50,089
Total
Employment..........................................48,549..............................48,491
Total
Unemployment........................................1,738................................1,598
Percentage
Unemployment..............................3.5%.................................3.2%
State of Idaho
Unemployment...........................5.6%................................4.8%
US
Unemployment..............................................5.6%................................6.1%
Employment by Type
1990 2000
Wage &
Salary................................................31,903.............................42,781
Farm
Proprietors..................................................787...................................865
Non-Farm
Proprietors.......................................6,827...............................9,553
County Labor Force, Non-Farm
Employment
2000
Total Non-Farm
Employment..................................................................39,482
Services &
Miscellaneous.......................................................................13,272
Wholesale & Retail
Trade.......................................................................12,617
Government.................................................................................................5,341
Construction................................................................................................2,731
Transportation/Communication/Utilities...................................................1,793
Finance, Ins., & Real
Estate......................................................................1,391
Other
Manufacturing...................................................................................1,086
Food
Products...............................................................................................459
Chemicals.......................................................................................................291
Machinery (exc.
elect.)...................................................................................240
Metals..............................................................................................................149
Electronics & Electrical
Equipment................................................................47
Lumber & Wood
Products..............................................................................44
Mining................................................................................................................22
Largest Employers
Idaho National
Laboratory.............................................................................7,500
Idaho Falls School District
#91.................................................................1,700
Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center /
Hospital...................................1,311
Melaleuca, Inc.
...........................................................................................1,300
Bonneville Joint School
District....................................................................850
City of Idaho
Falls..........................................................................................750
Center
Partners..............................................................................................600
Bonneville
County..........................................................................................450
Wal-Mart.........................................................................................................450
Albertson's Inc.
..............................................................................................350
Housing
Cost of Living Index
U.S. Average
(Housing).............................................................................100%
Idaho Falls
(Housing)................................................................................86.8%
3 Bedroom
House...............................................................................$125,000
2 Bedroom Apartment
Rent..................................................................$410.00
Median Household
Income...................................................................$40,512
Property tax about
1.5% of the assessed value of real property
Community Building Profile
Percentage Built Between 1980 &
1990................................................10.2%
Percentage Built Between 1990 & 2000
Census..................................15.7%
City of Idaho Falls Housing
Units 1990
2000
Total Housing
Units..............................................16,845........................19,826
Median Value Owner
Occupied..........................63,400.......................90,100
Median
Rent................................................................293............................475
County of Bonneville Housing
Units 1990
2000
Total Housing
Units..............................................26,049........................30,484
Median Value Owner
Occupied.........................63,700........................93,500
Community Government Revenue
Typical Property Tax
Rate.............................................................2.2594670%
Total Net Market Value
2001.....................................................1,744,859,485
Source for above information: Idaho
Department of Commerce & Labor
Utilities
City
Utilities: New Accounts
308 Constitution Way
Idaho Falls, ID 83401
(208) 529-1280
Energy
Natural Gas
Electricity
Residential......................................$45.78..........................................$36.97
(75 therms/mo.)
(1,000KWH/Mo.)
Commercial..................................$224.86.....................................$5,283.64
(400 therms/mo.)
(300KW,90.000 KWH/Mo.)
Industrial........................................$40,965...................................$18,033.42
(100,000 therms/mo. Direct
Sales) (91MW, 400,000 KWH/Mo.)
$11,848
Customer Owned Gas Transport Fee
(100,000 therms/mo.)
Electrical: (208) 529-1286
308 Constitution Way
Idaho Falls, ID 83401
Sewer: (208) 529-1108
Treatment Plant Design
Capacity...........................................17
mgd
Average Daily Usage (% of
Capacity).........................................44%
Largest Main Line
Capacity.................................................54
inches
Water: (208) 529-1471
Maximum Plant Daily
production.............................................76
mgd
Maximum Daily
Usage..............................................................58
mgd
Average Daily
Usage................................................................20
mgd
Natural Gas: (800) 548-3679
or (208)542-6600
Intermountain Gas Company
1527 Hollipark Drive
Idaho Falls, ID 83401
Sanitation: (208) 529-1491
2472 Holmes Ave.
Idaho Falls, ID 83405
Landfill: (208) 528-5550
Emergency
Services
Emergency
Only: Ambulance, Fire,
Police.................................................911
Ambulance
Business................................................................(208)
529-1495
Fire
Business.............................................................................(208)
529-1211
Police
Business.........................................................................(208)
529-1100
Sheriff.....................................................................(Ext.
1310) (208) 529-1350
Communications
Idaho Falls
has a variety of television and radio
stations. Cable television is available along
with wireless, satellite, Dish, and Direct TV.
Newspaper
The Post Register (Daily)
333 Northgate Mile
Idaho Falls, ID 83405
(208) 522-1800
Telephone
The area is served by numerous
cellular phone companies.
AT&T: (800) 222-0300
Qwest: (800) 244-1111
Sprint: (800) 877-7746
Education
Idaho Falls Joint School District #91
690 John Adams Parkway
Idaho Falls, ID 83402
(208) 525-7500
The Idaho Falls Joint School District #91
serves approximately 11,000 students and 600
teachers. The school district is comprised of
fourteen elementary schools, three junior high
schools, two high schools, and one alternative
high school.
www.d91.k12.id.us
Universities
/ Colleges
University Place
1784 Science Center Drive
Idaho Falls, ID 83402
(208) 282-7800
www.if.uidaho.edu
University Place is unique in the fact it has
an exceptionally low student-to-teacher ratio
and offers courses from Idaho State
University, Boise State University, and
University of Idaho. The university is ideally
located adjacent to the INL facility. Their
educational programs are individually designed
so they meet the experience and objectives of
the students and have continued to provide an
elevated quality of education and research
since 1954.
BYU-Idaho Campus
Rexburg, ID 83460
(208) 496-1150
www.byui.edu
BYU-Idaho Campus employs a two-tiered
educational facility. BYU-Idaho offers both
Associate and Bachelor's degrees. Majors are
uniquely integrated across academic
departmental boundaries providing wider
educational latitude. More students are able
to attend by admission into one of three
educational tracks in a year-round academic
calendar (fall/winter, winter/summer,
summer/fall). Through this innovative
scheduling process choices of academic
internships are greatly enhanced and
increased. Their unprecedented Activities
Program provides a broad source of leadership
training to students who participate in a wide
spectrum of opportunities including; the arts,
enrichment, and physical and social areas.
The emphasis at BYU-Idaho is clearly on the
students. The student-to-faculty ratio is
26:1, with the primary focus of faculty being
on the scholarship of learning and teaching.
There is a serious commitment to the belief
that everyone on campus is a teacher. BYU-Idaho
is affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-Day-Saints. Students, faculty, and
staff adhere to an Honor Code reflecting
beliefs of the LDS Church. BYU-Idaho is to be
found 35 miles north of Idaho Falls in the
city of Rexburg.
Off-campus facilities:
120-acre Livestock Center six miles west of
Rexburg, 200-acre Outdoor Learning Center 40
miles east of Rexburg, 38-acre Island Park
Natural Science Center (seasonal), and Lodge
facility (leased, seasonal) 60 miles east and
south of Rexburg.
Eastern Idaho Technical College
1600 S. 25th E.
Idaho Falls, ID 83404
(208) 524-3000 or (800) 662-0261
www.eitc.edu
With an enrollment of approximately 800, this
two-year public college offers associates
degrees and certificates in
professional-technical fields in accounting,
business, electrical, dental assistant,
marketing management, medical assistant,
paralegal, practical nurse training, surgical
operating room technician, welding, and
several others.
Idaho State University
741 S. 7 Street
Pocatello, ID 83209
(208) 282-2700
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