Hailey, ID 83333
Phone: (208)788-5555
Fax: (208)788-5559
| BLAINE County Coordinator |
| P.O. Box 277 Hailey, ID 83333 Phone: (208)788-5555 Fax: (208)788-5559 |
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| Demographics | Demographics
Blaine County has five incorporated communities, Bellevue (pop. 1,876), Carey (513), Hailey (6,200), Ketchum (3,003), and Sun Valley (1,427). The total population for the county in 2000 was 18,991. That is an increase of 40% since 1990.
Land Area: 2,655 square miles Established March 5, 1895 with Hailey as the county seat. Named for James G. Blaine, U. S. Secretary of State (1889-1892) under President Benjamin Harrison. The area was first explored in 1818 by Donald Mackenzie. County Seat: Hailey Wildland Fire - 8-9/2000 Event Summary: $1,000,000,000.00 - Over 1,541 fires burned in Idaho in 2000, scorching over 7 million acres. A federal disaster declaration was declared on September 1, 2000. Several times DEQ issued air quality advisories due to intense smoke; air cleaners and fans were sent to Salmon on August 21, 2000. Over 3 million acres of public and state lands were closed, including more than 2,000 miles of trails, 80 miles of river, and nearly all public airstrips. The Salmon River was closed for 26 days, affecting 4,000 outfitter floaters, 2300 private floaters, and 140 commercial jet boaters, resulting in lost income and employment for local communities. 13 fires caused evacuations of 14-16 locations, 109 structures were destroyed. Critical wildlife habitat was destroyed. County Summary: Avalanche - January 5, 1996 Event Summary: Avalanche at Galena Summit County Summary: Two skiers died in an avalanche at Galena Summit. The Idaho Statesman 1/6/96 Drought - 1987-1992 Event Summary: 7 year drought, from 1987-1992. This period saw the worst water shortage since the 1977 drought. In 1987, Idaho requested $5.8 million in Emergency Conservation Funds to aid drought-stricken farmers. In 1988, in Oneida County the Deep Creek Reservoir was shut off half-way through irrigation season because the water level was so low it was filling the sprinkler system with mud and silt. Throughout the drought, reservoirs were consistently below capacity, resulting in irrigation water ending earlier than normal, crops being plowed under or not planted at all, and recreational activities being curtailed. The drought caused high water temperatures in rivers, and the lack of perennial grass growth caused livestock to be removed from public lands early, while wildlife starved in many wintering areas. Conservation measures were instituted for residential and commercial use. Wells used for residential and agricultural sectors ran dry, and a moratorium on new wells was instituted. In 1992 alone, $500 million was lost in agricultural production. County Summary: 7 year drought (1987-1992) saw the worst water shortage in the state since the 1977 drought. The Idaho Statesman; Idaho State Journal; Idaho Press Tribune; Times-News; Spokesman Pestilence - 1985 Event Summary: Grasshopper infestation led to pesticide spraying on over 6 million acres of range; Ada, Elmore, Owyhee and Minidoka counties declared a disaster by USDA, state disaster declaration 6/18/85. County Summary: Grasshopper infestation The Idaho Statesman 3/1/86 Flood - April 26, 1982 Event Summary: Dam collapse near Carey led to flooding. County Summary: Two small earthen dams collapsed under high spring runoff, flooding the area around Carey with two feet of water. 100 acres of farmland and over 24 homes and businesses were flooded, and bridge abutments had to be shored up after floodwaters ate away part of the stream bank. The Idaho Statesman 4/27/82 Flood - December 14-26, 1972 Event Summary: 12 days of record low temperatures (as low as -30F) caused ice jams on the Snake and Portneuf Rivers and led to flooding. The ice in the Snake River between Weiser and Payette was about 12' above the river's normal flow level. The Snake River ice jam was over 35 miles long, stretched from Farewell Bend, Oregon to the Payette-Washington County line, and grew at a rate of 4.5 miles per day. Over 90 families were evacuated in Idaho and Oregon, and a state County Summary: Ice jams on the Little Wood River near Carey caused flooding over Hwy 20-26. The Idaho Statesman December 16, 17, 20, 1972 Flood - January 17, 1971 Event Summary: Heavy rain and snow over four days caused flooding in southwest Idaho. County Summary: 5 snowslides closed Hwy 93 south of Ketchum. 1 skier received a broken leg and cuts in a slide. The Idaho Statesman 1/18/71 Flood - May 1969 Event Summary: $45,000.00 - Big Wood River flood County Summary: The Big Wood River reached a peak flow of 4320 cfs. Despite the flood control measures in January, the river still undercut banks and railroad beds. Railroad cars and car bodies were used to stabilize river banks. $45,000.00 USACE "Flood Plain Information Ketchum Idaho and Vicinity" Earthquake - April 26, 1969 Event Summary: Earthquake at Ketchum County Summary: A magnitude 4.9 shock cracked cement floors at Ketchum and Warm Springs and plaster at Livingston Mills. It was felt over 9,000 square miles. Earthquake History of Idaho; Seismicity of the United States Flood - January 22, 1969 Event Summary: Heavy rain and snow over five days caused creeks and rivers to rise rapidly, leading to flooding in the Boise watershed and throughout the state. County Summary: 2.65" of rain and snow fell on Hailey during the storm. Main Street was flooded with 6" of water, and the weight of wet snow collapsed the roof of the IOOF lodge. Schools throughout Blaine County were closed, as was Hwy 93 over Galena Summit. After this flood, the county spent $100,000 for levee construction and other flood control measures. $100,000.00 The Idaho Statesman 1/22/69 Flood - May 25, 1967 Event Summary: $4,300.00 - Big Wood River flood County Summary: Flooding along the Big Wood River damaged yards and destroyed river banks. Big Wood River reached an est. peak discharge of 4830 cfs, resulting in bank damage. $4,300.00 USACE "Flood Plain Information Ketchum Idaho and Vicinity" Flood - 2/1-3/1963 Event Summary: $4,685,000.00 - Heavy snowfall followed by heavy rain caused snowmelt, and combined with large ice jams in several rivers, led to severe flooding in the Clearwater, Boise, Payette, Weiser, Portneuf and Snake River drainages. Ice jams and high water in the Clearwater River raised the Hwy 95 bridge a foot off of its pilings. An federal disaster declaration was issued February 15, 1963, for eight Idaho counties due to flooding: Fremont, Madison, Blaine, Owyhee, Bannock, Caribou, Gooding, and Lincoln. Statewide highway damage was est. at $800,000; damage to county roads est. at $700,000. County Summary: Carey was isolated after floodwaters damaged area roads and closed Hwy 20-26 between Shoshone and Carey. The Idaho Statesman 2/28/63 Flood - June 12, 1958 Event Summary: 2.23" of rain fell in Boise in 12 hours, causing flooding and damaging crops. County Summary: The Big Wood River reached a est. peak discharge of 4790 cfs, flooding roads. USACE "Flood Plain Information Ketchum, Idaho and Vicinity" Flood - June 6, 1957 Event Summary: Big Wood River flood County Summary: Big Wood River reached an est. peak discharge of 3980 cfs, flooding roads and low-lying areas. USACE Flood Plain Information Ketchum, Idaho and Vicinity" Flood - May 31, 1956 Event Summary: Big Wood River flood County Summary: Big Wood River reached an est. peak discharge of 47000 cfs; 2' of water flooded bridge decks; property and roads along the river were damaged. USACE "Flood Plain Information Ketchum, Idaho and Vicinity" Flood - April 26, 1952 Event Summary: Rain and high runoff led to flooding of the Snake, Owyhee, Payette, Boise, Big Wood, Little Wood and Portneuf Rivers. County Summary: Little Wood River at Carey washed out 3 bridges. Fish Creek flooded farms north of the city; families evacuated; Hwy 93 closed. Flow of Big Wood River est. at 243% of normal. Flood - June 8, 1938 Event Summary: Big Wood River flood. County Summary: Flooding along Big Wood river, est. peak discharge of 4640 cfs. USACE "Flood Plain Information Ketchum, Idaho and Vicinity" Flood - April 21, 1937 Event Summary: Little Wood River flood - $100,000.00 - County Summary: $100,000.00 - High runoff on the Little Wood River and its tributaries led to flooding. Two reservoirs on Little Fish Creek broke; a dozen bridges were swept away, livestock drowned, and numerous families were evacuated. Hundreds of acres were flooded, crops were seriously damaged, and small buildings and two houses were swept away by the floodwaters. Most severely damaged were the reservoirs, canal systems, roads and buildings. BCN 4/21/38 Avalanche - 2/25/1917 Event Summary: Avalanche near Hailey left 15 killed, 15 injured. County Summary: Avalanche near Hailey @ North Star Mine on Wood River. 15 killed, 15 injured as they were trapped in the bunkhouse when the avalanche hit. The Idaho Statesman (date unknown) Severe Weather - January-February 1916 Event Summary: Severe winter storm in western Idaho resulting in 1 reported death, travel cut off. County Summary: Severe winter storm: Hailey isolated for 11 days. The Idaho Statesman Avalanche - January-February 1904 Event Summary: Snowslides County Summary: Snowslides near Bellevue @ Minnie Moore Mine killed 1 The Idaho Statesman Avalanche - January 1886 Event Summary: Period called "a time of big slides and absolute devastation" by old timers. Slides occurred through mining areas, killing miners and destroying homes County Summary: Heavy snow during winter of 1886, coupled with a warming trend in January, led to a series of avalanches over several hours in the Wood River-Ketchum area, killing one person at the Mayflower Mine, three at the Homestake Mine, and two at the Wild Irishman Claim. Slides also destroyed several homes, and the town of Bullion suffered heavy damage. Identified Hazards ( Most likely to occur & greatest impact)
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