Transportation

Geography

Historical Background

Identified Hazards

Issues

Maps

Minidoka County has five incorporated communities: Acequia (pop. 144), Heyburn (2,899), Minidoka (129), Paul (998), and Rupert (5,645). The total population for the county in 2000 was 20,174. That is an increase of 4% since 1990.

Transportation

Geography

Land Area: 762 square miles.

Historical Background

Established January 28, 1913 with its county seat at Rupert. Named directly for the first settlement, Minidoka, a railroad siding. The name is Indian, but the exact meaning is in dispute. Some believe that Minidoka means "well, spring" but there was not a source of water such as a well or spring until 1946. Others say the word is Shoshoni and means "broad expanse," because the broadest portion of the Snake River Plain lies here.

County Seat: Rupert

Wind - April 23, 2002

Event Summary:    $4,500,000.00 - The Snake River Plain area in SE Idaho experienced a severe windstorm on April 23, one week after a heavy snowstorm.   Sustained winds between 40-50 mph were recorded, with gusts reaching 60-70 mph,  The area affected ranged from Minidoka to Pocatello , Craters of the Moon, Blackfoot, Idaho Falls to Rexburg.  10,000 residents lost power in Blackfoot, Pocatello and Chubbuck. Schools were closed in Jefferson County.  Poor visibility and blowing dust closed roads, including I15 from Idaho Falls to Roberts; Hwy 20 from Arco to INEEL; Hwy 26.  Homes and power lines received extensive damage from falling trees and blowing debris.

County Summary: 

Frost - Fall 1985

Event Summary:  Potato Crops were damaged do to early fall frosts.

County Summary: Potato Crops were damaged do to early fall frosts.

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; USDA declared a disaster.

The Idaho Statesman 3/1/86

Pestilence - July 1971

Event Summary: Grasshoppers destroyed crops in the Magic Valley and Western Idaho .

County Summary: Grasshoppers destroyed 500,000 acres of crops in the Minidoka/Magic Valley area.

Flood - December 21-23, 1964

Event Summary:    $21,000,000.00 - During the end of December 1964, warm weather combined with heavy rains and melting snow, causing flooding along the Payette, Big Wood, Little Wood, Portneuf, Clearwater and Boise River drainages.  Hwy 21 and 15, US 95N and 30E were closed.  Over 100 homes were damaged, numerous bridges were washed out, and thousands of acres of farmlands were flooded.  2 deaths were attributed to the flood.  A state of emergency was declared.

County Summary: 640 families were cut off at Rupert after 3 days of rain flooded out roads.  Families were evacuated by boat, livestock was stranded without feed.

The Idaho Statesman 12/24/64

Flood -  February 10-14, 1962

Event Summary:    $15,000,000.00 - Floods were touched off when prolonged rain and warm temperatures combined to melt mountain snow packs and send the runoff rushing into the lowlands faster than the still frozen ground could absorb.  A federal disaster declaration was issued 2/14/62 after extensive flooding along the Portneuf River and its tributaries, The Snake and Teton Rivers, inundating an area from Sugar City to Malad and from Aberdeen to Soda Springs.  Throughout the area, numerous earthen dams and levees collapsed, roads were closed, bridges damaged, houses and businesses flooded.  National Guard and Army Corps of Engineers responded to the areas in hopes of stopping additional flooding.  Damage was estimated at more than $15 million.  Damage to over 1500 homes was reported.

County Summary: $235,000.00 - including $100,000 in damages to roads and bridges.

The Idaho Statesman

 Identified Hazards ( Most likely to occur & greatest impact)

Other Issues