According to Countryaah, Bannock County is located in the southeastern region of Idaho. Its county seat is Pocatello, and it borders six other counties: Caribou, Franklin, Power, Bear Lake, Oneida, and Bingham. It is a part of the Snake River Plain region of Idaho and has an area of 1,788 square miles.
The county lies at an elevation of 4,609 feet above sea level and has a moderate climate with warm summers and cold winters. The average annual temperature is 42°F (5°C). The area receives an average of 12 inches (30 cm) of precipitation each year.
Caribou County lies to the north-northeast of Bannock County and borders it along its northern border. It is home to numerous recreational activities such as camping, fishing, hiking, boating, hunting, snowmobiling, skiing/snowboarding, ATVing/off-roading and more. The county also boasts a number of historic sites such as Fort Hall Museum and Oregon Trail Interpretive Center.
Franklin County lies to the east-northeast of Bannock County and borders it along its eastern border. It is known for its many outdoor recreation opportunities including camping in Henry’s Lake State Park or rafting down the Snake River Canyon.
Power County lies to the south-southeast of Bannock County and borders it along its southern border. This rural county offers plenty of outdoor recreation activities including fishing at American Falls Reservoir or visiting Massacre Rocks State Park for rock climbing or horseback riding trails.
Bear Lake County lies to the west-northwestof Bannock County and borders it along its western border. This picturesque county offers plenty of recreational activities such as fishing on Bear Lake or visiting St Charles Canyon for rock climbing or snowmobiling opportunities during winter months.
Oneida County lies to the northwestof Bannock County and borders it along its northwestern border. This rural county offers numerous outdoor recreation activities such as camping at Fish Creek Reservoir or visiting Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge for bird watching opportunities..
Finally, Bingham County lies to the north-northwestof Bannock County and borders it along its northernmost border. This agricultural county offers numerous recreational opportunities including fishing on Blackfoot Reservoir or visiting Massacre Rocks State Park for horseback riding trails during summer months.
Demographics of Bannock County, Idaho
Bannock County is located in the southeastern corner of Idaho and it is the largest county in the state with an area of 2,634 square miles. It has a population of 82,839 people according to 2019 estimates, with a population density of 32.1 people per square mile. The racial makeup of Bannock County is 91.8% white, 1.3% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.5% black or African American, 4.7% from other races and 1.1% from two or more races. The median household income for Bannock County was $46,902 in 2018 and the poverty rate was 11%.
The largest city and county seat is Pocatello which has a population of 54,255 making it the fifth most populous city in Idaho. Other cities include Chubbuck (12,921), Downey (1,004), Inkom (711) and McCammon (717). There are also numerous unincorporated communities throughout Bannock County such as Firth (2,985), Shelley (2,646) and Fort Hall (2,322).
The economy in Bannock County is largely centered around manufacturing and healthcare with major employers being Simplot Corporation (a potato processing company), Intermountain Healthcare and Idaho State University which employs over 2200 people across its campuses in Pocatello and Idaho Falls. Other major industries in the area include retail trade, food services & drinking places as well as construction & mining activities due to its proximity to some large mines such as Lucky Friday Mine near Mullan which produces silver ore for Hecla Mining Company among other minerals such as lead & zinc ores.
Education wise there are 9 public school districts within Bannock County including Pocatello-Chubbuck School District 25 which serves most parts of Pocatello along with several other cities & townships within the county; Marsh Valley School District 21 covering Downey & Inkom; Aberdeen School District 58 covering Aberdeen & Lava Hot Springs; Arbon Valley School District 34 covering Arbon Valley; Blackfoot School District 55 covering Blackfoot; Firth School District 59 covering Firth; Moreland School District 16 covering Moreland; Rockland-Firth Joint School District 57 covering Rockland & Ucon Joint School District 39 providing education to Ucon among others.
Places of Interest in Bannock County, Idaho
Bannock County is home to a wide variety of places of interest, making it an ideal destination for tourists and locals alike. For those interested in nature, the Portneuf River Corridor provides a great opportunity to explore the outdoors. Here visitors can take part in activities such as fishing, kayaking, and rafting. Those interested in history can visit the Old Fort Hall Museum to learn about the area’s rich Native American heritage. The museum also houses artifacts from other significant historical events that occurred in Bannock County.
For more outdoor recreation, Bannock County also features several parks and trails that offer stunning views of its beautiful landscape. The Cache National Forest is home to countless trails perfect for hiking and mountain biking, while the Lava Hot Springs State Park is great for swimming and soaking in natural hot springs. Visitors can take a scenic drive along Highway 30 or hike up one of Bannock County’s many peaks for breathtaking views of the surrounding area. There are plenty of opportunities for wildlife viewing here as well with elk, deer, bighorn sheep and a variety of other animals calling this area home. With its diverse selection of attractions and activities, Bannock County is sure to have something to appeal to everyone.
Notable People of Bannock County, Idaho
Bannock County, Idaho is home to many notable people who have made significant contributions to the area. For starters, Chief Pocatello was an influential 19th century leader of the Shoshone tribe and one of the first Native Americans to negotiate a peace treaty with the United States. He is remembered as a great leader who worked tirelessly to protect his people’s rights and ensure their well-being. Also noteworthy is President William Howard Taft, who spent part of his childhood in Bannock County and attended school in nearby Pocatello.
The county has also produced several prominent athletes, including former NFL quarterback Marc Wilson and NBA player Ron Boone. Both of these athletes have established themselves as local heroes, with Wilson having been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2013 and Boone having been named one of Idaho’s top 50 basketball players of all time.
Other notable figures from Bannock County include author Vardis Fisher, who wrote several books about life in rural Idaho; Roberta Crenshaw, a pioneering female attorney; and Jack Simplot, an entrepreneur best known for founding J.R. Simplot Company. These individuals are just a few examples of the many notable people who have called Bannock County home over the years.