Camas County, Idaho
Encyclopedia
Camas County is a county in the southern portion of the U.S. state
of Idaho
. As of the 2000 Census, the rural county had a population of 991 (2007 estimate: 1,102). The county seat
is Fairfield
.
Camas County was created by the Idaho Legislature on February 6, 1917, by a partition of Blaine County
. It is named for the camas root, or Camassia
, a lily-like plant with an edible bulb found in the region, which was used as a food source by Native American
s and settlers.
U.S. Highway 20
runs east-west through the center of the county, at an elevation of just over 5,000 feet (1524 m) above sea level. State Highway 46 runs south to Gooding
, connecting to US-20 four miles (6.4 km) east of Fairfield.
The Soldier Mountain
ski area, opened in 1948, is 12 miles (19 km) north of Fairfield, in the Soldier Mountains of the Sawtooth National Forest
.
the southern portion of the Camas Prairie was an important feeding ground for their horses. In 1869, a treaty ratified by the US Senate provided a portion of the "Kansas Prairie" instead of the "Camas Prairie" to be retained by the Bannock Indians. The error may have made by the person who transcribed the treaty. Since there was no "Kansas Prairie" in Idaho, the treaty rights of the Bannocks were ignored. When they found a few settlers were allowing their hogs to feed on the Bannocks' traditional food source, the camas root, they objected (without results), which was a major cause of the Bannock War
of 1878.
Development of the region was slowed by the heavy snows of winter and the Bannock War, but farmers and rancher soon found good water, timber, grass, and an abundance of fish in the streams. Soldier was the first town established on Camas Prairie located about four miles northeast of Fairfield. When the railroad was built across the county it bypassed Soldier and when Camas was organized as a county Fairfield became the seat and most of the population moved there. The Lava mining district lies a few miles southwest of Fairfield, which attracted miners in the 1880s, but the main attraction of Camas County has always been its agricultural lands.
of 2000, there were 991 people, 396 households, and 287 families residing in the county. The population density
was 0.8 people per square mile (0.3/km²). There were 601 housing units at an average density of 0.6 per square mile (0.2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.16% White
, 1.21% Black
or African American
, 0.30% Native American
, 0.20% Asian
, 0.91% from other races
, and 2.22% from two or more races. 5.55% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race. 20.5% were of German, 18.1% American
, 15.4% English
and 7.4% Irish
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 396 households out of which 30.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.20% were married couples
living together, 4.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.50% were non-families. 22.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.30% 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 2.92.
In the county the population was spread out with 24.70% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 27.50% from 45 to 64, and 13.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 104.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,167, and the median income for a family was $40,156. Males had a median income of $30,500 versus $21,563 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $19,550. About 7.20% of families and 8.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.20% of those under age 18 and 8.50% of those age 65 or over.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
. As of the 2000 Census, the rural county had a population of 991 (2007 estimate: 1,102). The county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Fairfield
Fairfield, Idaho
Fairfield is the county seat of and the only city in Camas County, Idaho, United States. The population was 395 at the 2000 census, nearly half of the rural county's population.-Geography:...
.
Camas County was created by the Idaho Legislature on February 6, 1917, by a partition of Blaine County
Blaine County, Idaho
Blaine County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2010 Census the county had a population of 21,376. The county seat and largest city is Hailey. The county is home to the Sun Valley ski resort....
. It is named for the camas root, or Camassia
Camassia
Camassia is a genus of six species native to western North America, from southern British Columbia to northern California, and east to Utah, Wyoming and Montana...
, a lily-like plant with an edible bulb found in the region, which was used as a food source by Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
s and settlers.
U.S. Highway 20
U.S. Route 20
U.S. Route 20 is an east–west United States highway. As the "0" in its route number implies, US 20 is a coast-to-coast route. Spanning , it is the longest road in the United States, and the route sparsely parallels Interstate 90...
runs east-west through the center of the county, at an elevation of just over 5,000 feet (1524 m) above sea level. State Highway 46 runs south to Gooding
Gooding, Idaho
Gooding is the county seat and largest city of Gooding County, Idaho, United States. Its population was 3,384 at the 2000 census.The city is named for Frank R. Gooding, a local sheep rancher who became a prominent political figure in Idaho in the early 20th Century, serving as both Governor of...
, connecting to US-20 four miles (6.4 km) east of Fairfield.
The Soldier Mountain
Soldier Mountain
Soldier Mountain Ski Area is an alpine ski area in south central Idaho in the Sawtooth National Forest. It is 12 miles north of Fairfield in very rural Camas County. The elevation of its summit is 7177 feet above sea level and the vertical drop is 1425 feet . The area has two chairlifts in...
ski area, opened in 1948, is 12 miles (19 km) north of Fairfield, in the Soldier Mountains of the Sawtooth National Forest
Sawtooth National Forest
Sawtooth National Forest is in Idaho and Utah was protected in 1905 by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt as the Sawtooth Forest Reserve. Today the forest administers over 2.1 million acres of some of the most remote forestland in the lower 48 states, and there are over 1,000 lakes and 3,000...
.
History
When the cavalry was stationed at Fort BoiseFort Boise
Fort Boise refers to two different locations in southwestern Idaho. The first was a Hudson's Bay Company trading post near the Snake River on the Oregon border, dating from the era when Idaho was part of the fur company's Columbia District. After several rebuilds, it was ultimately abandoned in...
the southern portion of the Camas Prairie was an important feeding ground for their horses. In 1869, a treaty ratified by the US Senate provided a portion of the "Kansas Prairie" instead of the "Camas Prairie" to be retained by the Bannock Indians. The error may have made by the person who transcribed the treaty. Since there was no "Kansas Prairie" in Idaho, the treaty rights of the Bannocks were ignored. When they found a few settlers were allowing their hogs to feed on the Bannocks' traditional food source, the camas root, they objected (without results), which was a major cause of the Bannock War
Bannock War
The Bannock War was a series of conflicts in 1878 between various Bannock, Northern Shoshone and Paiute tribes against the United States.- Background :...
of 1878.
Development of the region was slowed by the heavy snows of winter and the Bannock War, but farmers and rancher soon found good water, timber, grass, and an abundance of fish in the streams. Soldier was the first town established on Camas Prairie located about four miles northeast of Fairfield. When the railroad was built across the county it bypassed Soldier and when Camas was organized as a county Fairfield became the seat and most of the population moved there. The Lava mining district lies a few miles southwest of Fairfield, which attracted miners in the 1880s, but the main attraction of Camas County has always been its agricultural lands.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 1079.02 square miles (2,794.6 km²), of which 1074.96 square miles (2,784.1 km²) (or 99.62%) is land and 4.06 square miles (10.5 km²) (or 0.38%) is water. The highest point is Two Point Mountain at 10,124 feet (3086 m), in the northwestern section of the county.Adjacent counties
- Blaine CountyBlaine County, IdahoBlaine County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2010 Census the county had a population of 21,376. The county seat and largest city is Hailey. The county is home to the Sun Valley ski resort....
- east - Lincoln CountyLincoln County, IdahoLincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2000 census the county had a population of 4,044 The county seat and largest city is Shoshone....
- southeast - Gooding CountyGooding County, IdahoGooding County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2000 Census the county had a population of 14,155...
- south - Elmore CountyElmore County, IdahoElmore County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2010 Census the county had a population of 27,038, down 7.2% from 29,130 in 2000. The largest city and county seat is Mountain Home....
- west
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 991 people, 396 households, and 287 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 0.8 people per square mile (0.3/km²). There were 601 housing units at an average density of 0.6 per square mile (0.2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.16% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.21% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.30% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.20% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.91% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.22% from two or more races. 5.55% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race. 20.5% were of German, 18.1% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 15.4% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
and 7.4% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 396 households out of which 30.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.20% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 4.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.50% were non-families. 22.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.30% 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 2.92.
In the county the population was spread out with 24.70% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 27.50% from 45 to 64, and 13.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 104.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,167, and the median income for a family was $40,156. Males had a median income of $30,500 versus $21,563 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $19,550. About 7.20% of families and 8.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.20% of those under age 18 and 8.50% of those age 65 or over.
Unincorporated communities
- CorralCorral, IdahoCorral is an unincorporated community in southwestern Camas County, Idaho, United States. It lies along U.S. Route 20 west of the city of Fairfield, the county seat of Camas County. Its elevation is 5,098 feet . Although Corral is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of...
- Hill CityHill City, IdahoHill City is an unincorporated community in southwestern Camas County, Idaho, United States.It lies at the intersection of U.S. Route 20 with Mink and Swamp Roads and Trader Lane, 14 miles west-southwest of Fairfield, the county seat....
- Soldier