Salmon, Idaho
Encyclopedia
Salmon is a city in Lemhi County
, Idaho
, United States
. The population was 3,122 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat
of Lemhi County. Located in the Lemhi River
valley, Salmon is home to the Sacajawea Interpretive Culture and Education Center, which focuses on Lemhi Shoshone
culture, as well as the interaction between Sacagawea
and other Shoshone and Lewis and Clark.
crossed the continental divide
at Lemhi Pass
, 30 miles (48.3 km) to the southeast of Salmon. They followed the Salmon River through the present site of the city, then ascended the North Fork of the river to cross into present-day Montana near Lost Trail Pass
. The sole female in the party, Sacajawea, was born in the Lemhi Valley near Salmon. The Sacajawea Interpretive, Cultural and Educational Center was opened in Salmon in August 2003.
From 1910 to 1939, Salmon was the western terminus of the now-defunct Gilmore and Pittsburgh Railroad
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²), of which, 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (2.81%) is water.
The Salmon River
passes through Salmon; white water rafters and other people interested in outdoor recreation have brought additional economic activity to Salmon. The Lemhi River
flows into the Salmon River at Salmon.
of 2000, there were 3,122 people, 1,369 households, and 829 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,813.2 people per square mile (700.8/km²). There were 1,576 housing units at an average density of 915.3 per square mile (353.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.76% White, 0.19% African American, 0.54% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.61% from other races
, and 1.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.18% of the population.
There were 1,369 households out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples
living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.4% were non-families. 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.4% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,823, and the median income for a family was $34,844. Males had a median income of $30,417 versus $18,819 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,749. About 15.5% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.3% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.
960 and KSRA-FM
92.7, both owned by Salmon River Communications
, are licensed to Salmon.
BSk) with cold, dry winters and hot, slightly wetter summers.
Lemhi County, Idaho
Lemhi County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. The county was established in 1869, named after Fort Lemhi , a remote Mormon missionary settlement from 1855-58 in Bannock and Shoshone territory. As of the 2000 Census the county had a population of 7,806...
, 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....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 3,122 at the 2000 census. The city is 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....
of Lemhi County. Located in the Lemhi River
Lemhi River
The Lemhi River is a river in Idaho in the United States. It is a tributary of the Salmon River, which in turn is tributary to the Snake River and Columbia River.-Course:...
valley, Salmon is home to the Sacajawea Interpretive Culture and Education Center, which focuses on Lemhi Shoshone
Lemhi Shoshone
The Lemhi Shoshone are a band of Northern Shoshone, called the Akaitikka, Agaideka, or "Eaters of Salmon." The name "Lemhi" comes from Fort Lemhi, a Mormon mission to this group. They traditionally lived in the Lemhi River Valley and along the upper Salmon River in Idaho...
culture, as well as the interaction between Sacagawea
Sacagawea
Sacagawea ; was a Lemhi Shoshone woman, who accompanied the Lewis and Clark Expedition, acting as an interpreter and guide, in their exploration of the Western United States...
and other Shoshone and Lewis and Clark.
History
The Lewis and Clark ExpeditionLewis and Clark Expedition
The Lewis and Clark Expedition, or ″Corps of Discovery Expedition" was the first transcontinental expedition to the Pacific Coast by the United States. Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson and led by two Virginia-born veterans of Indian wars in the Ohio Valley, Meriwether Lewis and William...
crossed the continental divide
Continental divide
A continental divide is a drainage divide on a continent such that the drainage basin on one side of the divide feeds into one ocean or sea, and the basin on the other side either feeds into a different ocean or sea, or else is endorheic, not connected to the open sea...
at Lemhi Pass
Lemhi Pass
Lemhi Pass is a high mountain pass in the Beaverhead Mountains, part of the Bitterroot Range in the Rocky Mountains The pass lies on the Montana-Idaho border on the continental divide, at an elevation of 7373 feet above sea level.-History:...
, 30 miles (48.3 km) to the southeast of Salmon. They followed the Salmon River through the present site of the city, then ascended the North Fork of the river to cross into present-day Montana near Lost Trail Pass
Lost Trail Pass
Lost Trail Pass is a mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of the United States, on the border of Idaho and Montana in the Bitterroot Mountains. The pass is at an elevation of 7014 feet above sea level and is traversed by U.S. Highway 93...
. The sole female in the party, Sacajawea, was born in the Lemhi Valley near Salmon. The Sacajawea Interpretive, Cultural and Educational Center was opened in Salmon in August 2003.
From 1910 to 1939, Salmon was the western terminus of the now-defunct Gilmore and Pittsburgh Railroad
Gilmore and Pittsburgh Railroad
The Gilmore and Pittsburgh Railroad , now defunct, was an American railroad located in southwestern Montana and east-central Idaho. Constructed in 1909 and 1910 between the towns of Armstead, Montana and Salmon, Idaho, the G&P served mining and agricultural areas in Lemhi County, Idaho and...
.
Geography
Salmon is located at 45°10′41"N 113°54′10"W (45.178110, -113.902660). The elevation is 3944 feet (1202 m) above sea level.According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²), of which, 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (2.81%) is water.
The Salmon River
Salmon River (Idaho)
The Salmon River is located in Idaho in the northwestern United States. The Salmon is also known as The River of No Return. It flows for through central Idaho, draining and dropping more than between its headwaters, near Galena Summit above the Sawtooth Valley in the Sawtooth National...
passes through Salmon; white water rafters and other people interested in outdoor recreation have brought additional economic activity to Salmon. The Lemhi River
Lemhi River
The Lemhi River is a river in Idaho in the United States. It is a tributary of the Salmon River, which in turn is tributary to the Snake River and Columbia River.-Course:...
flows into the Salmon River at Salmon.
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 3,122 people, 1,369 households, and 829 families residing in the city. 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 1,813.2 people per square mile (700.8/km²). There were 1,576 housing units at an average density of 915.3 per square mile (353.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.76% White, 0.19% African American, 0.54% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.61% 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 1.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.18% of the population.
There were 1,369 households out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% 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, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.4% were non-families. 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.4% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,823, and the median income for a family was $34,844. Males had a median income of $30,417 versus $18,819 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 city was $15,749. About 15.5% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.3% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Education in Salmon is provided by Salmon School District #291.Radio
KSRA (AM)KSRA (AM)
KSRA is a radio station broadcasting an Adult Contemporary music format. Licensed to Salmon, Idaho, USA, the station is currently owned by Salmon River Communications. It features programming from ABC Radio.-History:...
960 and KSRA-FM
KSRA-FM
KSRA-FM is a radio station broadcasting a Country music format. Licensed to Salmon, Idaho, USA. The station is currently owned by Salmon River Communications. It features programming from ABC Radio.-History:...
92.7, both owned by Salmon River Communications
Salmon River Communications
Salmon River Communications is the small radio broadcasting company, which is located in Salmon, Idaho. Salmon is located in the Salmon River Country of central Idaho. The studios and offices are located at 315 Riverfront Drive, in Salmon....
, are licensed to Salmon.
Climate
Salmon experiences a semi-arid climate (KöppenKöppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
BSk) with cold, dry winters and hot, slightly wetter summers.