Gem County, Idaho

Infobox U.S. County
county = Gem County
state = Idaho


founded year = 1915
founded date = March 15
seat wl = Emmett
largest city wl = Emmett
area_total_sq_mi = 566
area_total_km2 = 1465
area_land_sq_mi = 563
area_land_km2 = 1457
area_water_sq_mi = 3
area_water_km2 = 8
area percentage = 0.56%
census yr = 2000
pop = 15181
density_sq_mi =
density_km2 =
time zone =
UTC offset =
DST offset =
footnotes =
web = www.co.gem.id.us
named for = The state nickname, "Gem State".

Gem County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2000 Census the county had a population of 15,181 (2005 estimate: 16,273) [http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/16/16045.html] . The county seat is EmmettGR|6.

Gem County is home to the Idaho ground squirrel.

Gem County is part of the Boise City–Nampa, Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Established March 15, 1915, and named for the state nickname, "Gem State." Fur trappers were in the area as early as 1818 and Alexander Ross explored Squaw Creek in 1824. Prospectors and miners moved through the county in 1862 in route to the gold rush in the Boise Basin, and by the next year irrigation began along the Payette River. [http://www.idaho.gov/aboutidaho/county/gem.html]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 566 square miles (1,465 km²), of which, 563 square miles (1,457 km²) of it is land and 3 square miles (8 km²) of it (0.56%) is water.

Adjacent counties

* Adams County, Idaho - (north)
* Valley County, Idaho - (northeast)
* Boise County, Idaho - (east)
* Ada County, Idaho - (south)
* Canyon County, Idaho - (southwest)
* Payette County, Idaho - (west)
* Washington County, Idaho - (northwest)

National protected area

* Boise National Forest (part)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 15,181 people, 5,539 households, and 4,176 families residing in the county. The population density was 27 people per square mile (10/km²). There were 5,888 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.79% White, 0.73% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.07% Black or African American, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 3.16% from other races, and 1.83% from two or more races. 6.92% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.9% were of American, 17.5% German, 13.1% English and 7.2% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 5,539 households out of which 34.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.40% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.60% were non-families. 20.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the county the population was spread out with 28.00% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 15.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,460, and the median income for a family was $40,195. Males had a median income of $31,036 versus $20,755 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,340. About 11.60% of families and 13.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.60% of those under age 18 and 13.90% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

City

*Emmett

Unincorporated communities

*Letha
*Ola
*Sweet

References

External links

* [http://www.co.gem.id.us/ Gem County] official site
* [http://www.co.gem.id.us/general/history.htm Gem County history] official site