- Ada County, Idaho
Infobox U.S. County
county = Ada County
state = Idaho
founded year = 1864
founded date = December 22
seat wl = Boise
largest city wl = Boise
area_total_sq_mi = 1060
area_total_km2 = 2745
area_land_sq_mi = 1055
area_land_km2 = 2732
area_water_sq_mi = 5
area_water_km2 = 13
area percentage = 0.5%
census yr = 2005
pop = 344727
density_sq_mi = 326.8
density_km2 = 126.2
time zone = Mountain
UTC offset = -7
DST offset = -6
footnotes =
web = www.adaweb.net
named for =Ada County is a county in the
U.S. state ofIdaho . As of the 2000 Census the county had a population of 300,904 (2005 estimate: 344,727) [http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/16/16001.html] . Thecounty seat and largest city is BoiseGR|6. Other cities with over 10,000 residents as of 2006 include Meridian, Eagle, Kuna, and Garden City [http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2006-04-16.xls Table 4: Annual Estimates of the Population for Incorporated Places in Idaho, Listed Alphabetically: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2006 (SUB-EST2006-04-16)] Accessed 16 July 2007] . Ada County is the state's largest in terms of population.Ada County is part of the Boise City–Nampa, Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
Ada County was created by the Idaho Territorial Legislature on December 22, 1864. It is named for Ada Riggs, the first pioneer child born in the area and the daughter of H. C. Riggs, a cofounder of Boise. [ [http://www.idaho.gov/aboutidaho/county/ada.html Idaho.gov - Ada County] ]
Government and Politics
Similar to other Idaho counties, an elected three-member
county commission heads the county government. Other elected officials include clerk, treasurer,sheriff , assessor,coroner , and prosecutor. [ [http://www.adaweb.net/ Ada County Portal] ]Although Ada County has traditionally been a Republican Party stronghold, it has become more competitive in recent years, especially in Boise. It was won by Republican
Barry Goldwater in the 1964 presidential election - the last time a Democrat carried the state - and has been carried by the Republican candidate in every presidential election since. [ [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?f=0&fips=16&year=1964 1964 Presidential General Election Results - Idaho] ]However, Democratic gubernatorial nominee
Jerry Brady carried the county in his 2002 and 2006 races despite losing statewide in both contests. [ [http://www.idsos.state.id.us/elect/RESULTS/2006/general/cnty_governor.htm November 5, 2002 General Election Results] ] [ [http://www.idsos.state.id.us/elect/RESULTS/2006/general/cnty_governor.htm November 7, 2006 General Election Results] ] Another prominent Democrat, Boise mayorDavid H. Bieter , was comfortably reelected in a nonpartisan race in 2007. [ [http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/global/story.asp?s=7324343 Bieter beats Tibbs in Boise mayor race] ]At the state level Ada County is represented by eight districts in the
Idaho Legislature , the most of any Idaho county. [ [http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/about/07districtmap.pdf Idaho Legislative District Map] ] In those districts each party holds 12 of a possible 24 seats. Democrats control the Boise-based districts while Republicans control the districts based in the western suburbs. [ [http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/about/district.cfm Idaho Legislative Districts] ] Several of the Boise seats were Democratic pickups in 2006. [ [http://www.ridenbaugh.com/index.php/2007/12/27/baseline-08-idaho-legislature/ Baseline 08: Idaho Legislature] ]Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau , the county has a total area of convert|1060|sqmi|km2, of which, convert|1055|sqmi|km2 of it is land and convert|5|sqmi|km2 of it (.50%) is water.Adjacent counties
*Boise County,
Idaho - northeast
*Elmore County,Idaho - east
*Owyhee County,Idaho - south
*Canyon County,Idaho - west
*Gem County,Idaho - northwestNational
protected area *
Boise National Forest (part)Demographics
As of the
census GR|2 of 2000, there were 300,904 people, 113,408 households, and 77,344 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 285 people per square mile. There were 118,516 housing units at an average density of 112 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 92.86% White, .65% Black or African American, .69% Native American, 1.74% Asian, .15% Pacific Islander, 1.67% from other races, and 2.24% from two or more races. 4.48% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.1% were of German, 15.0% English, 9.8% American and 9.1% Irish ancestry according toCensus 2000 .There were 113,408 households out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% were non-families. 23.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the county the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 100.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.9 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $46,140, and the median income for a family was $54,416. Males had a median income of $37,867 versus $26,453 for females. The
per capita income for the county was $22,519. About 5.4% of families and 7.7% of the population were below thepoverty line , including 9.2% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.Cities and towns
*Boise
*Eagle
*Garden City
*Kuna
*Meridian
*StarReferences
* [http://www.adaweb.net/ Ada County] official site
*cite web | title=Ada County | work=State website | url=http://www.idaho.gov/aboutidaho/county/ada.html | accessdate=2005-09-20
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