This Urban Idaho

Chris Blanchard
Assistant to the City Council
City of Boise

When Congress created the Idaho Territory on the last day of the 1863 session, the new territory carved from Washington State had more residents than Puget Sound. Quartz, silver, and gold brought Confederate and Union refugees alike to the territory in massive numbers. Idaho’s first year population of 32,342 dwarfed Oregon’s 9,083 residents and Washington’s 3,695.1 That original population boom in Idaho was a harbinger of things to come: a population concentrated but not yet urbanized.
          Growth in Boise Basin cities accelerated in 1864 when the federal government authorized the construction of Fort Boise to protect the growing mining industry from Indian troubles. With the soldiers in place, commerce and agricultural production grew around the military presence and extractive resource trade. In the space of one year, Boise’s population grew to 725 and it replaced Lewiston as the capital of the territory; Lewiston’s population, meanwhile, declined to 414.2
          Other Idaho cities at the time were larger still, with population concentrating near mining strikes. Idaho City boasted a population of 6,275; Centerville 2,638; Pioneer 2,743; and Placerville 3,254.3 Almost half of Idaho’s residents lived in the Boise Basin in 1864, nearly 40 percent lived in the Virginia City region (now in Montana, just outside of Idaho), and the remaining 10 percent lived in the Lewiston region.
          Though population concentrated in those areas, Idaho retained a rural character. By 1890, the year Idaho was admitted to the Union, no more than 29 percent of Idaho’s population lived in what could be considered an urban area.4 The state’s population that year totaled 88,548.

          Still, the West largely remained the frontier. Of the 100 largest urban areas in the U.S. in 1890, only seven were cities on the Pacific Slope: San Francisco (8) with 298,997; Los Angeles (57) 50,395; Oakland (60) 48,682; Portland (61) 46,385; Salt Lake City (63) 44,843; Seattle (70) 42,837; and Tacoma (84) 36,006.5 By contrast, Boise, Idaho’s largest city by far, counted only 3,391 residents in the census published June 1, 1890.
          In 2004, 29 of the nation’s 100 largest cities were located on the Pacific Slope. Despite its recent growth, Salt Lake City, the nation’s 63rd largest city in 1890, had fallen from the list, as had Tacoma. Boise currently ranks as the nation’s 112th largest city with an estimated population of 190,122 residents.6
As former University of Idaho professor Carlos Schwantes writes, “It has often been said of the United States that the nation was born in the country and moved to the city. Idaho, by contrast moved from its mining camps and agricultural villages into the country.”7 If Schwantes is correct about Idaho’s urban beginnings, Idaho has returned to its roots in a big way.
          Idaho’s current population boom began in the 1970s at a time when the nation identified Boise as a corporate headquarters town. Construction giant Morrison-Knudsen (now Washington Group International) built reclamation projects that helped companies such as Simplot, which in turn sold agricultural products through Joe Albertson’s growing retail chain. J.R. Simplot also invested profits into the founding of Micron. Amidst that boom, Boise Cascade and TrusJoist flourished just as Idaho’s natural resource economy traditionally had.8
          The year 1970 marked the first time that more people lived in Idaho’s urban areas than in rural areas and by 1980, after five decades of net out-migration, Idaho posted a net in-migration of 130,000 — a population increase from 1970 of 32.4 percent.9 In that period, L.J. Davis (of “Tearing Down Boise” fame) reported in the New York Times Magazine that Boise ranked as America’s sixth fastest growing city, and Idaho the nation’s fastest growing state.10 This rapid growth represented the shape of things to come.
          In 1980, Idaho’s population was 54 percent urban; by 1990 57.4 percent; by 2000, 66.4 percent — all living on .4 percent of the state’s land mass.11 By 1990, the U.S. Census Bureau counted two Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) in Idaho: Boise, encompassing Ada and Canyon County; and Pocatello and portions of Bannock County.12 Growth continued.
          In 2006, the Census Bureau counted five MSAs entirely within Idaho’s borders — Boise-Nampa, Coeur D’Alene, Idaho Falls, Lewiston and Pocatello — and a sixth, Logan, Utah, which includes Franklin County, Idaho. In addition, Idaho now claims six “micropolitan” areas — boomtowns – within its borders. Blackfoot, Burley, Moscow, Mountain Home, Rexburg, and Twin Falls all have their sights set on becoming Idaho’s next metropolis. Ontario, Ore., the agricultural powerhouse that includes Payette County, Idaho, also makes the list as a micropolitan climber, as does Jackson, Wyo., which includes Teton County, Idaho, and its recreational tourism — one of the more robust economic sectors in Idaho.13
          Some areas, such as Boise, grow via centrifugal force, casting development outward from the city center. Others, like Coeur D’Alene, benefit from centripetal forces consolidating populations from the smaller surrounding towns. However Idaho cities grow, they all face urban growing pains.
          The news headlines across the state appear strangely similar. The Twin Falls area Times-News ran a story in 2005 from Gooding titled, “Rural group’s new leader will help cities prepare for growth.”14 Also in 2005, the Times-News editorial board endorsed the concept of local option taxes to help Twin Falls pay for public transportation — a resource available to most urban areas, but not in Idaho where state legislators have routinely rejected the idea.15
          In northern Idaho, the Spokesman Review ran stories such as, “Post Falls, Idaho, grapples with its growth.”16 In the Treasure Valley, the Jan. 2, 2006, Idaho Statesman declared, “Small town Boise lives only in memory.”17 For many Idahoans, growth is shocking, if not surprising.
          In 1997, Blackfoot, Idaho considered an urban renewal plan.18 In 1999, Salmon, Idaho residents battled over renewing their urban renewal tax.19 In 2000, the East Central Idaho Planning and Development Association celebrated it 25th anniversary.20 Yet the urbanization of Idaho, well documented in the annals of history and the mainstream media, is still a well-guarded secret to many in rural Idaho.
          Urban areas comprised a majority of the Idaho Legislature for the first time in March 2001.21 Thirty-four of the 105 state legislators — nearly a third of the entire Legislature — represent Ada and Canyon Counties.22 With the Legislature transitioning from rural-agricultural interests to urban-industrial interests, cities, their people, their politics and their culture will shape the state in ways unimaginable to long-time Idaho residents.
          But the story of Idaho today, like yesterday, is the story if its cities. These cities — from fast growing up-and-comers like Driggs to the modern metropolis of Boise, point to one certainty: this is no rural state with pockets of civilization. With more than two-thirds of the state concentrated in five metropolitan areas, most Idahoans today cannot identify with being part of America’s “empty quarter.” Rather, they see themselves as part of a national and global trend of urbanization, part of this urban Idaho.

Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Areas and Primary Cities:

Population Totals by Decade 1940 - 2000 23

          Bolstered by a high quality of life, comparatively affordable housing prices, and large employers such as HP and Micron, the Treasure Valley has been booming for several decades. Note that Boise’s population doubled between 1960 and 1970. Nampa nearly did the same between 1990 and 2000. Between 200 and 2004, Canyon County added 26,597 residents — a 20.4 percent increase in total population, which now stands at 158,038, making it also one of the nation’s fastest growing counties in 2004.24 Meridian’s population nearly quadrupled between 1990 and 2000.

          Lewiston, the original territorial capital, shows signs of a comeback. It, like Coeur D’Alene, shows centripetal growth — Lewiston, the traditional urban center, is consolidating population from smaller outlying cities. This is most likely a response to Idaho’s changing economy, one that is now based upon services and manufacturing — typical economic sectors in urban centers. Lewiston more than doubled its size between 1960 and 1970 — the same years as its rival Boise.
           Shoshone County was the eighth largest County in Idaho in 1950; by 2000 it had fallen to 22nd.25 This region shows the clearest trend of centripetal growth as the populations in Shoshone County moved west to Kootenai County. The decrease in mining explains the decline of towns such as Wallace and Kellogg, towns that are reinventing themselves as recreational tourist attractions. In Southern Idaho, Driggs is taking advantage of its proximity to Jackson Hole, Wyo., and is now listed as a “micropolitan area.” Donnelly, Idaho, also in the southern part of the state, is also pursuing recreational tourism with the construction of Tamarack, the first full-service resort built in the Unites States in two decades. Like Kellogg, Wallace and Driggs, Donnelly and Cascade are transitioning from a natural resource (timber) economy.

          With a new Latter-day Saint temple in Rexburg and the conversion of Ricks College to the four-year Brigham Young University-Idaho, the Idaho Falls area has now passed the Pocatello MSA in size — which at one time rivaled Boise and Ada County as the population leader. The Idaho National Laboratory drives patent creation and innovation in Idaho (along with Micron), and employs more than 3,400 people in the Idaho Falls region.

          Once hanging its hat on the city’s railroad connections, Pocatello now prospers due to AMI Semiconductors, which employs nearly 1,000 people at its global headquarters in Pocatello, and from Idaho State University’s lead role in providing health sciences education for the state.

          The U.S. Census Bureau officially labels Twin Falls as a “micropolitan” area; it also includes Burley in that same category. Jerome, Burley, Rupert, Paul and Heyburn continue their historic success as agricultural and food processing providers, while Twin Falls has become the area’s service provider, featuring large retail establishments, business services and medical facilities.

 Centripetal vs. Centrifugal Growth map

          Northern Idaho shows a clear picture of centripetal forces — city growth by concentrating population from outlying areas to the central city. In this case, as the mining economy in Kellogg spiraled downward (the blue area at the top right of the Idaho map), the population boomed just to the west in Kootenai County.

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1 Merril D. Beal and Merle W. Wells, History of Idaho, 3 vols., vol. 1 (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1959).

2 Ibid., 342.

3 Ibid., 343.

4 Beal and Wells, History of Idaho, ix

5 U.S. Bureau of the Census, "Table 12. Population of the 100 Largest Urban Places: 1890," (June 15, 1998).

6 U.S. Bureau of the Census, Annual Estimates of the Population for Incorporated Places over 100,000, Ranked by
July 1, 2004 Population: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2004 (Sub-Est2004-01) (2004 [cited February 25 2006]).

7 Carlos Schwantes, In Mountain Shadows: A History of Idaho (Lincoln: University of Nebraska, 1991).

8 Ibid., 224-225.

9 Ibid., 223; 228.

10 Ibid., 224.

11 State of Idaho, "County Profiles of Idaho: Idaho State Profile (Idc 03-33120)," ed. Idaho Department of
Commerce (2002).

12 United States Office of Management and Budget, "Metropolitan Areas and Components, 1999, with Fips Codes,"
ed. U.S. Census Bureau Population Division (July 1999).

13 United States Office of Management and Budget, "Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas and
Components, December 2005, with Codes," ed. U.S. Census Bureau Population Division (January 19, 2006).

14 Elizabeth A. Devena, "Rural Group's New Leader Will Help Cities Prepare for Growth," The Times News May 19,
2005.

15 "Editorial: State Should Grant Local Voters Option on Sales Tax," The Times News December 15, 2005.

16 Rasha Madkour, "Post Falls, Idaho, Grapples with Its Growth," The Spokesman Review November 27, 2005.

17 Cynthia Sewell, "Treasure Valley Growth-Small-Town Boise Lives Only in Memory," Idaho Statesman January
2, 2006.

18 Janet D. Howard, "Blackfoot, Idaho, Considers Urban Renewal Plan," Post Register November 15, 1997.

19 Candace Burns, "Salmon, Idaho, Urban Renewal Tax District Upsets Residents, Area Official," Post Register July
27, 1999.

20 Brad Hem, "East Central Idaho Planning, Development Association Celebrates 25 Years," Post Register April 5,
2000.

21 Ken Miller, "Redistricting Will Redefine Legislature," Idaho Statesman March 25, 2001.

22 "Our View: Urban Lawmakers Can Help Get Transit out of Neutral Gear," Idaho Statesman October 23, 2003.

23 Idaho Commerce and Labor, Historical Population of Cities and Counties (2005 [cited February 25 2006]);
available from http://cl.idaho.gov/Data/historical.xls.

24 U.S. Bureau of the Census, Population Estimates for the 100 Fastest Growing U.S. Counties with 10,000 or More
Population in 2004: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2004 (2004 [cited February 25 2006]).

25 Idaho Commerce and Labor, Historical Population of Cities and Counties ([cited).

References

Beal, Merril D., and Merle W. Wells. History of Idaho. 3 vols. Vol. 1. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1959.

Burns, Candace. "Salmon, Idaho, Urban Renewal Tax District Upsets Residents, Area Official." Post Register July 27, 1999.

Devena, Elizabeth A. "Rural Group's New Leader Will Help Cities Prepare for Growth." The Times News May 19, 2005.

"Editorial: State Should Grant Local Voters Option on Sales Tax." The Times News December 15, 2005.

Hem, Brad. "East Central Idaho Planning, Development Association Celebrates 25 Years." Post Register April 5, 2000.

Howard, Janet D. "Blackfoot, Idaho, Considers Urban Renewal Plan." Post Register November 15, 1997.

Idaho Commerce and Labor. 2005. Historical Population of Cities and Counties. In, (accessed February 25, 2006).
Idaho, State of. "County Profiles of Idaho: Idaho State Profile (Idc 03-33120)." edited by Idaho Department of Commerce, 2002.

Madkour, Rasha. "Post Falls, Idaho, Grapples with Its Growth." The Spokesman Review November 27, 2005.

Miller, Ken. "Redistricting Will Redefine Legislature." Idaho Statesman March 25, 2001.

Office of Management and Budget, United States. "Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas and Components, December 2005, with Codes." edited by U.S. Census Bureau Population Division, January 19, 2006.

———. "Metropolitan Areas and Components, 1999, with Fips Codes." edited by U.S. Census Bureau Population Division, July 1999.

"Our View: Urban Lawmakers Can Help Get Transit out of Neutral Gear." Idaho Statesman October 23, 2003, Local 6.

Schwantes, Carlos. In Mountain Shadows: A History of Idaho. Lincoln: University of Nebraska, 1991.

Sewell, Cynthia. "Treasure Valley Growth-Small-Town Boise Lives Only in Memory." Idaho Statesman January 2, 2006, A-1.

U.S. Bureau of the Census. 2004. Annual Estimates of the Population for Incorporated Places over 100,000, Ranked by July 1, 2004 Population: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2004 (Sub-
Est2004-01). (accessed February 25, 2006).

———. 2004. Population Estimates for the 100 Fastest Growing U.S. Counties with 10,000 or More Population in 2004:
April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2004. (accessed February 25, 2006).

———. "Table 12. Population of the 100 Largest Urban Places: 1890." June 15, 1998.