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Owyhee County, Idaho
Seal of Owyhee County, Idaho
Seal
Map of Idaho highlighting Owyhee County
Location in the state of Idaho
Map of the U.S
Idaho's location in the U.S.
Founded December 31, 1863
Seat Murphy
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

7,697 sq mi (19,934 km²)
7,679 sq mi (19,886 km²)
19 sq mi (48 km²), 0.24%
Population
 - (2000)
 - Density

10,644
Website www.owyheecounty.net

Owyhee County is a countyWp globe tiny located in the U.S. stateWp globe tiny of IdahoWp globe tiny. In area it is the next to largest county in Idaho, second only to Idaho CountyWp globe tiny. As of the 2000 Census the county had a population of 10,644 (2005Wp globe tiny estimate: 11,073) [1]. The county seatWp globe tiny is MurphyWp globe tiny6Wp globe tiny. HomedaleWp globe tiny is the county's largest city.

Previous county seats were Ruby CityWp globe tiny (1863Wp globe tiny-1867Wp globe tiny) and Silver CityWp globe tiny (1867Wp globe tiny-1934Wp globe tiny).

Owyhee County is part of the Boise City-Nampa, ID Metropolitan Statistical AreaWp globe tiny.

History

On December 31Wp globe tiny, 1863Wp globe tiny, Owyhee County became the first county organized by the Idaho Territorial Legislature. Nez PerceWp globe tiny and IdahoWp globe tiny Counties predate Owyhee County as parts of Washington TerritoryWp globe tiny, but they were not recognized by Idaho TerritoryWp globe tiny until February 1864Wp globe tiny.

Owyhee County originally included present-day Twin FallsWp globe tiny, CassiaWp globe tiny and PowerWp globe tiny Counties. It assumed its present boundaries in 1879Wp globe tiny. "Owyhee" is a corruption of HawaiiWp globe tiny, a reference to Hawaiian fur trappers who explored the area in 1819Wp globe tiny and 1820Wp globe tiny.

Owyhee County's history is inextricably linked to the mining boom that dominated Idaho in the second half of the 19th Century. Silver City and Ruby City are among the state's most noteworthy ghost townWp globe tinys from the period. At its height in the 1880s Owyhee County was among the most populated places in Idaho. Today it is among the least populated.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census BureauWp globe tiny, the county has a total area of 19,934 km²Wp globe tiny (7,697 sq miWp globe tiny). 19,886 km² (7,678 sq mi) of it is land and 48 km² (19 sq mi) of it (0.24%) is water.

Adjacent Counties

Demographics

As of the censusWp globe tiny2Wp globe tiny of 2000, there were 10,644 people, 3,710 households, and 2,756 families residing in the county. The population densityWp globe tiny was 1/km² (1/sq mi). There were 4,452 housing units at an average density of 0/km² (1/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 76.87% WhiteWp globe tiny, 0.15% BlackWp globe tiny or African AmericanWp globe tiny, 3.21% Native AmericanWp globe tiny, 0.47% AsianWp globe tiny, 0.08% Pacific IslanderWp globe tiny, 16.50% from other racesWp globe tiny, and 2.72% from two or more races. 23.10% of the population were HispanicWp globe tiny or LatinoWp globe tiny of any race.

There were 3,710 households out of which 37.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.20% were married couplesWp globe tiny living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.70% were non-families. 21.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.35.

In the county the population was spread out with 31.90% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 26.50% from 25 to 44, 20.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 109.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,339, and the median income for a family was $32,856. Males had a median income of $25,146 versus $20,718 for females. The per capita incomeWp globe tiny for the county was $13,405. About 14.20% of families and 16.90% of the population were below the poverty lineWp globe tiny, including 20.80% of those under age 18 and 12.10% of those age 65 or over.

Owyhee Mountains

Reynolds Creek Experimental Watershed in the Owyhee Mountains about 50 miles southwest of Boise.

Cities and towns

External links

Coordinates: 42°34′N 116°10′W / 42.56, -116.17


This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Owyhee County, Idaho. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
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