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Idaho Counties

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Idaho Counties

There are44 Counties in Idaho.
Counties are the largest political divisions within the state.

When Idaho became a territory in March, 1863, there were four Counties in existence: Boise, Idaho, Nez Perce and Shoshone. By the time Idaho became a state 27 years later, there were 15 counties. The rest of the 44 Counties came into existence during the 30 years after Idaho became a state. Two of the former Counties disappeared during this time. Alturas, which was created in 1864, was later divided into the many Counties now found in central Idaho. Logan County was only in existence for six years, from 1889 to 1895. It was combined with Alturas to form Blaine County and Lincoln County, which was formed just two weeks after Logan lost its identity.

Minidoka County, Idaho

Minidoka County History, Geography, Demographics, Cities and Towns, and Education

County Seat: Rupert
Year Organized: 1913
Square Miles: 760

Court House:

P.O. Box 368
County Courthouse
Rupert, ID 83350-0368

Etymology - Origin of County Name

Minidoka County is named for a Dakota Sioux word for "a fountain or spring of water"

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: Census Bureau Quick Facts

County History

Established January 28, 1913 with its county seat at Rupert. Named directly for the first settlement, Minidoka, a railroad siding. The name is Indian, but the exact meaning is in dispute. Some believe that Minidoka means "well, spring" but there was not a source of water such as a well or spring until 1946. Others say the word is Shoshoni and means "broad expanse," because the broadest portion of the Snake River Plain lies here.

Neighboring Counties:

South: Cassia County
Southwest: Jerome County
Northwest: Lincoln County; Blaine County

Cities and Towns:

- Acequia	city	Incorporated Area
- Heyburn	city	Incorporated Area
- Minidoka	city	Incorporated Area
- Paul	city	Incorporated Area
- Rupert (County Seat)	city	Incorporated Area

County Resources:

Enter County Resources and Information Here

County Resources

The history of our nation was a prolonged struggle to define the relative roles and powers of our governments: federal, state, and local. And the names given the counties, our most locally based jurisdictions, reflects the "characteristic features of this country!"

But age, size and colorful names of our counties isn't the only reason to explore counties' role in American history, or the history of county government itself. In fact, the story of county government reflects the larger meanings of American history.

Today's counties are the most flexible, locally responsive and creative governments in the US. They are the most diverse, varying in size, population, geography, and governmental structure. In their politics and policies, they express a 1990's political slogan "Think globally, act locally."