Teton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,630.[1] The county seat is Driggs,[2] and the largest city is Victor. The county was established in 1915 and was named after the Teton Mountains to the east.[3]

Teton County
Teton County Courthouse
Official seal of Teton County
Map of Idaho highlighting Teton County
Location within the U.S. state of Idaho
Map of the United States highlighting Idaho
Idaho's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°45′N 111°13′W / 43.75°N 111.21°W / 43.75; -111.21
Country United States
State Idaho
FoundedJanuary 26, 1915
Named forThe Teton Mountains
SeatDriggs
Largest cityVictor
Area
 • Total451 sq mi (1,170 km2)
 • Land449 sq mi (1,160 km2)
 • Water1.1 sq mi (3 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total11,630 Increase
 • Density26/sq mi (10/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitetetoncountyidaho.gov

Teton County is part of the Jackson, WY-ID Micropolitan Statistical Area.

The Teton Valley was discovered by John Colter in 1808, a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–06). It became known as Pierre's Hole, and it hosted the well-attended 1832 Rendezvous, which was followed by the Battle of Pierre's Hole.

Geography edit

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 451 square miles (1,170 km2), of which 449 square miles (1,160 km2) is land and 1.1 square miles (2.8 km2) (0.2%) is water.[4] It is the second-smallest county in Idaho by area.

Adjacent counties edit

Major highways edit

National protected area edit

Demographics edit

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
19203,921
19303,573−8.9%
19403,6010.8%
19503,204−11.0%
19602,639−17.6%
19702,351−10.9%
19802,89723.2%
19903,43918.7%
20005,99974.4%
201010,17069.5%
202011,63014.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790–1960,[6] 1900–1990,[7]
1990–2000,[8] 2010–2020[9] 2020[1]

2000 census edit

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 5,999 people, 2,078 households, and 1,464 families living in the county. The population density was 13 people per square mile (5.0 people/km2). There were 2,632 housing units at an average density of 6 units per square mile (2.3 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.32% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 0.55% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.23% Pacific Islander, 6.73% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. 11.75% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 25.5% were of English, 15.8% German, 7.6% American and 5.1% Irish ancestry.

There were 2,078 households, out of which 39.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.30% were married couples living together, 5.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.50% were non-families. 21.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.43.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 31.80% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 33.80% from 25 to 44, 18.90% from 45 to 64, and 7.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 112.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 114.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,968, and the median income for a family was $45,848. Males had a median income of $32,309 versus $22,243 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,778. About 9.70% of families and 12.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.10% of those under age 18 and 7.90% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census edit

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 10,170 people, 3,651 households, and 2,509 families living in the county.[12] The population density was 22.6 inhabitants per square mile (8.7/km2). There were 5,478 housing units at an average density of 12.2 units per square mile (4.7 units/km2).[13] The racial makeup of the county was 85.6% white, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 11.7% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 16.9% of the population.[12] In terms of ancestry, 29.9% were English, 20.3% were German, 13.0% were Irish, and 4.2% were American.[14]

Of the 3,651 households, 39.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% were married couples living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.3% were non-families, and 21.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.33. The median age was 33.2 years.[12]

The median income for a household in the county was $53,364 and the median income for a family was $56,791. Males had a median income of $39,865 versus $31,966 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,633. About 5.4% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.8% of those under age 18 and 2.2% of those age 65 or over.[15]

Government and politics edit

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.[16]

Until quite recently Teton County voted Republican along with most other Eastern Idaho counties. However, since 2004, the county has strongly trended towards toss-up status. In 2008, it was one of three Idaho counties to favor Barack Obama,[17] despite giving George W. Bush a 23-point victory only four years earlier.[18] The margin was narrow (39 votes) and Obama lost the county to Mitt Romney in 2012 by over five hundred votes; Donald Trump outpolled Hillary Clinton by just eight votes in 2016, the smallest numerical margin in the country. Teton backed Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 election; he won by 7.3 percentage points, garnering the highest vote share for any Democrat since 1948.

Teton County is one of only thirteen counties to have voted for Obama in 2008, Romney in 2012, Trump in 2016, and Biden in 2020.[a]

At the state level, Teton County is in District 32 of the Idaho Legislature.[19] As neighboring counties are still strongly Republican, the district is not competitive.[20] In Idaho gubernatorial elections, the county had voted for the Democratic nominee in every election from 2006 until 2022, when incumbent Republican Gov. Brad Little won the county in his bid for reelection .

United States presidential election results for Teton County, Idaho[21]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 2,858 44.92% 3,318 52.15% 186 2.92%
2016 2,167 43.55% 2,159 43.39% 650 13.06%
2012 2,458 54.34% 1,926 42.58% 139 3.07%
2008 2,263 48.57% 2,302 49.41% 94 2.02%
2004 2,235 60.57% 1,416 38.37% 39 1.06%
2000 1,745 65.33% 720 26.96% 206 7.71%
1996 1,251 50.28% 866 34.81% 371 14.91%
1992 762 39.73% 472 24.61% 684 35.66%
1988 982 64.31% 531 34.77% 14 0.92%
1984 1,242 76.48% 370 22.78% 12 0.74%
1980 1,227 72.78% 360 21.35% 99 5.87%
1976 904 63.04% 514 35.84% 16 1.12%
1972 932 68.58% 298 21.93% 129 9.49%
1968 694 57.93% 376 31.39% 128 10.68%
1964 675 53.02% 598 46.98% 0 0.00%
1960 714 55.65% 569 44.35% 0 0.00%
1956 842 65.12% 451 34.88% 0 0.00%
1952 964 66.25% 491 33.75% 0 0.00%
1948 593 46.62% 672 52.83% 7 0.55%
1944 552 46.27% 641 53.73% 0 0.00%
1940 667 44.14% 844 55.86% 0 0.00%
1936 542 38.47% 834 59.19% 33 2.34%
1932 674 43.74% 860 55.81% 7 0.45%
1928 753 68.27% 348 31.55% 2 0.18%
1924 665 55.70% 186 15.58% 343 28.73%
1920 906 68.90% 409 31.10% 0 0.00%
1916 650 46.43% 726 51.86% 24 1.71%

Education edit

The public schools are operated by Teton County School District #401, the sole school district in the county.[22] It has county's only traditional high school, Teton High School, in Driggs.

College of Eastern Idaho includes this county in its catchment zone; however this county is not in its taxation zone.[23]

Communities edit

Cities edit

Unincorporated communities edit

See also edit

Notes edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "2020 Census Data". data.census.gov.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Teton County". State of Idaho. Archived from the original on August 15, 2009. Retrieved May 29, 2009.
  4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  5. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  7. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  8. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  9. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  10. ^ "County Population Totals: 2010–2020". Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  12. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  13. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  14. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  15. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  16. ^ Teton County Idaho
  17. ^ 2008 - General Election Teton CountyArchived 2008-11-06 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ 2004 Presidential General Election Data Graphs - Idaho
  19. ^ Idaho Legislative District Map Archived November 17, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ Idaho Legislative Districts Archived November 10, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  21. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  22. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Teton County, ID" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 12, 2024. - Text list
  23. ^ "Community Colleges" (PDF). Budget Hearing. Idaho Legislature. 2020. p. 1-73 (PDF p. 8/14). Retrieved March 12, 2024.

External links edit

43°45′N 111°13′W / 43.75°N 111.21°W / 43.75; -111.21