Gem County, Idaho

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Gem County, Idaho

Map
Location in the state of Idaho
Idaho's location in the U.S.
Statistics
Founded	March 15, 1915
Seat	Emmett
Area - Total - Land - Water	566 sq mi (1,465 km²) 563 sq mi (1,457 km²) 3 sq mi (8 km²), 0.56%
Population - (2000) - Density	15,181
Website: www.co.gem.id.us
Named for: The state nickname, "Gem State".

Gem County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2000 Census the county had a population of 15,181 (2005 estimate: 16,273) [1]. The county seat is Emmett^[1].

Gem County is home to the Idaho ground squirrel.

Gem County is part of the Boise City–Nampa, Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area.

1 History
2 Geography
- 2.1 Adjacent counties
3 Demographics
4 Cities and towns
- 4.1 City
- 4.2 Unincorporated communities
5 References
6 External links

[edit] History

Established March 15, 1915 and named for the state nickname, "Gem State." Fur trappers were in the area as early as 1818 and Alexander Ross explored Squaw Creek in 1824. Prospectors and miners moved through the county in 1862 in route to the gold rush in the Boise Basin, and by the next year irrigation began along the Payette River.[2]

[edit] Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 566 square miles (1,465 km²), of which, 563 square miles (1,457 km²) of it is land and 3 square miles (8 km²) of it (0.56%) is water.

[edit] Adjacent counties

Adams County, Idaho - (north)
Valley County, Idaho - (northeast)
Boise County, Idaho - (east)
Ada County, Idaho - (south)
Canyon County, Idaho - (southwest)
Payette County, Idaho - (west)
Washington County, Idaho - (northwest)

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 15,181 people, 5,539 households, and 4,176 families residing in the county. The population density was 27 people per square mile (10/km²). There were 5,888 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.79% White, 0.73% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.07% Black or African American, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 3.16% from other races, and 1.83% from two or more races. 6.92% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.9% were of American, 17.5% German, 13.1% English and 7.2% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 5,539 households out of which 34.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.40% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.60% were non-families. 20.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the county the population was spread out with 28.00% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 15.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,460, and the median income for a family was $40,195. Males had a median income of $31,036 versus $20,755 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,340. About 11.60% of families and 13.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.60% of those under age 18 and 13.90% of those age 65 or over.