Horseshoe Bend, Idaho
Encyclopedia
Horseshoe Bend is the largest city in rural Boise County
, in the southwestern part of the U.S. state
of Idaho
. Its population of 770 at the 2000 census was the largest in the county. It is part of the Boise City
–Nampa
, Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area
. The elevation
of the city is 2604 feet (793 m) above sea level and is named for its location at the horseshoe
-shaped U-turn of the Payette River
, whose flow direction changes from south to north before heading west to the Black Canyon Reservoir.
The area was originally settled as a gold miners' staging area, as prospectors waited along the river for snows to thaw at the higher elevations. Gold
had been discovered in 1862 in the Boise Basin mountains to the east, near Idaho City
.
The settlement became known as Warrinersville, after a local sawmill
operator. The name was changed to Horseshoe Bend in 1867, and after the gold rush quieted, the city became a prosperous ranching and logging community. The railroad, from Emmett
up to Long Valley following the Payette River
(its North Fork above Banks), was completed in 1913. http://itd.idaho.gov/planning/reports/scenic/prsb_cmp.pdf
Horseshoe Bend sits along Highway 55
, the primary north-south route out of Boise
, 23 miles (37 km) to the south and accessed over the 4242 foot (1293 m) Spring Valley summit. Within an hour's drive north of Horseshoe Bend are the outdoor recreational areas of the Payette River
basin, including Cascade
, Tamarack Resort
, and McCall
. Highway 55 was designated the "Payette River
Scenic Byway" in 1977.
In 1998 the city's primary employer, Boise Cascade
, closed its sawmill
on September 30. http://wdr.doleta.gov/readroom/FedReg/Notices/98025262.pdf Horseshoe Bend has attempted to become the county seat
of Boise County
, replacing historic Idaho City
.http://spokesmanreview.com/allstories-news-story.asp?date=050404&ID=s1516304
Horseshoe Bend's current culture is a blend of ranching and a growing bedroom community for Boise. Its annual events include a banjo
festival in late May, the national senior pro rodeo
in June, and a fall festival in October. A scenic railroad
, the Thunder Mountain Line http://www.thundermountainline.com/, is based in the city.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 770 people, 261 households, and 192 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,247.4 people per square mile (479.5/km²). There were 290 housing units at an average density of 469.8 per square mile (180.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.34% White, 0.78% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 4.29% from other races
, and 2.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.96% of the population.
There were 261 households out of which 41.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were married couples
living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.6% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 109.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,125, and the median income for a family was $35,882. Males had a median income of $29,583 versus $24,063 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $12,486. About 11.2% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.5% of those under age 18 and 13.3% of those age 65 or over.
Boise County, Idaho
Boise County is a rural mountain county in the U.S. state of Idaho. The population was 6,670 at the 2000 census; it was estimated at 7,571 in 2007...
, in the southwestern part of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
. Its population of 770 at the 2000 census was the largest in the county. It is part of the Boise City
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
–Nampa
Nampa, Idaho
Nampa is the largest and the fastest growing city in Canyon County, Idaho, USA. The population of Nampa was 81,557 at the 2010 census. Nampa is located about west of Boise along Interstate 84, and six miles west of Meridian. Nampa is part of the Boise metropolitan area...
, Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area
Boise metropolitan area
The Boise City-Nampa, Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area , as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of five counties in southwestern Idaho, anchored by the cities of Boise and Nampa...
. The elevation
Elevation
The elevation of a geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface ....
of the city is 2604 feet (793 m) above sea level and is named for its location at the horseshoe
Horseshoe
A horseshoe, is a fabricated product, normally made of metal, although sometimes made partially or wholly of modern synthetic materials, designed to protect a horse's hoof from wear and tear. Shoes are attached on the palmar surface of the hooves, usually nailed through the insensitive hoof wall...
-shaped U-turn of the Payette River
Payette River
The Payette River is an river in southwestern Idaho and is a major tributary of the Snake River.Its headwaters originate in the Sawtooth and Salmon River Mountains at elevations over...
, whose flow direction changes from south to north before heading west to the Black Canyon Reservoir.
The area was originally settled as a gold miners' staging area, as prospectors waited along the river for snows to thaw at the higher elevations. Gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
had been discovered in 1862 in the Boise Basin mountains to the east, near Idaho City
Idaho City, Idaho
Idaho City is a city in and the county seat of Boise County, Idaho, United States, located about northeast of Boise. The population was 458 at the 2000 census.Idaho City is part of the Boise City–Nampa, Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
.
The settlement became known as Warrinersville, after a local sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
operator. The name was changed to Horseshoe Bend in 1867, and after the gold rush quieted, the city became a prosperous ranching and logging community. The railroad, from Emmett
Emmett, Idaho
Emmett is a city in Gem County, Idaho, United States. The population was 5,490 at the 2000 census; it was estimated to have risen to 6,341 by 2007...
up to Long Valley following the Payette River
Payette River
The Payette River is an river in southwestern Idaho and is a major tributary of the Snake River.Its headwaters originate in the Sawtooth and Salmon River Mountains at elevations over...
(its North Fork above Banks), was completed in 1913. http://itd.idaho.gov/planning/reports/scenic/prsb_cmp.pdf
Horseshoe Bend sits along Highway 55
Idaho State Highway 55
State Highway 55 is an Idaho highway from Marsing to New Meadows, connecting with US-95 at both ends.From Marsing it travels east to Nampa, Meridian, and Eagle, then north to Horseshoe Bend. SH-55 then climbs the Payette River to Banks, then its north fork to the Long Valley, through the towns of...
, the primary north-south route out of Boise
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
, 23 miles (37 km) to the south and accessed over the 4242 foot (1293 m) Spring Valley summit. Within an hour's drive north of Horseshoe Bend are the outdoor recreational areas of the Payette River
Payette River
The Payette River is an river in southwestern Idaho and is a major tributary of the Snake River.Its headwaters originate in the Sawtooth and Salmon River Mountains at elevations over...
basin, including Cascade
Cascade, Idaho
Cascade is a rural city in and the county seat of Valley County, Idaho, United States, in the west central part of the state. It sits at an elevation of , along the North Fork of the Payette River...
, Tamarack Resort
Tamarack Resort
Tamarack Resort is a four-season mountain resort in the Long Valley of west central Idaho. It is located on the west shore of Cascade Reservoir, southwest of Donnelly in Valley County, about north of Boise. The resort is currently in foreclosure; the ski area was closed for the 2009-2010 season...
, and McCall
McCall, Idaho
McCall is a resort town on the western edge of Valley County, Idaho, United States. Named after its founder, Tom McCall, it is situated on the southern shore of Payette Lake, near the center of the Payette National Forest...
. Highway 55 was designated the "Payette River
Payette River
The Payette River is an river in southwestern Idaho and is a major tributary of the Snake River.Its headwaters originate in the Sawtooth and Salmon River Mountains at elevations over...
Scenic Byway" in 1977.
In 1998 the city's primary employer, Boise Cascade
Boise Cascade
Boise Cascade Holdings, LLC, which uses the trade name Boise, is an American pulp and paper company, ranked as the thirteenth largest forest products company in the world....
, closed its sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
on September 30. http://wdr.doleta.gov/readroom/FedReg/Notices/98025262.pdf Horseshoe Bend has attempted to become the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Boise County
Boise County, Idaho
Boise County is a rural mountain county in the U.S. state of Idaho. The population was 6,670 at the 2000 census; it was estimated at 7,571 in 2007...
, replacing historic Idaho City
Idaho City, Idaho
Idaho City is a city in and the county seat of Boise County, Idaho, United States, located about northeast of Boise. The population was 458 at the 2000 census.Idaho City is part of the Boise City–Nampa, Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
.http://spokesmanreview.com/allstories-news-story.asp?date=050404&ID=s1516304
Horseshoe Bend's current culture is a blend of ranching and a growing bedroom community for Boise. Its annual events include a banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
festival in late May, the national senior pro rodeo
Rodeo
Rodeo is a competitive sport which arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain, Mexico, and later the United States, Canada, South America and Australia. It was based on the skills required of the working vaqueros and later, cowboys, in what today is the western United States,...
in June, and a fall festival in October. A scenic railroad
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
, the Thunder Mountain Line http://www.thundermountainline.com/, is based in the city.
Geography
Horseshoe Bend is located at 43°54′46"N 116°11′57"W (43.912740, -116.199290).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 770 people, 261 households, and 192 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,247.4 people per square mile (479.5/km²). There were 290 housing units at an average density of 469.8 per square mile (180.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.34% White, 0.78% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 4.29% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.96% of the population.
There were 261 households out of which 41.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.6% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 109.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,125, and the median income for a family was $35,882. Males had a median income of $29,583 versus $24,063 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $12,486. About 11.2% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.5% of those under age 18 and 13.3% of those age 65 or over.
External links
- Horseshoe Bend — Chamber of Commerce
- Ponderosa Sports — "Idaho's Most Unique Store"
- Southwest Idaho Travel Association — Horseshoe Bend
- Thunder Mountain Line — Scenic railroad
- Payette River Scenic Byway — Corridor Plan — Idaho Transportation Dept.
- Go Northwest.com — Southwest Idaho attractions
- Horseshoe Bend wants county seat — SpokaneSpokane, WashingtonSpokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
— Spokesman Review, 04-May-2004 - Horseshoe Bend school district — Horseshoe Bend High SchoolHorseshoe Bend High SchoolHorseshoe Bend High School is a high school in Horseshoe Bend, Idaho.-External links:*...