Oakley, Idaho
Encyclopedia
Oakley is a city in Cassia County
, Idaho
, United States
. The population was 763 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Burley, Idaho
Micropolitan Statistical Area
.
, and close to Goose Creek, between the Middle and Albion Mountains.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 4 square miles (10.4 km²), all of it land.
, former member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was born in Oakley. The small hamlet has served as home to a surprising number of famous Americans. The former governors of Utah
and Massachusetts
can trace their stock to Oakley. Jon Huntsman
of Utah is the grandson of David B. Haight
, above, and Mitt Romney
, of Massachusetts is the son of another famous Oakley-ite, George Romney
. Yet another Oakley Romney, Marion G. Romney
, was a Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Oakley is also rich in old west lore, such as the tale of Diamondfield Jack, and another story of intrigue, the story of Gobo Fango.
This town of less than 800 people has turned out leaders in politics, business, and entertainment. The town is also home to current Idaho's Assistant House Majority Leader Scott Bedke
.
Oakley has become recognized world-wide for its Middle Mountain quarries of Rocky Mountain quartzite building stone known as Oakley Stone
. Quarry operators ship out thousand of tons a month to locations around the globe.
Today, many people remark that Oakley is the very last "Mayberry
" left in America, and frequently visited for its Victorian homes.
of 2000, there were 668 people, 226 households, and 166 families residing in the city. The population density
was 167.4 people per square mile (64.6/km²). There were 257 housing units at an average density of 64.4 per square mile (24.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.41% White, 0.15% Asian, 3.14% from other races
, and 0.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.19% of the population.
There were 226 households out of which 39.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.4% were married couples
living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.60.
In the city the population was spread out with 33.8% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 20.5% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,643, and the median income for a family was $34,792. Males had a median income of $27,083 versus $16,667 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,983. About 9.1% of families and 14.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.2% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.
Approximately, 98% of Oakley is Mormon.
Oakley is zoned to:
All of the schools are in the city of Oakley.
The high school has about 120 students, and the elementary has about 250 students. The high school's football team won the Idaho State Football Championship in 2007,and 2009 and took 2nd place in 2008,
Cassia County, Idaho
Cassia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2010 Census the county had a population of 22,952. The county seat and largest city is Burley.-History:...
, 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....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 763 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Burley, Idaho
Burley, Idaho
Burley is a city in Cassia and Minidoka counties in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Idaho. The population was 10,345 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Cassia County....
Micropolitan Statistical Area
Burley micropolitan area
The Burley Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in the Magic Valley region of Idaho, anchored by the city of Burley...
.
Geography
Oakley is located at 42°14′32"N 113°52′51"W (42.242360, -113.880904), at 4,560 feet in elevation. It is at the very southern limit of the Snake River PlainSnake River Plain
The Snake River Plain is a geologic feature located primarily within the state of Idaho in the United States of America. It stretches about westward from northwest of the state of Wyoming to the Idaho-Oregon border. The plain is a wide flat bow-shaped depression, and covers about a quarter of Idaho...
, and close to Goose Creek, between the Middle and Albion Mountains.
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 4 square miles (10.4 km²), all of it land.
History
The city was named for William Oakley, the proprietor of a 19th century stagecoach station located at a spring currently located about 2 miles west of the present townsite known as Oakley Meadows. David B. HaightDavid B. Haight
David Bruce Haight was the oldest member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .-Life and career:...
, former member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was born in Oakley. The small hamlet has served as home to a surprising number of famous Americans. The former governors of Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
and Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
can trace their stock to Oakley. Jon Huntsman
Jon Huntsman, Jr.
Jon Meade Huntsman, Jr. is an American politician and diplomat who served as the 16th Governor of Utah. He also served in the administrations of four United States presidents and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.Huntsman worked as a White House staff assistant for...
of Utah is the grandson of David B. Haight
David B. Haight
David Bruce Haight was the oldest member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .-Life and career:...
, above, and Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney
Willard Mitt Romney is an American businessman and politician. He was the 70th Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican Party presidential nomination.The son of George W...
, of Massachusetts is the son of another famous Oakley-ite, George Romney
George W. Romney
George Wilcken Romney was an American businessman and Republican Party politician. He was chairman and CEO of American Motors Corporation from 1954 to 1962, the 43rd Governor of Michigan from 1963 to 1969, and the United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from 1969 to 1973...
. Yet another Oakley Romney, Marion G. Romney
Marion G. Romney
Marion George Romney was an apostle and a member of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .-Early life:...
, was a Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Oakley is also rich in old west lore, such as the tale of Diamondfield Jack, and another story of intrigue, the story of Gobo Fango.
This town of less than 800 people has turned out leaders in politics, business, and entertainment. The town is also home to current Idaho's Assistant House Majority Leader Scott Bedke
Scott Bedke
Scott Bedke is a member of the Idaho House of Representatives. He has served in this position since 2000.Bedke is a Latter-day Saint. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1977-1979 in Italy....
.
Oakley has become recognized world-wide for its Middle Mountain quarries of Rocky Mountain quartzite building stone known as Oakley Stone
Oakley Stone
Oakley stone is the trade name of a building stone that occurs in the mountains south of Oakley, Idaho in Cassia County near the Utah border. It is more properly known as Rocky Mountain quartzite or Idaho quartzite. Quartzite, a metamorphic rock, is quarried in the City of Rocks area...
. Quarry operators ship out thousand of tons a month to locations around the globe.
Today, many people remark that Oakley is the very last "Mayberry
Mayberry
Mayberry is a fictional community in North Carolina that was the setting for two American television sitcoms, The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry R.F.D. Mayberry was also the setting for a 1986 reunion television movie titled Return to Mayberry...
" left in America, and frequently visited for its Victorian homes.
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 668 people, 226 households, and 166 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 167.4 people per square mile (64.6/km²). There were 257 housing units at an average density of 64.4 per square mile (24.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.41% White, 0.15% Asian, 3.14% 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 0.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.19% of the population.
There were 226 households out of which 39.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.4% 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, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.60.
In the city the population was spread out with 33.8% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 20.5% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,643, and the median income for a family was $34,792. Males had a median income of $27,083 versus $16,667 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 $13,983. About 9.1% of families and 14.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.2% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.
Approximately, 98% of Oakley is Mormon.
Education
Oakley is in the Cassia County School District.Oakley is zoned to:
- Oakley Elementary School
- Oakley Junior/Senior High SchoolOakley Junior/Senior High SchoolThe Oakley Junior/Senior High School is located on Main Street in Oakley, Idaho.The current school building was built in 1997, but there has been a school in Oakley almost since its founding. It is a small school which serves about 200 students from grades 7-12...
All of the schools are in the city of Oakley.
The high school has about 120 students, and the elementary has about 250 students. The high school's football team won the Idaho State Football Championship in 2007,and 2009 and took 2nd place in 2008,