Riggins, Idaho
Encyclopedia
Riggins is a city in Idaho County
, Idaho
, United States
. It is nestled deep in a canyon at the confluence of the Salmon River
and the Little Salmon River in west central Idaho, approximately 150 highway miles (241 km) north of Boise
, and 120 highway miles (193 km) south-southeast of Lewiston
. The elevation
of Riggins is 1821 feet (555 m) above sea level, and the population was 419 at the 2010 census. US-95
, the only highway for the state connecting the Panhandle
to the south, runs through Riggins as Main Street. Along this route, Riggins is the northwesternmost town in the Mountain
time zone. The Pacific
time zone begins just north of Riggins, upon crossing the Salmon River
.
Riggins is midway in the 300 miles (482.8 km) drive from Boise
to Moscow
, home of the University of Idaho
, making it a popular refueling stop for students from the Treasure Valley
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 410 people, 204 households, and 111 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,361.3 people per square mile (527.7/km²). There were 253 housing units at an average density of 840.0 per square mile (325.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.29% White, 0.49% Native American, 0.24% from other races
, and 0.98% from two or more races.
There were 204 households out of which 15.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples
living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.1% were non-families. 39.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 23.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.01 and the average family size was 2.64.
In the city the population was spread out with 17.6% under the age of 18, 3.2% from 18 to 24, 18.5% from 25 to 44, 33.2% from 45 to 64, and 27.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 52 years. For every 100 females there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $20,972, and the median income for a family was $30,000. Males had a median income of $27,361 versus $16,250 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,330. About 19.2% of families and 25.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 50.0% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.
, kayaking
, fishing
, and hunting
are available and campgrounds surround the area, allowing access to view the scenery and wildlife. Visitors can pan for gold
in the river gravel, and guides and outfitters can provide assistance.
The Seven Devils Mountains
and the Hells Canyon
National Recreation Area are just a few miles southwest of town.
The Riggins Rodeo
in early May can be viewed from the grandstands or from the hillside overlooking the arena.
Day"; in honor of the author's visit to sign her books. Sharfeddin had originally grown up in Riggins.
Comedian Dan Cummins
grew up in Riggins.
Idaho County, Idaho
Idaho County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2010 Census the county had a population of 16,267. The county seat is Grangeville...
, 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...
. It is nestled deep in a canyon at the confluence of the Salmon River
Salmon River (Idaho)
The Salmon River is located in Idaho in the northwestern United States. The Salmon is also known as The River of No Return. It flows for through central Idaho, draining and dropping more than between its headwaters, near Galena Summit above the Sawtooth Valley in the Sawtooth National...
and the Little Salmon River in west central Idaho, approximately 150 highway miles (241 km) north 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,...
, and 120 highway miles (193 km) south-southeast of Lewiston
Lewiston, Idaho
Lewiston is a city in and also the county seat of Nez Perce County in the Pacific Northwest state of Idaho. It is the second-largest city in the northern Idaho region, behind Coeur d'Alene and ninth-largest in the state. Lewiston is the principal city of the Lewiston, ID - Clarkston, WA...
. 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 Riggins is 1821 feet (555 m) above sea level, and the population was 419 at the 2010 census. US-95
U.S. Route 95 in Idaho
In the U.S. state of Idaho, U.S. Route 95 is a north–south highway near the western border of the state, stretching from Oregon to British Columbia for over .-Route description:...
, the only highway for the state connecting the Panhandle
Idaho Panhandle
The Idaho Panhandle is the northern region of the U.S. State of Idaho that encompasses the ten northernmost counties of Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Clearwater, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, Lewis, Nez Perce, Shoshone. Residents of the panhandle refer to the region as North Idaho...
to the south, runs through Riggins as Main Street. Along this route, Riggins is the northwesternmost town in the Mountain
Mountain Time Zone
The Mountain Time Zone of North America keeps time by subtracting seven hours from Coordinated Universal Time, also known as Greenwich Mean Time, during the shortest days of autumn and winter , and by subtracting six hours during daylight saving time in the spring, summer, and early autumn...
time zone. The Pacific
Pacific Time Zone
The Pacific Time Zone observes standard time by subtracting eight hours from Coordinated Universal Time . The clock time in this zone is based on the mean solar time of the 120th meridian west of the Greenwich Observatory. During daylight saving time, its time offset is UTC-7.In the United States...
time zone begins just north of Riggins, upon crossing the Salmon River
Salmon River (Idaho)
The Salmon River is located in Idaho in the northwestern United States. The Salmon is also known as The River of No Return. It flows for through central Idaho, draining and dropping more than between its headwaters, near Galena Summit above the Sawtooth Valley in the Sawtooth National...
.
Riggins is midway in the 300 miles (482.8 km) drive from 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,...
to Moscow
Moscow, Idaho
Moscow is a city in northern Idaho, situated along the Washington/Idaho border. It is the most populous city and county seat of Latah County and the home of the University of Idaho, the land grant institution and primary research university for the state...
, home of the University of Idaho
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
, making it a popular refueling stop for students from the Treasure Valley
Treasure Valley
The Treasure Valley is the area of the Western United States where the Payette, Boise, Weiser, Malheur, Owyhee, and Burnt rivers drain into the Snake River. Treasure Valley includes all the lowland areas from Vale, Oregon on the west to Boise, Idaho on the east. Formerly, the valley had been known...
.
Geography
Riggins is located at 45°25′20"N 116°18′57"W (45.422125, -116.315848).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 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 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 410 people, 204 households, and 111 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 1,361.3 people per square mile (527.7/km²). There were 253 housing units at an average density of 840.0 per square mile (325.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.29% White, 0.49% Native American, 0.24% 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 0.98% from two or more races.
There were 204 households out of which 15.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% 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, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.1% were non-families. 39.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 23.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.01 and the average family size was 2.64.
In the city the population was spread out with 17.6% under the age of 18, 3.2% from 18 to 24, 18.5% from 25 to 44, 33.2% from 45 to 64, and 27.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 52 years. For every 100 females there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $20,972, and the median income for a family was $30,000. Males had a median income of $27,361 versus $16,250 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 $17,330. About 19.2% of families and 25.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 50.0% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.
Activities
Riggins is a hub for outdoor adventures in North Central Idaho. RaftingRafting
Rafting or white water rafting is a challenging recreational outdoor activity using an inflatable raft to navigate a river or other bodies of water. This is usually done on white water or different degrees of rough water, in order to thrill and excite the raft passengers. The development of this...
, kayaking
Kayaking
Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking and canoeing are also known as paddling. Kayaking is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle...
, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, and hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
are available and campgrounds surround the area, allowing access to view the scenery and wildlife. Visitors can pan for gold
Gold panning
Gold panning, or simply panning, is a form of placer mining that extracts gold from a placer deposit using a pan. The process is one of the simplest ways to extract gold, and is popular with geology enthusiasts because of its cheap cost and the relatively simple and easy process involved. It is the...
in the river gravel, and guides and outfitters can provide assistance.
The Seven Devils Mountains
Seven Devils Mountains
The Seven Devils are notable peaks in west central Idaho in the Hells Canyon Wilderness. They are above the east bank of the Snake River, which forms the Idaho-Oregon border. The mountains are part of the Rocky Mountains, and the tallest peaks are 7900 vertical feet above the adjacent Snake...
and the Hells Canyon
Hells Canyon
Hells Canyon is a wide canyon located along the border of eastern Oregon and western Idaho in the United States. It is North America's deepest river gorge at and part of the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area....
National Recreation Area are just a few miles southwest of town.
The Riggins Rodeo
Playboating
Playboating is a discipline of whitewater kayaking or canoeing where the paddler performs various technical moves in one place , as opposed to downriver whitewater canoeing or kayaking where the objective is to travel the length of a section of river...
in early May can be viewed from the grandstands or from the hillside overlooking the arena.
Notable residents
Riggins Mayor Bob Crump declared Wednesday, April 6, 2011, as "Heather Mason SharfeddinHeather Sharfeddin
Heather Sharfeddin is a U.S. novelist. Her novels explore western themes based on her early life in Idaho and Montana. She currently lives in Oregon with her husband and teenage son.-Life:...
Day"; in honor of the author's visit to sign her books. Sharfeddin had originally grown up in Riggins.
Comedian Dan Cummins
Dan Cummins
Dan Cummins is a professional stand-up comedian. His first comedy album, Revenge is Near, distributed by Warner Brothers, was ranked as one of the top 10 comedy CDs of 2009 by Punchline Magazine...
grew up in Riggins.