Rupert, Idaho
Encyclopedia
Rupert is the county seat
and largest city of Minidoka County
, Idaho
, United States
. It is part of the Burley, Idaho
Micropolitan Statistical Area
. The population was 5,645 at the 2000 census.
Rupert sprung up after the announcement of the Minidoka Reclamation Project, which would provide irrigation and electricity to the area by the building of the Minidoka Dam
.
Electricity was plentiful in Rupert after the building of the Minidoka Dam
and led to Rupert being one of the first cities in the world to have its streets lighted by electricity. Rupert was founded in 1906.
known as Magic Valley
, and is a few miles north of the Snake River
. Interstate 84 passes a few miles to the south, and before its construction, U.S. Highway 30 passed through Rupert. Acequia
lies about 5 miles northeast of Rupert and Paul lies about 5 miles to the west.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2 square miles (5.2 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 5,645 people, 2,024 households, and 1,443 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,779.9 people per square mile (1,073.7/km²). There were 2,204 housing units at an average density of 1,085.4 per square mile (419.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 72.65% White, 0.37% African American, 1.17% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 22.69% from other races
, and 2.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 35.39% of the population.
There were 2,024 households out of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% were married couples
living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.31.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.2% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 90.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,105, and the median income for a family was $29,423. Males had a median income of $28,070 versus $16,779 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $12,253. About 18.9% of families and 21.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.2% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.
Rupert officially became "Christmas City, USA" in November 1987.
, actor Bill Fagerbakke
, and Mayan archaeologist Richard D. Hansen
, were raised in Rupert. Also, hot rod shop owner Boyd Coddington
and motocross rider and Mx des Nations 2009 winner Jake Weimer are from Rupert.
The Jurgensmeier family is also from Rupert.
Children are zoned to:
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....
and largest city of Minidoka County
Minidoka County, Idaho
Minidoka County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. The county seat and largest city is Rupert. As of the 2000 Census the county had a population of 20,174 ....
, 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 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...
. The population was 5,645 at the 2000 census.
Rupert sprung up after the announcement of the Minidoka Reclamation Project, which would provide irrigation and electricity to the area by the building of the Minidoka Dam
Minidoka Dam
The Minidoka Dam is an earthfill dam on the Snake River in south central Idaho. The dam, originally completed in 1906, is east of Rupert on county highway 400; it is 86 feet high and nearly a mile in length, with a wide overflow spillway section. The dam and power plant were listed on the...
.
Electricity was plentiful in Rupert after the building of the Minidoka Dam
Minidoka Dam
The Minidoka Dam is an earthfill dam on the Snake River in south central Idaho. The dam, originally completed in 1906, is east of Rupert on county highway 400; it is 86 feet high and nearly a mile in length, with a wide overflow spillway section. The dam and power plant were listed on the...
and led to Rupert being one of the first cities in the world to have its streets lighted by electricity. Rupert was founded in 1906.
Geography
Rupert is located at 42°37′4"N 113°40′28"W (42.617967, -113.674543), at 4,150 feet in elevation. It is part of the agricultural region 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...
known as Magic Valley
Magic Valley
The Magic Valley is a region in south-central Idaho consisting of Blaine, Camas, Cassia, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka and Twin Falls Counties. It is particularly associated with the agricultural region in the Snake River Plain located in the area...
, and is a few miles north of the Snake River
Snake River
The Snake is a major river of the greater Pacific Northwest in the United States. At long, it is the largest tributary of the Columbia River, the largest North American river that empties into the Pacific Ocean...
. Interstate 84 passes a few miles to the south, and before its construction, U.S. Highway 30 passed through Rupert. Acequia
Acequia, Idaho
Acequia is a city in Minidoka County, Idaho, United States. The population was 144 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Burley, Idaho Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Acequia is located at ....
lies about 5 miles northeast of Rupert and Paul lies about 5 miles to the west.
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 2 square miles (5.2 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 5,645 people, 2,024 households, and 1,443 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 2,779.9 people per square mile (1,073.7/km²). There were 2,204 housing units at an average density of 1,085.4 per square mile (419.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 72.65% White, 0.37% African American, 1.17% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 22.69% 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 2.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 35.39% of the population.
There were 2,024 households out of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% 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, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.31.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.2% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 90.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,105, and the median income for a family was $29,423. Males had a median income of $28,070 versus $16,779 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 $12,253. About 18.9% of families and 21.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.2% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.
History
In 2006, Rupert celebrated its 100th birthday.Rupert officially became "Christmas City, USA" in November 1987.
Noted people
Lou DobbsLou Dobbs
Louis Carl "Lou" Dobbs is an American journalist, radio host, television host on the Fox Business Network, and author. He anchored CNN's Lou Dobbs Tonight until November 2009 when he announced on the air that he would leave the 24-hour cable news television network.He was born in Texas and lived...
, actor Bill Fagerbakke
Bill Fagerbakke
William Mark "Bill" Fagerbakke is an American actor and voice actor. He is well-known for his long-running-roles as Patrick Star in the animated series SpongeBob SquarePants and "Dauber" Dybinski on the sitcom Coach....
, and Mayan archaeologist Richard D. Hansen
Richard D. Hansen
Dr. Richard D. Hansen, Ph.D, is a prominent American archaeologist and currently Senior Scientist at the Institute for Mesoamerican Research in the Department of Anthropology at Idaho State University. Dr. Hansen is a specialist on the ancient Maya and also a director of the Mirador Basin...
, were raised in Rupert. Also, hot rod shop owner Boyd Coddington
Boyd Coddington
Boyd Leon Coddington was an American hot rod designer, the owner of the Boyd Coddington Hot Rod Shop and star of American Hot Rod on TLC.-Early life, education and early career :...
and motocross rider and Mx des Nations 2009 winner Jake Weimer are from Rupert.
The Jurgensmeier family is also from Rupert.
Education
Rupert is served by the Minidoka County Schools system.Children are zoned to:
- Rupert Elementary School (Unincorporated Minidoka County - Grades K-5)
- East Minico Middle School (Rupert) (Grades 6-8)
- Minico High SchoolMinico High SchoolMinico High School, also known as Minidoka County High School, is a public high school located in Minidoka County, Idaho, United States...
(Unincorporated Minidoka County-grades 9-12) - Mt. Harrison High School (Heyburn - grades 9-12, alternative high school)