| Ada County, Idaho | |
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| Map | |
 Location in the state of Idaho |
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 Idaho's location in the U.S. |
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| Statistics | |
| Founded | December 22, 1864 |
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| Seat | Boise |
| Largest city | Boise |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
1,060 sq mi (2,745 km²) 1,055 sq mi (2,732 km²) 5 sq mi (13 km²), 0.5% |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
300,904 285/sq mi (110/km²) |
| Time zone | Mountain: UTC-7/-6 |
| Website: www.adaweb.net | |
| Named for: Ada Riggs, first pioneer child born in county |
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Ada County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2000 Census, the county had a population of 300,904 (2008 estimate: 380,920).[1] The county seat and largest city is Boise.[2] Other cities in the county with over 10,000 residents include Meridian, Eagle, Kuna, and Garden City.[3]. Ada County is by far the state's largest in population, and contains its only county highway district; the Ada County Highway District (ACHD) has jurisdiction over all the local county and city streets, except for private roads and state roads.
Ada County is part of the Boise City-Nampa, Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area.
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History
Ada County was created by the Idaho Territorial Legislature on December 22, 1864. It is named for Ada Riggs, the first pioneer child born in the area and the daughter of H.C. Riggs, a co-founder of Boise.[4] Canyon County was partitioned from western Ada County in the early 1890s.[5]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,060 square miles (2,700 km2), of which, 1,055 square miles (2,730 km2) of it is land and 5 square miles (13 km2) of it (.50%) is water. The Boise River flows through the northern portion of the county, and the northwest border is bounded by the foothills of the Boise Range mountains, the summits are in adjacent Boise County. The southwestern border of the county is bounded by the Snake River.
Adjacent counties
- Boise County - northeast
- Elmore County - east
- Owyhee County - south
- Canyon County - west
- Gem County - northwest
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Gem County | Boise County | |
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| Canyon County |  |
Elmore County | ||
 Ada County, Idaho  |
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| Owyhee County |
National protected areas
Highways
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Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 2,675 |
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| 1880 | 4,674 | 74.7% | |
| 1890 | 8,638 | 84.8% | |
| 1900 | 11,559 | 33.8% | |
| 1910 | 29,088 | 151.6% | |
| 1920 | 35,213 | 21.1% | |
| 1930 | 37,925 | 7.7% | |
| 1940 | 50,401 | 32.9% | |
| 1950 | 70,649 | 40.2% | |
| 1960 | 93,460 | 32.3% | |
| 1970 | 112,230 | 20.1% | |
| 1980 | 173,036 | 54.2% | |
| 1990 | 205,775 | 18.9% | |
| 2000 | 300,904 | 46.2% | |
| Est. 2008 | 380,920 | 26.6% | |
| sources:[1][6][7] | |||
As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 300,904 people, 113,408 households, and 77,344 families residing in the county. The population density was 285/mi² (110/km²). There were 118,516 housing units at an average density of 112/mi² (43/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.86% White, 0.65% Black or African American, 0.69% Native American, 1.74% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 1.67% from other races, and 2.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.48% of the population.
There were 113,408 households out of which 36.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.10% were married couples living together, 9.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.80% were non-families. 23.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.07% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the county the population was spread out with 27.30% under the age of 18, 10.30% from 18 to 24, 32.50% from 25 to 44, 20.80% from 45 to 64, and 9.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 100.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.9 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $46,140, and the median income for a family was $54,416. Males had a median income of $37,867 versus $26,453 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,519. About 5.40% of families and 7.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.20% of those under age 18 and 5.70% of those age 65 or over.
Government and politics
Similar to other Idaho counties, an elected three-member county commission heads the county government. Other elected officials include clerk, treasurer, sheriff, assessor, coroner, and prosecutor.[9]
Although Ada County has traditionally been a Republican Party stronghold, it has become more competitive in recent elections, especially in the growing Boise area. The last victory in a presidential election by a Democrat in the county was by Lyndon Johnson in 1964 - the last time a Democrat carried the state.[10] In 2008 the presidential election in Ada County was more competitive than in previous years; John McCain defeated Barack Obama by only six percentage points.[11]
Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jerry Brady carried the county in his 2002 and 2006 races, despite losing statewide in both contests.[12][13] Another prominent Democrat, Boise mayor David H. Bieter, was comfortably reelected in a nonpartisan race in 2007.[14]
Ada County is represented in the Idaho Legislature by eight districts in the House of Representatives, the most of any county.[15] In those districts each party holds 12 of a possible 24 seats. Democrats currently control the Boise-based districts, while Republicans control the districts based in the western suburbs.[16] Several of the Boise seats were Democratic pickups in 2006.[17]
Each party held all of their respective legislative seats the 2008 elections, but Republicans won two competitive county commission races.[18]
Cities
References
- ^ a b Ada County QuickFacts, United States Census Bureau, 2009-02-20, accessed 2009-05-31
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_a_County&Template=/cffiles/counties/usamap.cfm. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ Table 4: Annual Estimates of the Population for Incorporated Places in Idaho, Listed Alphabetically: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2006 (SUB-EST2006-04-16) accessed 2007-07-16
- ^ Idaho.gov - Ada County - accessed 2009-05-31
- ^ Idaho.gov - Canyon County
- ^ 1864 Ada County reference page, Idaho State Historical Society, accessed 2009-06-02.
- ^ census.gov - Idaho population by county, 1900-90 accessed 2009-05-03
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ Ada County Portal
- ^ 1964 Presidential General Election Results - Idaho
- ^ 2008 - General Election Ada County
- ^ November 5, 2002 General Election Results
- ^ November 7, 2006 General Election Results
- ^ Bieter beats Tibbs in Boise mayor race
- ^ Idaho Legislative District Map
- ^ Idaho Legislative Districts
- ^ Baseline 08: Idaho Legislature
- ^ Election shows GOP still has the edge in Ada County
Further reading
- "Ada County". State website. http://www.idaho.gov/aboutidaho/county/ada.html. Retrieved 2005-09-20.
External links
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