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Payette County
Payette County
County
	Historic Payette City Hall and Courthouse
	Seal
	Location within the U.S. state of Idaho
	Idaho's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 44°01′N 116°46′W / 44.01°N 116.76°W
Country	United States
State	Idaho
Founded	February 28, 1917
Named for	Francois Payette
Seat	Payette
Largest city	Payette
Area
• Total	410 sq mi (1,100 km2)
• Land	407 sq mi (1,050 km2)
• Water	3.4 sq mi (9 km2) 0.65%
Population (2020)
• Total	25,386
• Density	62/sq mi (24/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	www.payettecounty.org

Payette County is a county located in Idaho in the United States of America. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,386.^[1] The county seat and largest city is Payette.^[2]

Payette County is part of the Ontario micropolitan area.

History

The county was established in 1917, partitioned from Canyon County. It was named after the Payette River, which was named after French-Canadian François Payette.^[3] Originally a fur trapper with the North West Company, Payette was the first white man in the area in 1818.

Payette County is one of the few counties in Idaho to be the home to the endangered Idaho ground squirrel.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 410 square miles (1,100 km²), of which 407 square miles (1,050 km²) is land and 3.4 square miles (8.8 km²) (0.8%) is water.^[4] It is the smallest county in Idaho by area.

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Rivers

Highways

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1920	7,021		—
1930	7,318		4.2%
1940	9,511		30.0%
1950	11,921		25.3%
1960	12,363		3.7%
1970	12,401		0.3%
1980	15,722		26.8%
1990	16,434		4.5%
2000	20,578		25.2%
2010	22,623		9.9%
2020	25,386		12.2%
2023 (est.)	27,279	^[5]	7.5%
U.S. Decennial Census^[6] 1790–1960,^[7] 1900–1990,^[8] 1990–2000,^[9] 2010,^[10]

2000 census

As of the census^[11] of 2000, there were 20,578 people, 7,371 households, and 5,572 families living in the county. The population density was 50 inhabitants per square mile (19/km²). There were 7,949 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile (7.7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 90.25% White, 0.87% Native American, 0.85% Asian, 0.10% Black or African American, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 5.57% from other races, and 2.33% from two or more races. 11.92% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 19.5% were of German, 13.5% English, 12.3% American and 8.3% Irish ancestry.

There were 7,371 households, out of which 37.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.00% were married couples living together, 9.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.40% were non-families. 20.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.21.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 30.60% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 26.60% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 13.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,046, and the median income for a family was $37,430. Males had a median income of $30,641 versus $21,421 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,924. About 9.70% of families and 13.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.70% of those under age 18 and 12.20% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 22,623 people, 8,262 households, and 6,017 families living in the county.^[12] The population density was 55.6 inhabitants per square mile (21.5/km²). There were 8,945 housing units at an average density of 22.0 per square mile (8.5/km²).^[13] The racial makeup of the county was 88.6% white, 1.1% American Indian, 0.8% Asian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 6.3% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 14.9% of the population.^[12] In terms of ancestry, 18.9% were American, 16.8% were German, 13.2% were English, and 10.5% were Irish.^[14]

Of the 8,262 households, 37.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.4% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 27.2% were non-families, and 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.19. The median age was 37.2 years.^[12]

The median income for a household in the county was $43,559 and the median income for a family was $50,323. Males had a median income of $38,582 versus $25,826 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,814. About 12.0% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.6% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.^[15]

2020 census

Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

**Payette County racial composition**
(*NH = Non-Hispanic*)^[16]^[17]
Race	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 2010	% 2020
White (NH)	18,388	19,240	81.28%	75.79%
Black or African American (NH)	41	52	0.18%	0.2%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	185	163	0.82%	0.64%
Asian (NH)	187	207	0.83%	0.82%
Pacific Islander (NH)	15	31	0.07%	0.12%
Some Other Race (NH)	15	133	0.07%	0.52%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)	429	1,292	1.9%	5.09%
Hispanic or Latino	3,363	4,268	14.87%	16.81%
Total	22,623	25,386

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 25,386 people, 9,086 households, and 6,275 families residing in the county.

Education

The county is served by three school districts:^[18]

Payette Joint District 371

Payette High School
McCain Middle School
Payette Primary School
Westside Elementary School
Payette Night School

New Plymouth District 372

New Plymouth High School
New Plymouth Middle School
New Plymouth Elementary School

Fruitland District 373

Fruitland High School
Fruitland Middle School
Fruitland Elementary School
Fruitland Alternative School

Residents are in the area (but not the taxation zone) for College of Western Idaho.^[19]

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated community

Hamilton Corner

Politics

Like most of Idaho, Payette County voters are overwhelmingly Republican. In no presidential election since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic candidate, and Jimmy Carter in 1976 was the last Democrat to crack one third of the county's vote.

United States presidential election results for Payette County, Idaho^[20]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	9,458	80.42%	2,064	17.55%	239	2.03%
2020	8,862	78.47%	2,161	19.14%	270	2.39%
2016	6,489	74.55%	1,507	17.31%	708	8.13%
2012	6,004	70.68%	2,271	26.73%	220	2.59%
2008	5,988	68.88%	2,415	27.78%	290	3.34%
2004	6,256	76.47%	1,848	22.59%	77	0.94%
2000	4,961	72.34%	1,643	23.96%	254	3.70%
1996	3,901	55.59%	2,119	30.19%	998	14.22%
1992	2,895	42.92%	1,656	24.55%	2,194	32.53%
1988	3,786	65.17%	1,900	32.71%	123	2.12%
1984	4,605	75.23%	1,410	23.04%	106	1.73%
1980	4,508	67.14%	1,828	27.23%	378	5.63%
1976	3,115	57.44%	2,195	40.48%	113	2.08%
1972	3,577	67.85%	1,113	21.11%	582	11.04%
1968	3,032	61.18%	1,216	24.54%	708	14.29%
1964	2,764	52.43%	2,508	47.57%	0	0.00%
1960	3,472	61.94%	2,133	38.06%	0	0.00%
1956	3,342	65.41%	1,767	34.59%	0	0.00%
1952	3,936	72.37%	1,491	27.41%	12	0.22%
1948	2,430	59.54%	1,568	38.42%	83	2.03%
1944	2,485	63.96%	1,382	35.57%	18	0.46%
1940	2,554	58.52%	1,790	41.02%	20	0.46%
1936	1,524	41.61%	1,677	45.78%	462	12.61%
1932	1,529	42.63%	1,836	51.18%	222	6.19%
1928	2,203	76.23%	621	21.49%	66	2.28%
1924	1,160	47.39%	401	16.38%	887	36.23%
1920	1,690	68.04%	785	31.60%	9	0.36%