Ketchum, Idaho

Coordinates: 43°40′52″N 114°22′18″W / 43.68111°N 114.37167°W / 43.68111; -114.37167
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ketchum, Idaho
Ketchum in September 2007
Ketchum in September 2007
Motto(s): 
"Small town, big life."
Location of Ketchum in Blaine County, Idaho.
Location of Ketchum in Blaine County, Idaho.
Coordinates: 43°40′52″N 114°22′18″W / 43.68111°N 114.37167°W / 43.68111; -114.37167[1]
CountryUnited States
StateIdaho
CountyBlaine
Founded1880
Government
 • MayorNeil Bradshaw
Area
 • Total3.25 sq mi (8.43 km2)
 • Land3.21 sq mi (8.31 km2)
 • Water0.05 sq mi (0.12 km2)
Elevation
5,853 ft (1,784 m)
Population
 • Total3,555
Time zoneUTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code
83340
Area code(s)208, 986
FIPS code16-43030
GNIS feature ID0397833
Websiteketchumidaho.org

Ketchum is a city in Blaine County, Idaho, United States. Located in the central part of the state, the population was 3,555 at the 2020 census, up from 2,689 in 2010. Located in the Wood River Valley, Ketchum is adjacent to Sun Valley and the communities share many resources: both sit in the same valley beneath Bald Mountain, with its skiing. The city also draws tourists to its fishing, hiking, trail riding, tennis, shopping, art galleries, and more. The airport for Ketchum, Friedman Memorial Airport, is approximately 15 miles (24 km) south in Hailey.

History[edit]

View of Ketchum, 1941

Originally the smelting center of the Warm Springs mining district, the town was first named Leadville in 1880. The postal department decided that was too common and renamed it for David Ketchum,[4] a local trapper and guide who had staked a claim in the basin a year earlier. Smelters were built in the 1880s, with the Philadelphia Smelter, located on Warm Springs Road, processing large amounts of lead and silver for about a decade.[5]

After the mining boom subsided in the 1890s, sheepmen from the south drove their flocks north through Ketchum in the summer, to graze in the upper elevation areas of the Pioneer, Boulder, and Sawtooth mountains. By 1920, Ketchum had become the largest sheep-shipping center in the West. In the fall, massive flocks of sheep flowed south into the town's livestock corrals at the Union Pacific Railroad's railhead, which connected to the main line at Shoshone.[6]

After the development of Sun Valley by the Union Pacific Railroad in 1936, Ketchum became popular with celebrities, including Gary Cooper and Ernest Hemingway. Hemingway loved the surrounding area; he fished, hunted, and in the late 1950s bought a home overlooking the Wood River in nearby Warm Springs. It was there he committed suicide; he and his granddaughter, model and actress Margaux Hemingway, are buried in the Ketchum Cemetery. The local elementary school is named in his honor.

Every Labor Day weekend, Ketchum hosts the Wagon Days festival, a themed carnival featuring Old West wagon trains, narrow ore wagons, and a parade.

The Clint Eastwood film Pale Rider (1985) was partially filmed in the Boulder Mountains near Ketchum.[7]

Ketchum is referenced in the song "Ketchum, ID" by indie rock band boygenius.[8]

Geography[edit]

Ketchum is located at an elevation of 5,853 feet (1,784 m) above sea level.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.08 square miles (7.98 km2), of which, 3.05 square miles (7.90 km2) is land and 0.03 square miles (0.08 km2) is water.[9] However, two mountain streams, Trail Creek and Warm Springs Creek, join the Big Wood River in Ketchum.

Climate[edit]

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Ketchum has a warm-summer mediterranean continental climate, abbreviated "Dsb" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Ketchum was 98 °F (36.7 °C) on July 13, 2002, while the coldest temperature recorded was −46 °F (−43.3 °C) on February 2, 1950.[10]

Climate data for Ketchum, Idaho, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1937–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 54
(12)
56
(13)
67
(19)
79
(26)
89
(32)
97
(36)
98
(37)
96
(36)
93
(34)
85
(29)
69
(21)
60
(16)
98
(37)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 43.1
(6.2)
47.1
(8.4)
56.3
(13.5)
68.7
(20.4)
77.6
(25.3)
83.8
(28.8)
90.2
(32.3)
88.7
(31.5)
82.3
(27.9)
72.6
(22.6)
58.1
(14.5)
43.8
(6.6)
90.9
(32.7)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 31.3
(−0.4)
35.0
(1.7)
42.6
(5.9)
51.9
(11.1)
61.6
(16.4)
69.7
(20.9)
80.0
(26.7)
78.7
(25.9)
69.0
(20.6)
55.9
(13.3)
41.2
(5.1)
30.3
(−0.9)
53.9
(12.2)
Daily mean °F (°C) 19.6
(−6.9)
23.1
(−4.9)
30.6
(−0.8)
39.4
(4.1)
48.2
(9.0)
54.8
(12.7)
62.6
(17.0)
61.1
(16.2)
52.6
(11.4)
41.8
(5.4)
29.3
(−1.5)
19.7
(−6.8)
40.2
(4.6)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 8.0
(−13.3)
11.1
(−11.6)
18.7
(−7.4)
26.9
(−2.8)
34.7
(1.5)
39.9
(4.4)
45.1
(7.3)
43.5
(6.4)
36.1
(2.3)
27.7
(−2.4)
17.4
(−8.1)
9.2
(−12.7)
26.5
(−3.0)
Mean minimum °F (°C) −8.7
(−22.6)
−4.7
(−20.4)
3.5
(−15.8)
14.3
(−9.8)
22.7
(−5.2)
28.8
(−1.8)
34.9
(1.6)
33.3
(0.7)
24.5
(−4.2)
14.4
(−9.8)
1.9
(−16.7)
−7.1
(−21.7)
−11.6
(−24.2)
Record low °F (°C) −42
(−41)
−46
(−43)
−28
(−33)
−4
(−20)
5
(−15)
17
(−8)
14
(−10)
16
(−9)
11
(−12)
−3
(−19)
−25
(−32)
−37
(−38)
−46
(−43)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.25
(57)
1.88
(48)
1.76
(45)
1.17
(30)
1.78
(45)
1.26
(32)
0.55
(14)
0.50
(13)
1.01
(26)
1.40
(36)
1.21
(31)
2.57
(65)
17.34
(442)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 27.0
(69)
17.2
(44)
10.5
(27)
3.2
(8.1)
0.2
(0.51)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
1.6
(4.1)
10.3
(26)
32.0
(81)
102.0
(259)
Average extreme snow depth inches (cm) 31.1
(79)
33.4
(85)
31.9
(81)
14.8
(38)
0.5
(1.3)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
1.0
(2.5)
7.3
(19)
20.4
(52)
36.5
(93)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 9.7 8.8 8.1 7.0 7.8 7.4 4.1 4.1 4.3 5.2 6.2 10.9 83.6
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 8.8 7.6 4.9 2.2 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.7 3.7 9.9 38.0
Source 1: NOAA[11]
Source 2: National Weather Service[10]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1890450
1950757
1960746−1.5%
19701,45494.9%
19802,20051.3%
19902,52314.7%
20003,00319.0%
20102,689−10.5%
20203,55532.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]

Ketchum is home to several faith communities, including the Presbyterian Church of the Bigwood, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church, and the Wood River Jewish Community.

2010 census[edit]

At the 2010 census there were 2,689 people, 1,431 households, and 583 families living in the city. The population density was 881.6 inhabitants per square mile (340.4/km2). There were 3,564 housing units at an average density of 1,168.5 per square mile (451.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.9% White, 0.1% African American, 0.1% Native American, 1.3% Asian, 6.5% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.1%.[3]

Of the 1,431 households 15.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.2% were married couples living together, 5.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 59.3% were non-families. 44.1% of households were one person and 11.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 1.88 and the average family size was 2.63.

The median age was 44 years. 14.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 31.4% were from 25 to 44; 32.3% were from 45 to 64; and 16.3% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 52.0% male and 48.0% female.

2000 census[edit]

At the 2000 census there were 3,003 people, 1,582 households, and 607 families living in the city. The population density was 991.4 inhabitants per square mile (382.8/km2). There were 2,920 housing units at an average density of 964.0 per square mile (372.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.74% White, 0.27% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 2.33% from other races, and 1.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.90%.[13]

Of the 1,582 households 14.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.1% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 61.6% were non-families. 42.2% of households were one person and 6.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 1.90 and the average family size was 2.60.

The age distribution was 12.5% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 37.6% from 25 to 44, 31.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 116.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 117.1 males.

The median household income was $45,457 and the median family income was $73,750. Males had a median income of $31,712 versus $27,857 for females. The per capita income for the city was $41,798. About 3.5% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.9% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education[edit]

Blaine County School District is the school district for the entire county.[14] The zoned schools are Ernest Hemingway STEAM School (for K-5),[15][16] Wood River Middle School, and Wood River High School.[16]

The county is in the catchment area, but not the taxation zone, for College of Southern Idaho.[17]

Notable people[edit]

Points of interest[edit]

Special events[edit]

Trailing of the Sheep Parade 2018
  • Trailing of the Sheep
  • Ride Sun Valley Bike Festival
  • Sun Valley Jazz Festival
  • Sun Valley Summer Symphony
  • Wagon Days
  • Sun Valley Film Festival
  • TEDxSunValley

Sister cities[edit]

Ketchum has two sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International:

References[edit]

  1. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  2. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 174.
  5. ^ "History" Archived 2012-01-28 at the Wayback Machine. Ketchum / Sun Valley Historical Society. Retrieved 6 March 2012
  6. ^ "Idaho for the Curious", by Cort Conley, 1982, ISBN 0-9603566-3-0, p.348-349
  7. ^ Maddrey, Joseph (2016). The Quick, the Dead and the Revived: The Many Lives of the Western Film. McFarland. Page 184. ISBN 9781476625492.
  8. ^ "boygenius: boygenius EP". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
  9. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  10. ^ a b "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Pocatello". National Weather Service. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  11. ^ "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Ketchum RS, ID". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  12. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  14. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Blaine County, ID" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved March 12, 2024. - Text list
  15. ^ "BCSD #61 School Transportation Zones". Blaine County School District. Archived from the original on September 29, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2024. K-5: Including Ohio Gulch Rd. and North to county line.[...]6-8: Students accepted based on space available.[...]
  16. ^ a b "Blaine County School District : Neighborhood School Boundaries". Blaineschools.org. Archived from the original on September 29, 2011. Retrieved November 13, 2011. All areas North of Ohio Gulch Road - This area is north of Ohio Gulch Road, and in Blaine County.
  17. ^ "Community Colleges" (PDF). Legislative Budget Book. Idaho Legislature. 2016. p. 1-81 (PDF p. 3/9). - See area 1 in: "TITLE 33 EDUCATION CHAPTER 21 JUNIOR COLLEGES". Idaho Legislature. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  18. ^ "Former NFL and USC star Carson Palmer savors a new, demanding role: Being a dad". December 31, 2019.

External links[edit]

Media related to Ketchum, Idaho at Wikimedia Commons