Burley, ID

Settled: Originally the domain of the Paleo Indians, then later Shoshone and Paiutes; Burley was founded in 1905 by I.B. Perrine and others along the Snake River when the Oregon Short Line Railroad came to the area
Origin of Name: Named after David Burley, a railroad official
Notable Features:  County seat of Cassia County in 1918, replacing Albion, the original seat; commercial center for the Mini-Cassia area, which includes Minidoka and Cassia Counties; a key agricultural producer in the Magic Valley region, driven by its fertile lands ideal for crops like sugar beets, grain and potatoes.
Well Known History: 5 pioneer trails pass through Cassia County, the most of any county in the US; The Oregon Trail passed through what would become Burley on its way towards Boise and on to Oregon; established as a railroad town, Burley was not intended to become the area’s central location; Heyburn was designed for that purpose; however, when land speculators drove up the price of land in Heyburn, many settlers opted to cross the Snake River and Burley eventually became the area’s hub; the Minidoka Irrigation Project in nearby Minidoka County, delivered irrigation water throughout the Magic Valley and Burley grew as ag business developed; the area has been especially known for its potato processing plants and sugar beet plant in nearby Paul; Burley’s recent growth has been driven, as the economy diversified; the area has became known for its central location, fueling transportation and logistical services
Area Events: Home of the Cassia County Fair & Rodeo each August, the area hosts events such as the Spudman Triathlon and Idaho Regatta
Location: 36 miles (42 minutes) east of Twin Falls on I-84 E
Population 2024: Estimated at 12,221, up from 11,704 at 2020 census