- Settled: The first permanent settlement in Minidoka county, was established in 1882 first as a water stop; as a railroad siding in 1884; and incorporated as a city in 1907
- Origin of Name: Two main origin stories: 1) a Dakota Sioux word meaning, “a fountain or stream of water,” or 2) a Shoshoni word for “broad expanse” after which Minidoka county and Minidoka dam were later named
- Known for: This central communications hub in the early years of settlement was an important early railroad town for the Oregon Short Line Railroad through which many early settlers arrived; it was also the closest communications center to Albion, which was then the county seat of Cassia county and the landing point of many students who came to study at Albion’s Normal Teachers School, opened in 1893; Albion was a thirty-five mile stagecoach ride southeast of Minidoka.
- Notable Features: Cemetery, railroad depot; at one time, its population reached 3,000, and its business district included hotels, restaurants and saloons, before emigrants dispersed to other local area towns, farms and rural communities; many high school students rode the train, called “The Galloping Goose” to attend school in Rupert.
Location: 13.7 miles (18 minutes) northeast of Rupert on Hwy 24 N - Population 2020 Census: 86, down from 112 in 2010
Minidoka, ID
Last Mortified: