Adams County, Idaho is located in the south-central region of the state and is bordered by several other counties. To the north, Adams County is bordered by Canyon County and to the east, it is bordered by Gem County. To the south, Adams County shares a border with Payette County and to the west, it is bordered by Washington County. See Countryaah – Counties in Idaho.
Adams County is situated between two major cities in Idaho – Boise to the west and Nampa to the north. The county covers an area of 937 square miles with a population of approximately 4,200 people as of 2019. It was founded in 1911 and named after John Quincy Adams who served as president from 1825-1829.
The county seat for Adams County is Council which was established in 1912 and has a population of just over 500 people as of 2019. Other notable towns within Adams County include New Meadows, Cambridge, Council Valley, Midvale, Indian Valley, and Ola.
The terrain in Adams County varies from high desert plains to rolling hills covered with sagebrush and juniper trees. Much of the land has been developed for farming or ranching but there are still some areas that remain untouched by development so visitors can experience a glimpse into Idaho’s rural lifestyle.
Adams County offers visitors plenty of outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, fishing, hunting, camping and more. With its close proximity to Boise and Nampa as well as its many outdoor activities available for visitors to enjoy – Adams county provides something for everyone.
Demographics of Adams County, Idaho
Adams County, Idaho is home to a population of approximately 4,200 people as of 2019. The median age in the county is 44.3 years with a gender ratio of 49.4% male and 50.6% female.
The racial makeup of Adams County is predominantly white at 92%, followed by Hispanic or Latino at 4%, American Indian and Alaska Native at 2%, Asian at 1%, and African American or Black at 0%.
The median household income in Adams County is $41,749 with a poverty rate of 17%. About 11% of the population has a bachelor’s degree or higher, while 20% have some college education but no degree. The unemployment rate in Adams County is 6%.
Adams County has a large agricultural sector that contributes to the local economy. There are several small businesses located throughout the county as well as some larger employers such as Boise Cascade, which operates one of its sawmills in Council, Idaho located in Adams County.
Adams County is served by three school districts: Council School District #13, Midvale School District #43, and New Meadows School District #51. There are several post-secondary institutions located within an hour’s drive from Adams County including Boise State University, College of Western Idaho (CWI), Northwest Nazarene University (NNU), and Treasure Valley Community College (TVCC).
Notable People of Adams County, Idaho
Adams County, Idaho is the home to some of the most notable people in the state. These include politicians, authors, athletes, and more.
One of the most well-known politicians from Adams County is Cecil Andrus, who served four terms as Governor of Idaho from 1971 to 1977 and again from 1987 to 1995. He was also Secretary of the Interior under President Jimmy Carter from 1977 to 1981 and was a leader in conservation efforts during those years.
Novelist and short story writer, Jess Walter is also from Adams County. His works include Citizen Vince (2005), which won an Edgar Award for Best Novel in 2006; The Zero (2006), which was a New York Times bestseller; and Beautiful Ruins (2012), which was named Amazon’s Best Book of 2012.
The county has produced two professional athletes: Brett Romberg, who played center for NFL teams such as Jacksonville Jaguars and Atlanta Falcons; and Chad Qualls, who is a pitcher for the Houston Astros baseball team.
Other notable people from Adams County include author Kim Barnes Arico; businessman Jim Jones; and former Idaho Supreme Court Chief Justice Gerald Schroeder.