Rupert is the county seat and largest city of Minidoka County, Idaho, United States. It is part of the Burley, Idaho Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 5,645 at the 2000 census.

Rupert sprung up after the announcement of the Minidoka Reclamation Project, which would provide irrigation and electricity to the area by the building of the Minidoka Dam.

Electricity was plentiful in Rupert after the building of the Minidoka Dam and led to Rupert being one of the first cities in the world to have its streets lighted by electricity. Rupert was founded in 1906.

Geography

Rupert is located at 42°37′4″N 113°40′28″W / 42.61778°N 113.67444°W / 42.61778; -113.67444 (42.617967, -113.674543), at 4,150 feet in elevation. It is part of the agricultural region of the Snake River Plain known as Magic Valley, and is a few miles north of the Snake River. Interstate 84 passes a few miles to the south, and before its construction, U.S. Highway 30 passed through Rupert. Acequia lies about 5 miles northeast of Rupert and Paul lies about 5 miles to the west.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.3 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,645 people, 2,024 households, and 1,443 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,779.9 people per square mile (1,073.7/km²). There were 2,204 housing units at an average density of 1,085.4/sq mi (419.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 72.65% White, 0.37% African American, 1.17% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 22.69% from other races, and 2.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 35.39% of the population.

There were 2,024 households out of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.31.

In the city the population was spread out with 31.2% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 90.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,105, and the median income for a family was $29,423. Males had a median income of $28,070 versus $16,779 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,253. About 18.9% of families and 21.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.2% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.

History

In 2006, Rupert celebrated its 100th birthday.

Rupert officially became "Christmas City, USA" in November 1987.

Noted people

CNN's Lou Dobbs and actor Bill Fagerbakke, as well as hot rod shop owner Boyd Coddington were raised in Rupert.

Education

Rupert is served by the Minidoka County Schools system.

Children are zoned to:

• Rupert Elementary School (Unincorporated Minidoka County - Grades K-5)
• East Minico Middle School (Rupert) (Grades 6-8)
• Minico High School (Unincorporated Minidoka County-grades 9-12)
• Mt. Harrison High School (Rupert - grades 9-12, alternative high school)

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rupert,_Idaho