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Minidoka County, Idaho

17 topographic sheets cover 13 settlements here, and 5 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

5 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Idaho within the United States
Minidoka County within Idaho

What the record shows

  • 117 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 5 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 2 buildings, 2 districts and 1 structure.
  • 1 of the 5 listings was added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 13 populated places in this county; 13 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

5

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Empire Schoolbuilding200101000568
Minidoka Dam and Power Plantstructure197474000746
Rupert Town Square Historic District (Boundary Increase)district201010000074
Rupert Town Square Historic District (Boundary Increase)district201010000074
Wilson Theaterbuilding200100001626

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

83 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 83 of them, burning about 189,652 acres. 29 started naturally and 4 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Natural29
Equipment and vehicle use14
Missing data/not specified/undetermined13
Debris and open burning9
Railroad operations and maintenance7
Arson/incendiarism4
Power generation/transmission/distribution4
Fireworks1
Other causes1
Recreation and ceremony1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
22 July 2005Natural47,592 acresIdaho Falls DistrictRUPERT
18 August 2008Equipment and vehicle use31,616 acresIdaho Falls DistrictNORTH MINIDOKA
16 August 2007Natural29,532 acresTwin Falls DistrictBEAR DEN BUTTE
7 August 1995Debris and open burning20,500 acresTwin Falls DistrictBEARTRAP
3 August 1992Natural9,819 acresTwin Falls DistrictGREAT RIFT
8 July 2012Natural7,935 acresTwin Falls DistrictLAIDLAW
6 August 2010Natural7,261 acresIdaho Falls DistrictBEAR TRAP
24 June 1999Natural7,187 acresTwin Falls DistrictWHISKEYBT

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1958 to 2025

60 of 117 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 117 reports for this county, causing no deaths, no injuries and about $7,488,600 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind82
Hail19
Tornado5
Flood5
Heavy Rain3
Funnel Cloud3

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
February 2017FloodAdelaide$6,140,000A warmup very early in the month caused massive sheet flooding as the snow melt from extreme December and January snows began rapidly early in the month. Nearly all roads experienced major flooding with as much as 4 feet of water on some roadways. The county did not have enough signs to indicate all the road closures. By the 14th of the month the only main roadways north of Meridian Road that were open were 400 West Road and 600 West Road. Highway 24 from Rupert to Acequia was closed by the 12th. Many roads were lost due to the damage. A large number of homes received massive flooding damage. Rural home damage to wells and septic systems occurred contaminating water. The state declared Minidoka County a disaster with some of the most significant flood damage in the state occurring there. The city of Paul's main pump station became completely submerged under water. The month's damage in dollar amounts exceeded 6 million dollars. Over 50,000 sandbags were ordered.
March 2017FloodAdelaide$425,000Extensive flooding continued throughout Minidoka County in March although effects did diminish significantly from February. Road and property damage remained substantial however despite the improved conditions from February.
May 1991Tornado (F2)not stated$250,000no account filed
March 2006Thunderstorm WindCountywide$240,000no account filed
July 1999Thunderstorm WindRupert$200,000Thunderstorm winds caused extensive damage to property in Rupert. Flying debris and downed trees damaged numerous vehicles and one home. The most extensive damage was a car dealership that lost part of its roof, which damaged or destoryed a number of vehicles. Power outages were widespread.
February 2000Thunderstorm WindCountywide$80,000Near Rupert, a mesonet station recorded 96.3 mph wind gust, which is a new state wind speed record. Nearby, a home sustained roof damage and a its porch was torn off and destroyed. Three large signs were destroyed, one of which fell on a car. Several homes sustained minor roof damage. Several wheel line irrigation systems were damaged.
June 2005Thunderstorm WindCountywide$30,000Southern Minidoka County was hit by severe thunderstorms. The Minidoka mesonet site recorded a wind gust of 72 mph. Several residents of Rupert were without power and two falling trees caused damage to a home on Third Street. Several downed trees were reported in Rupert.
June 2003Thunderstorm WindPaul$20,000Thunderstorm wind overturned a trailer home in Paul.
December 2025Thunderstorm WindRupert$16,000Trees downed and 2 power poles snapped off along Idaho Highway 25 near Rupert. Power outages throughout the area.
May 2009Thunderstorm WindPaul$15,000Microburst caused damage near Paul. Several large trees taken down, some on top of automobiles. Sheds were moved off foundations as well.
June 2015Thunderstorm WindRupert$10,000A tractor trailer was reported overturned on interstate 84 south of Rupert when strong thunderstorm winds passed through the region.
July 2012Thunderstorm WindRupert$10,000Minidoka County sherriff office reported power outages with trees taking down power lines. Roofs and buildings damaged and wheel lines blown into roads. Most of the damage reported in the city of Rupert.
December 2025Thunderstorm WindMinidoka$8,000Multiple trees downed and power outage 12 miles west of Minidoka.
August 2022Thunderstorm WindRupert$7,000Seven large trees were blown down with some uprooted at the Rupert Country Club. Some were as large as two feet in diameter.
December 2025Thunderstorm WindRupert$6,000Trees and power lines downed in the area of the Idaho 25 Bridge over the Snake River.
June 1995Thunderstorm WindMalta$5,000no account filed
December 2025Thunderstorm WindRupert$3,000Multiple large trees snapped off across Rupert, including a 2 to 3 foot diameter tree down on a house. Several roads were blocked.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindRupert$3,000Trees downed in Rupert.
August 2022Thunderstorm WindRupert$3,000A tree fell onto a Minivan near Rupert.
August 2022Thunderstorm WindRupert$3,000The public reported multiple trees downed in the city of Rupert.
December 2025Thunderstorm WindPaul$2,500Large tree uprooted and power pole downed in Paul.
December 2025Thunderstorm WindMinidoka$2,000A measured gust of 68 mph occurred southwest of Minidoka with an outhouse and chicken coop blown over. Wheel lines blown away as well.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindPaul$2,000Two pine trees downed just north of Paul.
August 2022Thunderstorm WindHeyburn$1,600A large tree was blown down near a wooden fence near the cozy coffee in Heyburn. Other large tree limbs reported down.
December 2025Thunderstorm WindAcequia$1,000Tree downed in Acequia.
December 2025Thunderstorm WindHeyburn$1,000Large pine tree uprooted near the intersection of W 300 S and Idaho Highway 27.
December 2025Thunderstorm WindPaul$1,000Power pole snapped off along 600 W.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindAcequia$1,000Pine tree uprooted north of Acequia.
May 2023HailHeyburn$1,000Large hail did damage to awning in Heyburn.
August 2022Thunderstorm WindRupert$1,000Fence destroyed near intersection of S 300 W and W 50 Rd S near Rupert.
May 2018Thunderstorm WindRupert$500Severe thunderstorm winds damaged power lines in Rupert causing power outages for many Rupert residents.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindMinidoka-Thunderstorm wind gusts caused power outages northwest of Minidoka.
December 2025Thunderstorm WindRupert-A 78 mph wind gust measured along E 300 N near N Meridian Road.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindMinidoka-The Minidoka ARL mesonet site recorded a 60 mph wind gust.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindAcequia-Idaho Power reported 1,100 customers without power across Minidoka, Hawley, Acequia, and Rupert.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindPaul-A 70 mph wind gust measured at site RPT1.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindAcequia-A private weather station recorded a 67 mph wind gust near intersection of 300 N and N 100 E.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindBurley-Idaho Power reported 550 customers without power from just west of Paul north to Idaho Highway 24.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindMinidoka-A 59 mph wind gust measured 6 miles northwest of Minidoka.
August 2024Thunderstorm WindAcequia-Idaho Power reported over 700 customers without power due to thunderstorm winds near Acequia.
May 2023HailHeyburn-Extensive wheat and beet crop damage near Heyburn due to shredding of vegetation by large hailstones.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindMinidoka-Mesonet site MIN recorded a 64 mph wind gust 6 miles northwest of Minidoka.
September 2022Thunderstorm WindPaul-The agrimet station RPTI1 recorded a 58 mph wind gust.
September 2021Thunderstorm WindMinidoka-Sixty mph 6 miles northwest of Minidoka.
October 2019Thunderstorm WindPaul-A tree was downed 5 miles west northwest of Paul.
October 2019Thunderstorm WindMinidoka-A 60 mph wind gust measured at the Minidoka mesonet station.
October 2019Thunderstorm WindRupert-A large section of a tree down on 3rd st just east of H St in Rupert. Sheet metal debris strewn about the city.
October 2019Thunderstorm WindAcequia-The top half of a large pine tree snapped off just west of highway 24 near Acequia. Numerous other branches broken off nearby trees.
October 2019Thunderstorm WindAcequia-Tree reported by broadcast media in Jackson area. Near Cassia/Minidoka County border.
October 2019Thunderstorm WindPaul-The RPTI mesonet site recorded a 59 mph wind gust.
October 2019Thunderstorm WindMinidoka-A private weather station recorded a 66 mph wind gust near E 600 N and 700 Rd E.
October 2019Thunderstorm WindAcequia-A private weather station measured a 58 mph wind gust near the intersection of N 100 |E and E 300 N.
October 2019Thunderstorm WindHeyburn-Large evergreen tree snapped off near the base in Heyburn.
February 2019FloodRupert-Warm temperatures and rain associated with a long lasting atmospheric river led to extensive sheet flooding in Minidoka County. Several roads were closed in the Rupert and Paul areas with one gravel road washed away.
May 2018HailHeyburn-One inch hail reported in Heyburn.
May 2018HailRupert-One inch hail reported in Rupert.
May 2018HailRupert-One inch hail in Rupert.
January 2017FloodHeyburn-A Couple of Cars needed to be removed from flood water at the intersection of 400S and 1150W west of Heyburn. Street flooding in Heyburn has resulted in the closure of some streets, particularly near the Snake River.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindMinidoka-The Minidoka ARL mesonet site measured a 59 mph thunderstorm wind gust.
June 2015Thunderstorm WindHeyburn-Strong thunderstorm winds blew over a wooden fence northeast of Heyburn.

Mines and quarries

17 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 17 workings inside this county. 8 still produce and 9 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Sand and Gravel, Construction12
Gold3
Volcanic Materials1
Clay1

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Cinder DepositVolcanic MaterialsProducer
Emerson Clay PitClayProducer
Rupert PlacerGoldPast ProducerPlacer
Snake River PlacersGoldPast ProducerPlacer
Snake River PlacersGoldPast ProducerPlacer
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Jackson PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Kloepfer Crushing and Screening PltSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Sand and Gravel PlantSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer

Every populated place in the county

13

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.