The mighty Snake River and its magnificent canyon etch the boundary of the cities of Jerome and Twin Falls. Mini-Cassia is surrounded by the Snake River and beautiful Cache Peak. Located in the south central part of Idaho. Boise, the State capital, is about a 11/2 hour drive west; Pocatello, the State’s third largest city, is a 11/2 hour drive east. Northern Nevada is less than 1 hour to the south. The topographic, geographic location, and seasonal variation in climate in Blaine County create a unique and varied natural environment which ranges from the scenic high alpine country in the north to the desolate lava plains and desert mountains in the south, including world-famous ski resort, Sun Valley.

The ideal balance between business and livability. This vibrant region offers a uniquely competitive environment where industry prospers in a distinctive pro-business partnership of commerce, government and community.

SOUTHERN IDAHO

Twin Falls, Jerome, Minidoka, Cassia, Gooding, Glenns Ferry, Kimberly, and Filer are located in the south central part of Idaho. Each is geographically located about an equal distance from Boise, the State Capital, a one and a half hour drive to the west and Pocatello, the state’s third largest city, is a one and a half hour drive east. Salt Lake City is three hours southeast via I-84. This Southern Idaho region is also referred to as The Magic Valley – so named after nearby Milner Dam which was constructed in 1905 and productive farmland and towns seemed to spring up out of nowhere on the sagebrush-covered southern Idaho desert. Thus, “The Magic Valley.”

The mighty Snake River and its breathtaking canyon etches the boundaries of these cities where many falls, including 212-foot Shoshone Falls, known as the “Niagara of the West”, can be seen. The magnificent Snake River Canyon cuts into hundreds of feet of volcanic rock as a result of the ancient Bonneville Flood that occurred over 15,000 years ago.

TWIN FALLS

Twin Falls is a vibrant city of 42,197 people, home to over half of the county’s 75,296. The city sits at a high-desert elevation of 3,745 with the Snake River Canyon at the north edge, northern Nevada to the south, and the distant Sawtooth Mountains rimming the northern horizon.

FILER

The City of Filer is located in central southern Idaho on the west side of Twin Falls County. Filer has a population just under two thousand, Filer is a small community best known for the home of Twin Falls County Fair which is one of the biggest fairs in the North West United States.

KIMBERLY

The city of Kimberly is primarily supported by an agriculture economy. Most of the 2,477 residents work in Twin Falls and return to the city afterward. Several historical sites are unique to Kimberly and surrounding areas, including: Big (Shoshone) and Little (Twin) Falls; China mining sites; Oregon Trail Historical Site; Striker Store and Savage/Johnson and Larson/Hodge House.

JEROME

Jerome, positioned at the intersection of Interstate 84 East/ West and State Highway 93 North/South, is the gateway to Southern Idaho and center of the intermountain region. The area is a major producer of agriculture commodities with a 140-day growing season. The City of Jerome is home to 9,157 of the county’s 21,262 total population.

GOODING

Gooding County has experienced modest growth over the last 10 years with a population of 14,430 in 2009. Gooding County is the state’s dairy leader. But the explosive growth over the last 15 years has ebbed recently with moratoria on dairies and feedlots. The industry has converted typically migrant, seasonal workers into permanent residents. The county seat and largest town is Gooding at 3,200 residents in 2008. Wendell, coined the Hub City due to its central location, is the second largest town at 2,418. Over half the county lives outside the cities. Despite the predominance of dairy, the county’s agriculture is diverse from specialty onions to trout to beef cattle. Dairy products have been stable but milk prices were below the break even point for an 18-month period, overlapping high feed costs in 2008. North Canyon Medical Center opened its new facility in the spring of 2010.

MINIDOKA

Minidoka County’s population has been slipping over the last ten years. The population was 20,350 in 1999 and 19,226 in 2009. This area is heavily dependent upon agriculture and food processing jobs. Per capita income was $28,671 in 2008, ranking Minidoka County 30th out of Idaho’s 44 counties in per capita income.

CASSIA

Cassia County has experienced static growth over the last ten years. The population has risen from 21,162 in 1998 to 21,348 in 2008, an increase of 0.9 percent, as the area is highly dependent on agriculture. Cassia County has abundant natural resources and recreational opportunities. Burley is located on the Snake River and it is a very short distance to the City of Rocks and Pomerelle Ski Resort. Each year, the Mini-Cassia area hosts a boat regatta that enjoys national recognition. Per capita income has increased to $33,794 in 2008, an increase of 7.5 percent year over year. Cassia County ranks 11th in per capita icome in Idaho.

GLENNS FERRY

Glenns Ferry was one of the most famous river crossings on the Oregon Trail. Pioneers forded the Snake River at the Three Island Crossing until 1869, when Gustavus "Gus" Glenn constructed a ferry about two miles upstream, primarily to expedite freight but also for emigrants. His boat, which could hold two wagons, cut nearly twenty miles from the former route.

Three Island Crossing State Park, opened in 1971, is home to The Oregon Trail History and Education Center, where visitors can learn about pioneer emigrants and Native American history. The Glenns Ferry community sponsors a crossing commemoration the

Sitting at an elevation of 2,569 feet above sea level, Glenns Ferry has a population of approximately 1,600 and part of the 28,820 in Elmore County. It is located in south central Idaho along the Snake River on Interstate 84. The city can be accessed by two exits and has both rail and trucking services available. To the west it is a short 20-minute drive to Mountain Home with its population of 14,000, and Boise lies 60 minutes away. With the Snake River immediately available, water recreation opportunities are endless. In less than an hour, one can snowmobile, hunt, fish, camp or raft ast, in 30 minutes one reaches Gooding and less than an hour away is Twin Falls.

WENDELL

Wendell is a small farming community in southern Idaho. Its nearly 3,000 residents are part of a close knit, independent community faithful to the principals that helped settle the west. The City of Wendell prides itself on Magic Valley Dairy Days, held the third weekend June.

The City of Wendell and the Wendell Chamber of Commerce are active in community events that help to keep the city’s community pride alive.
http://wendellchamberofcommerce.org

CASTLEFORD

Castleford’s 228 residents are closely connected members, powerfully independent, and faithful to the principals of comradery. The City of Castleford prides itself on its schools, it’s tourism, with the nearby Balanced Rock, and the Annual Car Show each summer. The City of Castleford and the Castleford Men’s Club are active in events that help to keep the city’s community pride alive. The Castleford Men’s Club, was founded in 1946 to provide funding for the needs of the City and it schools.

WOOD RIVER VALLEY

Centrally located in the heart of the scenic Wood River Valley, the city of Hailey has the unique distinction of being the first town in Idaho to have telephone service (1883), first in Idaho to have electric lights (1887) as well as being the birthplace of internationally renowned poet Ezra Pound (b. 1885) With the decline of mining fortunes around the turn of the century, Hailey shifted economic gears and became one of the largest sheep raising centers in the United States. The importance of the sheep industry to the area’s history is now celebrated each Fall with the Annual Trailing of the Sheep. The construction of the Sun Valley Resort in 1936 heralded the beginnings of tourism and recreation as the community’s economic mainstay, capitalizing on the splendor of the Wood River Valley which draws visitors from all over the world.

IDAHO INFRASTRUCTURE RESOURCES GUIDE http://commerce.idaho.gov/assets/content/docs/BigBook_Final_All.pdf

PRO- BUSINESS

Today, it is a uniquely functioning ecosystem that is rich in wildlife and history. South Central Idaho has long been an agricultural center with several of the largest employers involved in growing and processing food: milk, beef, potatoes, sugar, corn, peas, beans, etc. However, businesses from all over the country have learned of the unmatched qualities of this area and now have operations here, thanks also to a strong pro-business environment. A solid, growing list of diverse manufacturing and technology companies has supplemented farms, ranches and dairy operations.

CLIMATE

South Central Idaho boasts a four-season climate. Daytime highs in July average 88 degrees with evening lows of 50, while January temperatures range from 37 in the day to 21 at night. The area receives little precipitation, about 11 inches of snow and 9 inches of rain annually and the air is dry and clear. Hailey temperatures range from a lowest average daily minimum temperature of 8.3 degrees in January to a highest average daily maximum temperature of 84.9 degrees in July. Average precipitation is 16.2 inches annually, with an average annual snowfall of 78.2 inches.

CULTURE

Southern Idaho boasts a solid, diversified quality of life for its residents. Twin Falls serves as the regional center for numerous arts and cultural events: performing & visual arts, cultural resources, museums, libraries, planetarium, and adult and youth educational opportunities. Several community theater groups, a symphony and chorale welcome participation. The College of Southern Idaho campus is home to the Herrett Center for the Arts and Science and world class Faulkner Planetarium.

The Wood River Valley is home to many artists studios. In addition there are programs of The Sun Valley Center for the Arts that operate in Hailey. The Northern Rockies Folk Festival the first weekend in August brings in folk musicians from around the world as does The Trailing of Sheep Festival in October. A Company of Fools, a theatre company that celebrates the magic, mystery and the wonder of life. It is awards winning provocative theatre unique in a small town setting. Every shade of the theatrical spectrum from classics to cutting edge drama. Company of Fools uses the Liberty Theatre in downtown Hailey, a lovingly restored 1930’s movie house theatre. Plays run year round with affordable prices.

HOUSING

While Southern Idaho’s growth and attractiveness has spurred the housing market, home prices and rental rates remain at or slightly below the national average. Recent data indicates the average home price in Southern Idaho to be under $100,000. For a newer executive home, the price would be about $115.00 per square foot, which includes the land and high quality exterior and interior amenities. This cost would be considered the “upper end” of the market.

In general, the price per square foot for newly constructed homes currently on the market ranges from $105.00 to $117.00 and existing homes range from $65.00 to $95.00 per square foot.

In the rental market, a three bedroom, two-bath home in the city limits could rent from $650.00 to $950.00 per month. Rentals for two bedroom apartments range from $450 to $650 per month. Executive rentals can approach $1,500 to $1,800 per month.

RETAIL & DINING

Twin Falls serves as the regional market center for the retail stores and a wide range of business and personal services. A shopping mall with national, local and specialized retail outlets cater to most shopping needs of Southern Idaho residents. Historic Downtown Twin Falls features a relaxed shopping pace with locally owned specialty shops. Dining opportunities are plentiful, from fast food to moderately upscale restaurants. Restaurants abound in the Hailey area. We are lucky to have a huge variety of eating establishments. From robust Idaho fare to a taste of old Italy, you’d be hard pressed to sample all that Hailey offers in a single stay, but every single experience would be well worth the effort.

RECREATION & ENTERTAINMENT

Southern Idaho’s unique geographical make up and range of weather conditions offers something for everyone. An environment unlike any other in the country including a wide range of extreme sports for those highly adventurous souls.

BASE Jumping - World-class BASE jumpers travel to Twin Falls’ Perrine Bridge to enjoy what they consider one of the best and safest spots to practice their sport of free falling from buildings, antennas, spans and the Earth (hence the name BASE). The Perrine Bridge is one of the few legal places to jump in North America and offers some of the most ideal and breathtaking jumping conditions.

Whitewater Rafting - From whitewater to flat water, Southern Idaho’s Magic Valley is blessed with an abundance of boating opportunities on one of the master rivers of the West - the Snake.

Rock Climbing - City of Rocks rivals Yosemite National Park as a western favorite for technical rock climbers and is widely considered one of the world’s top rock climbing destinations. Recreation in the Hailey and the Wood River Valley is outstanding four seasons of the year. The Blaine County Recreation District provides a wide variety of activities for all ages. The Wood River Trails are 22 miles of paved recreational path and trail system connecting/linking the communities of the Wood River Valley and providing access to surrounding public lands and to the Big Wood River. The pathway is open to biking, rollerblading, walking, running, and, in the winter, cross country skiing.

Summer months allow for spectacular sightseeing and numerous activities that involve water sports. The Snake and Salmon Rivers offer canyons, lakes, waterfalls and rapids for white-water rafting or a leisurely floating trip down the most scenic rivers in America. Fishing for trout, bass, salmon or sturgeon is always popular. There’s sailing or wind surfing on South Central Idaho’s many lakes and reservoirs. The surrounding mountains provide many campgrounds for camping, backpacking, rock climbing or picnicking. Guides and outfitters throughout the area offer horseback riding opportunities into some of the more remote corners of the region. Golf, swimming, boating, canoeing, jet skiing, water skiing, miniature golf, tennis, hot air ballooning, and scenic helicopter rides are a few of the other summer time activities available.

Winter brings snow to Southern Idaho and the whole face of the region changes when covered with show. On snowmobiles, cross country skis or snowshoes, you can travel into the hills and deserts, many with groomed trails. World-famous Sun Valley, the first ski resort in the country and recognized by Ski Magazine as the best ski resort in the United States is only 75 miles away. Our own South Hills also offers skiing for both the beginner and advanced skier. Some ski slopes can arrange helicopter rides to take the daring to remote areas for fresh powder skiing.

Spring is one of the most beautiful seasons in Idaho. For skiers visiting Southern Idaho, spring offers an exciting experience. Spring brings clear, bright days of superb skiing where snow remains well into April. The spring runoff means that the falls in the Snake River Canyon are magnificent at their peak, especially 212-foot Shoshone Falls which is higher than Niagara Falls. Other popular spring activities include golfing, mountain biking, tennis, swimming, mountain/rock climbing, hiking, motorcycling, NASCAR racing and horseback riding to name a few.

Fall hunting season is always an important time of passage for many residents and visitors to Southern Idaho. Fishing is excellent with the world-class fly-fishing in nearby Silver Creek. Warm days and cool nights make for spectacular surroundings as the aspens, dogwood and willows set the hill aglow with color.