Pocatello, Idaho

View of Red Hill from Eastern Pocatello, Idaho
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eastern_Pocatello.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Michlaovic


Pocatello is the county seat and largest city in Bannock County, Idaho. It covers 28.2 sq mi (73.1 sq km) in southeastern Idaho. The city is located on the Portneuf River where it enters the Snake River Plain from the mountains. It is located at an elevation of 4,462 ft (1,360 m). It observes the Mountain Standard Time (UTC-7) and in summer the Mountain Daylight Time (UTC-6). The city has a population of 51,000 (2011 estimate) within a metropolitan area of 83,000 people.

Pocatello experiences a semi-arid climate. The warmest month is July, with average high temperature of 87.5°F (30.83°C). Coldest month is February, when the average low temperature drops to 20.9°F (-6.2°C). The town is quite dry, with annual precipitation of just around 100 in. The wettest month is March, with 1.38 in of precipitation. Snow can be expected from November to March.

Downtown Pocatello, Idaho
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DSCN6296_pocatellodowntown_e.jpg
Author: Matthew Trump


Pocatello was named after the chief of the Shoshoni tribe, Chief Pocatello, who allowed the railway line to be built thorugh the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. The Shoshoni and Bannock tribes were the Native Americans living in the area when Nathaniel Jarvis Wyeth, a fur trader, arrived in the area in 1834 and subsequently established the trading post of Fort Hall.

When gold was discovered in 1860, there was a rush of settlers into the area. By then Fort Hall had been bought over by the Hudson's Bay Company and the Oregon Trail was expended through the Portneuf Valley. When the railway line was built through the area in around 1877, the settlement was established. It was originally called Pocatello Junction.

Pocatello Carnegie Library
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pocatello_Idaho_Carnegie_Library.jpeg
Author: Tricia Simpson


Pocatello's early growth propelled it to become the third largest city in Idaho, a position it held until the late 1990's, when the cities of Nampa and Meridian grew rapidly, pushing Pocatello to fifth position today.

Visiting Pocatello, Idaho

Pocatello is located on Interstate 15 north of Salt Lake City. You can also take I-84 that passes through a number of cities in Idaho including Nampa and Boise.

The Pocatello Regional Airport (PIH) is served SkyWest Airlines with flights from Salt Lake City.

Places of Interest in Pocatello, Idaho

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