Facts at a Glance
Cascade is situated well within the boundaries of the great mountainous, alpine-forested region that stretches from the upper boundaries of the Great Basin nearly to the Arctic Circle. Much of the area is underlain by a great batholith, which has created the dramatic mountains that define the landscape. Interspersed with the mountains, the high country valleys are what give the Heartland its human scale and serve as home for most of the residents. With an average of slightly more than two persons per square mile, it is easy to see that there are vast, wide-open spaces to enjoy the activities the area has to offer. The economy of the Heartland has traditionally been based on the rural pursuits of ranching, logging and mining, but this fact has changed over the years as the area has been recognized as a superb location for recreation, sports and simply "getting away from it all." Employment opportunities in the area are therefore varied and run the gamut from ranching, logging and National Forest positions to many choices in health care, recreation and visitor services, retail and other small business opportunities.
Geology
The geology of the area was determined about 60 million years ago with the uplifting of the great granitic batholith. The modern landscape was later carved out during the Ice Age, which formed many of the present day valleys and canyons north of Lake Fork. One of the results of the processes that formed the region is that most of the rivers in the Heartland fl ow to the south where they join the Snake River as it begins its long course back to the north on its way to the Pacific Ocean.
Tax Structure
The State of Idaho has one of the most balanced tax systems in the nation. Revenues are obtained from income tax, sales tax and property tax, with no single tax being out of balance with the others. This sound structure, applied to the Heartland, promises a good climate for economic growth.
Population
|
(Indicated 2008 Stats - Population Division, U.S. Census Bureau, Release Date: March 16, 2009. The rest of the population stats are 2007, Release Date: July 10, 2008.) |
|
Valley County (2008) |
8,862 |
|
Adams County (2008) |
3,499 |
|
Cascade |
1,004 |
|
Council |
691 |
|
Donnelly |
147 |
|
McCall |
2,592 |
|
New Meadows |
493 |
|
Riggins |
395 |
Age Breakdown
|
(August 2008 Population Division, U.S. Census Bureau) |
Valley County
|
|
Under 19 |
23.30% |
|
20 to 24 |
7.07% |
|
25 to 44 |
21.59% |
|
45 to 64 |
33.94% |
|
65 or older |
14.11% |
Adams County
|
|
Under 19 |
22.70% |
|
20 to 24 |
6.29% |
|
25 to 44 |
19.32% |
|
45-64 |
33.87% |
|
65 or older |
17.82% |
Population Growth
|
(2008-2009, Population Division, U.S. Census Bureau) |
|
Valley County |
- 0.7% |
|
Adams County |
- 0.7% |
Ethnic Breakdown (Valley County)
|
(August 2008 Population Division, U.S. Census Bureau) |
|
White |
97.06% |
|
Hispanic or Latino Origin |
3.98% |
|
Asian |
0.29% |
|
American Indian/Alaskan Native |
0.72% |
|
Black |
0.54% |
Topography & Climate
|
Land Area (Valley & Adams County) |
5,043 sq. mi. |
|
Elevation (Average) |
4,000 ft.+ |
Temperature
|
|
(Lowest Average Daily Minimum) |
|
Cascade |
13.2° F |
|
Donnelly |
13.0° F |
|
McCall |
12.8° F |
|
New Meadows |
7.2° F |
|
Riggins |
28.3° F |
|
Council |
16.4° F |
|
(Highest Average Daily Minimum) |
|
Cascade |
82.6° F |
|
Donnelly |
82.0° F |
|
McCall |
81.2° F |
|
New Meadows |
84.3° F |
|
Riggins |
93.6° F |
|
Council |
90.5° F |
Precipitation
|
|
High (at McCall) |
28.0 inches |
|
Low (at Riggins) |
16.72 inches |
Snowfall
|
|
High (at McCall) |
173.4 inches |
|
Low (at Riggins) |
8.3 inches |
Housing
|
(Courtesy of Diane Wiegand and Mountain Lakes Realty) Price Ranges (based on 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 2,000 sq. ft.) |
|
Valley County |
$175,000-500,000 |
|
Adams County |
$125,000-250,000 |
Average Rentals
|
(Courtesy of Diane Wiegand and Mountain Lakes Realty) |
Condominiums
|
|
1 brm |
$115.00 per night |
|
2 brm |
$160.00 per night |
|
3 brm |
$200.00 per night |
Vacation Homes
|
|
2 brm |
$185.00 per night |
|
3 brm |
$225.00 per night |
Average Long Term Rentals
|
|
2 brm |
$600-700 per month |
|
3 brm |
$700-800 per month |
Employment
|
(2008 Averages – Idaho Department of Labor, Release Date: March 2009) |
Total Employed
|
|
Valley County |
4,542 |
|
Adams County |
1,833 |
Total Labor Force
|
|
Valley County |
4,964 |
|
Adams County |
2,037 |
Largest Employers
|
(2006 Annual Average Employment Data, Quarterly Report of Covered Employment & Wages, Idaho Department of Labor, Public Affairs, Release Date: April, 2009.) |
Valley County
|
|
U.S. Forest Service |
200-250 |
|
McCall-Donnelly Joint School District #421 |
100-200 |
|
Valley County |
100-200 |
|
McCall Memorial Hospital |
100-200 |
Adams County
|
|
U.S. Forest Service |
50-100 |
|
Evergreen Forest Products |
50-100 |
|
Brundage Mountain Company |
50-100 |
|
Adams County |
50-100 |
Per Capita Income
|
(2007 Stats, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Release Date: April, 2009.) |
|
Valley County |
$38,025 |
|
Adams County |
$29,564 |
