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Soda Springs, Idaho
Eruption controlled geyser in Soda Springs
Eruption controlled geyser in Soda Springs
Motto(s): 
"Historic Oregon Trail Oasis"
Location of Soda Springs in Caribou County, Idaho
Location of Soda Springs in Caribou County, Idaho
Soda Springs, Idaho is located in the United States
Soda Springs, Idaho
Soda Springs, Idaho
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Idaho
County Caribou
Area
 • Total 4.47 sq mi (11.58 km2)
 • Land 4.43 sq mi (11.47 km2)
 • Water 0.05 sq mi (0.12 km2)
Elevation
5,774 ft (1,760 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 3,058
 • Estimate 
(2019)
3,023
 • Density 682.86/sq mi (263.63/km2)
Time zone UTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP codes
83230, 83276, 83285
Area code(s) 208
FIPS code 16-75195
GNIS feature ID 0400099

Soda Springs is a city in Caribou County, Idaho, United States. Its population was 3,058 at the time of the 2010 census. The city has been the county seat of Caribou County since the county was organized in 1919. In the 1860s, Soda Springs served as the seat of Oneida County.

History

The city is named for the hundreds of natural springs of carbonated water that are located in and around the city. The springs were well known to Native Americans and were a famous landmark along the Oregon Trail in the middle 19th century. Today the city is also known as the location of the Soda Springs Geyser, which was unleashed in 1934 when "town fathers" were looking for hot water for a "hot pool" bathing attraction. Instead they drilled into a chamber of highly pressurized carbon dioxide gas and cold water and the geyser was released. After running for weeks, and flooding the downtown area, it was capped and manually released when requested as a tourist attraction. Now it is let loose every hour on the hour by a timed release valve. Its height and volume has not decreased after many years. There are viewing platforms at either end of the travertine mound where the Geyser erupts. Interpretive signs are located on the platforms explaining this phenomena.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.59 square miles (11.89 km2), of which, 4.54 square miles (11.76 km2) is land and 0.05 square miles (0.13 km2) is water.

Soda Springs experiences a continental climate (Köppen Dfb) with long, cold, snowy winters and very warm summers.

Climate data for Soda Springs Airport
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 58
(14)
56
(13)
69
(21)
80
(27)
89
(32)
97
(36)
101
(38)
98
(37)
92
(33)
85
(29)
67
(19)
57
(14)
101
(38)
Average high °F (°C) 28.6
(−1.9)
32.2
(0.1)
40.5
(4.7)
52.3
(11.3)
63.0
(17.2)
73.9
(23.3)
83.2
(28.4)
81.8
(27.7)
71.3
(21.8)
58.1
(14.5)
40.6
(4.8)
30.2
(−1.0)
54.6
(12.6)
Average low °F (°C) 8.1
(−13.3)
10.9
(−11.7)
18.9
(−7.3)
26.6
(−3.0)
34.5
(1.4)
40.7
(4.8)
45.2
(7.3)
44.1
(6.7)
35.3
(1.8)
26.3
(−3.2)
18.3
(−7.6)
8.1
(−13.3)
26.4
(−3.1)
Record low °F (°C) −37
(−38)
−32
(−36)
−19
(−28)
−2
(−19)
17
(−8)
10
(−12)
26
(−3)
19
(−7)
12
(−11)
6
(−14)
−25
(−32)
−37
(−38)
−37
(−38)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 1.14
(29)
1.27
(32)
1.42
(36)
1.35
(34)
2.13
(54)
1.36
(35)
1.25
(32)
1.31
(33)
1.07
(27)
1.26
(32)
1.16
(29)
1.03
(26)
15.75
(399)
Source 1: NOAA (normals, 1971–2000)
Source 2: The Weather Channel (Records)

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1900 428
1910 501 17.1%
1920 935 86.6%
1930 831 −11.1%
1940 1,087 30.8%
1950 1,329 22.3%
1960 2,424 82.4%
1970 2,977 22.8%
1980 4,051 36.1%
1990 3,111 −23.2%
2000 3,381 8.7%
2010 3,058 −9.6%
2019 (est.) 3,023 −1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census
Hooper Spring, Hooper Springs Park - Soda Springs ID
Bubbling springs at Hooper Springs Park
Soda Springs Ground Observer Corps
Soda Springs Ground Observer Corps booth

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 3,058 people, 1,204 households, and 830 families living in the city. The population density was 673.6 inhabitants per square mile (260.1/km2). There were 1,393 housing units at an average density of 306.8 per square mile (118.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.4% White, 0.1% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.4% Pacific Islander, 1.4% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 3.4% of the population.

There were 1,204 households, of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.1% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.03.

The median age in the city was 37.8 years. 27.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.9% were from 25 to 44; 26.2% were from 45 to 64; and 16.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.7% male and 50.3% female.

Notable people

  • David Archer, former National Football League quarterback
  • Vic Baltzell, former National Football League fullback
  • Reed Budge, Idaho legislator

See also

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