| Official Name: | Salmon, Idaho |
| Motto: | "The Birthplace of Sacajawea"[1] |
| Coordinates: | 45.1781°N -113.9028°W |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [2] |
| Area Total Km2: | 6.59 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 2.544 |
| Area Land Km2: | 6.50 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 2.509 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.09 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.035 |
| Elevation M: | 1202 |
| Elevation Ft: | 3944 |
| Population Total: | 3119 |
| Population Density Km2: | 473.39 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 1226.02 |
| Utc Offset: | -7 |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -6 |
| Postal Code: | 83467 |
| Blank Info: | 16-71650 |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 0398084 |
Salmon is a city in Lemhi County, Idaho. The population was 3,119 at the 2020 census. The city is the county seat of Lemhi County.[3]
The Lewis and Clark Expedition crossed the Continental Divide at Lemhi Pass, 30miles to the southeast of Salmon. They followed the Salmon River through the present site of the city, then ascended the north fork of the river, at the present-day town named after the confluence, to cross into present-day Montana near Lost Trail Pass. The sole female in the party, Sacagawea, was born in the Lemhi Valley near Salmon.[4] The Sacajawea Interpretive, Cultural and Educational Center was opened in Salmon in August 2003.
From 1910 to 1939, Salmon was the western terminus of the now-defunct Gilmore and Pittsburgh Railroad.
At the 2020 census there were 3,119 people living in 1,263 households in the city, including 667 families. The population density was 1226.02PD/sqmi. There were 1,635 housing units at an average density of 642.7/mi2.
Of the 1,263 households, 38.5% were married couples living together, 38.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.6% had a male householder with no wife present. 26.0% of households had children under the age of 18 living with them, and 36.8% of households had individuals aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.42 people and the average family size was 3.63 people.
The median age was 43.3 years. 25.2% of residents were aged 19 or less; 27.0% were from 20 to 44; 25.5% were from 45 to 64; and 22.3% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 53.7% male and 46.3% female.
Approximately, 98.9% of households speak English only, and 8.2% of residents are veterans. Of the population ages 25 and over, 90.0% were high school graduates or higher; 20.9% had earned a Bachelor's Degree or higher.
The racial makeup of the city was 91.3% White, 0.9% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.4% African American, 1.6% from other races, and 5.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.9%.[5]
The median household income was $45,130 and the median family income was $62,417. About 16.3% of the Salmon population were below the poverty line, including 15.7% of those under age 18 and 13.0% of those age 65 or over.
Salmon is located at (45.1743859, –113.8947636).[6] The elevation is 3944feet above sea level.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.544sqmi, of which, 2.509sqmi is land and 0.035sqmi is water.[7]
The famous Salmon River passes through Salmon; whitewater rafting, fishing, hunting, and others interested in outdoor recreation bring additional tourism and economic activity to Salmon. The Lemhi River flows into the Salmon River near downtown Salmon.
Salmon experiences a semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk) with cold, dry winters and hot, slightly wetter summers. The hottest temperature recorded in Salmon was 106F on July 21, 1936, while the coldest temperature recorded was -37F on January 23, 1930, and January 21, 1937.
While Salmon boasts a multitude of outdoor recreational and unorganized activities, the local community also has strong participation in youth sports programs:
Most school-supported programs are provided in conjunction with Salmon Jr/Sr High School. Sports available at the high school age group are: wrestling, football, basketball, cross-country, track & field, baseball, softball, golf, volleyball, cheer, ice hockey, and rodeo.[8] [9] [10]
The City of Salmon maintains five public parks with distinct activities and functions:[14]
Salmon School District had 646 students enrolled in grades K-12 during Spring 2023.[15] Of which, 383 students were enrolled at Salmon Jr/Sr High School and 263 students were enrolled at Salmon Pioneer Elementary School. Low student-teacher ratios are the norm with ratios of 16.9:1 at Salmon High School and 13.7:1 at Pioneer Elementary School during the 2022-23 school year.[16] [17] A typical school week only has four days of classes, Mondays-Thursdays. Salmon School District #291 operates:[18]
Salmon School District is planning a realignment for students in grades 6-8. After years of work by the Salmon School Needs Assessment Committee, district residents passed a municipal school bond in May 2024 for $20 million to construct a new K-8 facility, which will replace Salmon Pioneer Elementary School.[19] The bond passed with 71.5% of the vote and will cover a majority of the project cost, which is estimated to be $29 million total including donations.[20] The new K-8 school is anticipated to be open during the 2026-2027 school year.
Salmon is also home to Fernwaters Public Charter School, which provides Kindergarten through 8th grade public education.[21] Fernwaters Charter School had an enrollment of 74 students in grades 4-8 during Spring 2023.[22] Fernwaters Charter School had a student-teacher ratio of 13.3:1 during the 2022-23 school year.[23] Fernwaters Charter School is in the process of constructing a new, permanent facility through the use of private donations, remaining Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds, and capital reserves.[24] The project is estimated at $3.6 million and is scheduled to be open in Fall 2026.
Salmon Seventh-day Adventist Elementary School is Salmon's only private school between grades K-12.[25] Salmon SDA Elementary provides private education to students in grades 1-8 and boasts a student-teacher ratio of 11:1.[26]
KSRA (AM) 960 and KSRA-FM 92.7 are both licensed in Salmon and initially On Air in 1959 and 1979, respectively. Both stations were recently purchased in January 2019 by Bitterroot Communications from Salmon River Communications. In July 2024, James and Sharon Infanger purchased both KSRA stations.[27]
The Recorder Herald is a weekly newspaper published on Thursdays. Founded in 1886 as The Idaho Recorder, the newspaper later amalgamated with The Salmon Herald (1914-1926) and emerged in 1927 with the current namesake. The Recorder Herald provides local news, opinion, and coverage for events in Salmon, Lemhi County, and the surrounding region.[28]