The four incorporated cities within Custer County all gained residents between July 2020 and July 2022, according to the latest data from the Census Bureau.
That trend holds true for cities in neighboring Lemhi and Butte counties, too.
Challis gained 34 new residents, reaching 924 in 2022, up from 890 in 2020. Mackay increased by 31 people to 473 from 442. Stanley’s population bumped up by three to 119 in 2022. Clayton’s population increased by one in that time frame, to end at 9.
Arco’s population on July 1, 2022, was estimated to be 913, up 31 from 880 in 2020. Butte City gained five residents to reach 83. Moore grew by eight people to 172.
Salmon’s population increased by 104 to 3,216 in 2022, compared to 3,112 in 2020. Leadore had a 2022 population of 99, up three from 96 in 2020.
Population statistics released by the Idaho Department of Labor at the end of March included city-specific data dating back to 1940 for most Idaho communities. Population swings varied in Central Idaho in between 1940 and 2020.
Challis grew steadily from 620 residents in 1940 to 728 in 1950 to 732 in 1960 to 784 in 1970 before a big increase to 1,073 in 1980 and then a drop to 909 in 2000, an increase to 1,081 in 2010 and back down to 902 in 2020.
Mackay’s population has declined in all but two of the last eight decades. It was 776 in 1940; 760 in 1950; 652 in 1960; 539 in 1970; 541 in 1980; 574 in 1990; 566 in 2000; 517 in 2010 and 439 in 2020.
In 1950 Stanley had 33 residents. Since then it’s grown and shrunk and grown. Stanley counted 47 residents in 1970; 99 in 1980; 71 in 1990; 100 in 2000; 63 in 2010 and 116 in 2020.
Clayton registered 36 residents in 1970; hit a high of 43 in 1980; dropped to 26 in 1990; 27 in 2000, 7 in 2010 and 10 in 2020.
Arco had 548 residents in 1940 and 879 in 2020. It peaked at 1,562 in 1960 after reaching 961 in 1950. Since then, population has decreased almost every decade, hitting 1,244 in 1970; 1,241 in 1980; 1,016 in 1990; 1,026 in 2000 and 995 in 2010.
Moore’s population has fluctuated more in the last 70 years. It stood at 256 in 1950; 358 in 1960; 156 in 1970; 210 in 1980; 190 in 1990; 196 in 2000; 189 in 2010 and 162 in 2020.
Butte City’s high came in 1980 with 93 residents, up from 42 in 1970. It dipped to 59 in 1990, then rebounded to 76 in 2000; 74 in 2010 and 79 in 2020.
Salmon also has had ups and downs since 1940. That year the city had 2,439 residents. In subsequent decades Salmon’s population was 2,648 in 1950; 2,944 in 1960; 2,901 in 1970; 3,309 in 1980; 2,941 in 1990; 3,122 in 2000, 3,112 in 2010 and 3,119 in 2020.
Leadore has bumped up and down over the decades, beginning at 159 in 1950; 112 in 1960; 111 in 1970; 114 in 1980; 74 in 1990; 90 in 2000; 105 in 2010 and 98 in 2020.
The Labor Department reported that Idaho added 25,730 new residents between July 2022 and July 2023.
The increase held true in Custer, Lemhi and Butte counties, too. Custer County gained five residents in that year, hitting 4,523. Lemhi County’s population increased by 157 to 8,441. Butte County increased by 60 people to 2,758.
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