Burley is the principal city of the Burley, Idaho, Micropolitan Statistical Area, which comprises Cassia and Minidoka counties. Burley is the largest city in Cassia and Minidoka counties (collectively called the “Mini-Cassia” area), and the third-largest city in Idaho's Magic Valley region after Twin Falls, and Jerome.[4]
History
The first human inhabitants of the area were Paleo Indians, who first settled the area 15 to 16,000 years ago. Later, the Northern Shoshone[5] and Northern Paiute peoples established communities in the area.[6]
A post office called Burley has been in operation since 1905.[9] The community was named after David Ellsworth Burley, a railroad official.[10] The town was incorporated in 1909, and became the seat of Cassia County in 1918.[6]
In 1984, the Lower Goose Creek Reservoir (Oakley Reservoir) came very close to overtopping its dam after historic rain and snowfall. Burley was considered to be at risk of flooding if the reservoir was breached. To provide a safe water outlet, hundreds of local volunteers and the Army Corps of Engineers dug a 17-mile long, 70-foot wide diversion channel across private property in 4 days. The possible flood and diversion efforts were covered by the national news program, The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour (now PBS NewsHour) and The Washington Post.[11][12][13][14]
A Simplot potato-processing plant in nearby Heyburn employed about 650 residents in the area and was a mainstay of the local economy, from its opening in 1960, through its closure in 2003. After the plant's closure, the city of Burley took ownership of the property. It currently operates an industrial park there.[15] In the aftermath of the plant closure, voters in Burley, Rupert, and Heyburn approved bond issues to expand and upgrade wastewater infrastructure. This allowed other food processing companies to come to the area, which in turn stabilized and diversified the local economy.[16]
In 2008, a group of local farmers sued the Idaho BLM (Bureau of Land Management) because pesticides that the Burley BLM office sprayed on their lands were carried by a wind storm onto farmers’ lands, effectively destroying crops.[17]
Economy
Agriculture and food processing play a critical role in the economy of Burley and the surrounding area. Burley is part of the broader Magic Valley region, known for its dairy and crop production.[18]McCain Foods, a leading producer of frozen potato products, has a processing plant in Burley.[19] The Amalgamated Sugar Company, which processes sugar beets, also runs a plant outside of nearby Paul,[20] while Dot Foods operates a distribution plant in Burley.[21] High Desert Milk, a Burley-based cooperative, is one of Idaho's leading dairy processors; in 2021, they underwent a $50 million expansion at their Burley facility.[22] As of 2023[update], a local business, Suntado, is building a multimillion dollar shelf-stable milk factory in Burley.[23][24]
The city owns and operates the Burley Municipal Airport. In recent years, there have been proposals to replace the airport with a new facility, as the existing airport faces funding and safety issues. However, plans to move the airport have faced some local opposition and challenges securing funding.[26][27][28]
Geography
Most of the city lies in Cassia County, with a small portion extending north into Minidoka County. The Snake River forms the border between the two counties. On the north side of the river, Burley is bordered to the east by the city of Heyburn.
U.S. Route 30 passes east-west through the center of Burley, leading northeast to Interstate 84 in Heyburn and west 33 miles (53 km) to Kimberly. Idaho State Highway 27 passes through the center of Burley, leading north 5 miles (8 km) to Paul and south 21 miles (34 km) to its terminus in Oakley, while State Highway 81 leads east from Burley 9 miles (14 km) to Declo. I-84 passes through the northern end of Burley, leading west 37 miles (60 km) to the Twin Falls area and southeast 145 miles (233 km) to Ogden, Utah. The I-84 interchanges outside of Burley and nearby Heyburn are in planning for replacement and upgrades, to be constructed in the 2024-2026 timeframe; the current interchanges have been in service since their construction in 1961.[29][30]
According to the United States Census Bureau, Burley has a total area of 7.0 square miles (18 km2), of which 6.7 square miles (17 km2) are land and 0.3 square miles (0.8 km2), or 4.71%, are water,[1] referring to the Snake River.
Climate
Burley experiences a semi-arid climate (KöppenBSk) with cold winters and hot, dry summers. The hottest temperature recorded in Burley was 107 °F (42 °C) on July 30, 2000, while the coldest temperature recorded was −30 °F (−34 °C) on January 29, 1949 and January 22, 1962.[31]
Burley's average monthly wind speeds vary from a high of 9.1 mph in February, to a low of 7.5 mph in August.[32]
Climate data for Burley, Idaho (Burley Municipal Airport), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1948–present
Over the last thirty years, Burley has grown steadily.[40]
Per the United States census,[41] there were 11,704 people living in Burley in 2020. The population density was 1,754.7 inhabitants per square mile (677.5/km2). Burley's population is distributed in 4,293 housing units,[42] for an average density of 612.5 per square mile (236.5/km2). As of the 2021 annual American Community Survey, Burley's racial and ethnic makeup is 60.3% White, 33.8% Hispanic (any race), 0.9% Native American, 0.0% Black or African American, 0.4% Asian, and 4.0% of two or more races.[43]
Based on known undercounts in the 2010 Census, typical city growth rates, and known business, residential and commercial growth, the 2019 population of Burley had been estimated at or around 14,320.[44]
2010 census
As of the census[45] of 2010, there were 10,345 people, 3,644 households, and 2,499 families living in the city. The population density was 1,690.4 inhabitants per square mile (652.7/km2). There were 3,885 housing units at an average density of 634.8 per square mile (245.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 77.2% White, 0.4% African American, 1.0% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 17.4% from other races, and 3.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 33.4% of the population.
There were 3,644 households, of which 40.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.4% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.37.
The median age in the city was 30.8 years. 31.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.9% were from 25 to 44; 20% were from 45 to 64; and 13.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.6% male and 50.4% female.
According to city administration, the 2010 census count was low by about 2,000 people.[44]
Arts, culture, recreation, and tourism
Bicycles at Scholer Park, ahead of the Spudman Triathlon in Burley, July 2023
Burley is home to the famed "Spudman" Triathlon.[46] The Spudman draws thousands of participants annually, and serves as a fundraiser for the local Lions Club.[47]
Burley also hosts the Idaho Regatta.[48] Founded in 1975,[49] the regatta typically draws between 60 and 70 boat entrants.[50]
The King Fine Arts Center, located at Burley High School, is a performing arts center with seating for 1,200 attendees, which regularly hosts plays, concerts, and community events.[51]
The Cassia County Fairgrounds is located in Burley, where the Cassia County Fair and Rodeo are hosted annually.[52]
The city of Burley operates 14 parks (including a skate park),an eighteen-hole golf course, a municipal swimming pool, and a library. It is located near the Pomerelle Ski Resort, the City of Rocks National Reserve, and hunting and fishing areas in the Sawtooth National Forest.[53] The Oregon Trail Recreation District also operates a recreation center in Burley city limits. The center offers organized youth and adult sports including volleyball, futsal, softball, baseball, pickleball, football, tennis, and basketball.[54]
The Minidoka County portion of Burley is a part of the Minidoka County Schools.[56] Residents of Minidoka County in Burley are zoned to Heyburn Elementary School, West Minico Middle School, and Minico High School.
The College of Southern Idaho has both Cassia and Minidoka counties in its catchment area, though neither are in its taxation area.[58] It operates the Mini-Cassia Center, a satellite campus in Burley,[59] housed in Burley High School’s previous facility.
