What Pocatello is known for

Within the Pocatello Destination are cities, Snake River, desert areas, mountains, and Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. The many activities and attractions in the area result from these things. The city of Pocatello has a population of 58,602 people.[7] Pocatello is named after Chief Pocatello, who was a Shoshone tribal chief. In addition, Pocatello has the nickname "The Gateway to the North." Pocatello is the 5th largest city in Idaho and is home to Idaho State University. The Portneuf River, which is a tributary to the Snake River, runs through southeast Pocatello. Other notable facts about Pocatello include that it was a place where travelers stopped while traveling the Oregon Trail, buzzsaw sharks used to roam the area, and there is evidence of volcanic activity.[2] Pocatello has a variety of things to do like hiking trails, festivals, fishing, biking, and more specific stuff like Zoo Idaho, the Ross Park Aquatic Complex, and the Idaho Museum of Natural History.[1] 

Because of the temperatures, rainfall, snowfall, and other factors, it is suggested that people visit Pocatello from the beginning of June through the end of September. The most popular time to visit the city is in July, with other typical months being June and August. November and December are the months with the least amount of tourists to the area.[5]

The Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve is located within the Pocatello Destination, specifically on the north side. The national monument is an ocean of lava flows with scattered islands of sagebrush and cinder cones. Options of things to do include the loop drive, hiking the caves and craters, and going to the visitor center. Winter activities include cross-country snowshoeing and skiing. Hiking and backpacking are some of the most popular things to do at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. There are also historical sites and national monuments within the area. The preserve is also known for its views of several different places, such as the Oregon Trail and the Lower Payette River.[3] 

Snake River runs throughout the Pocatello Destination. The river, which connects to multiple lakes, allows various water activities to become an option for visitors to the area. There are several tours available through purchase, along with whitewater rafting and scenic floats. Also near Snake River is the Grand Tetons Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Tour. From the hot air balloon, there are views of Snake River, mountains, Grand Teton National Park, and various kinds of wildlife.[4]

Geography

The Pocatello Destination surrounds a few cities, most of Snake River, and Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. The region is relatively square in shape, with the top of it going just above the preserve. The south end of the area reaches past Grouse Creek and into a small portion of Utah and Nevada. The rest of the district goes around cities such as Hagerman, Jackpot, Snowville, Pocatello, Chubbuck, Fort Hall, and Blackfoot. The destination is made up mostly of deserts, though there are forests and rivers throughout the region. Mountains are more common in these forested areas. Snake River runs along the middle of the district and connects with a couple of lakes. Lake Walcott and American Falls Reservoir are the two largest bodies of water in the Pocatello Destination. 

Plants that thrive in the Pocatello Destination include several types of horsetails and ferns, common brackens, green spleenworts, Utah junipers, limber pines, white firs, ginkgos, and white clovers. These are only a few of the many plants that thrive in the area. The district is also home to 269 species of birds, including multiple types of woodpeckers, sapsuckers, and owls. Other common birds include wild turkeys, ring-necked pheasants, turkey vultures, and sandhill cranes. There are fewer species of mammals compared to birds and plants, though many of them still live in the area. There are rabbits, squirrels, yellow-bellied marmot, American beavers, muskrats, moose, mule deer, wapitis, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, pronghorn, and American bison. Many of these mammals live in the desert and mountainous areas of the Pocatello Destination.[6] 

Because of weather conditions, it has been suggested that the best time of the year to visit the city of Pocatello is from the beginning of June to the end of September. Temperatures in Pocatello vary throughout the year. Commonly, the hottest month of the year is July, followed by June and August. The coldest climates often take place in December and January. Pocatello receives rainfall throughout the year, with May and November being the months that experience the greatest amounts. Like other areas near the Rocky Mountains, Pocatello experiences a fair amount of snow. Snow is the most common in May but falls from October to the end of May. When it snows, it is almost always more than one inch. Idaho is relatively humid, especially during December and January. July and August are the least humid of the months. The wind is relatively calm, though it often peaks in April.[5] 

History

The city of Pocatello, the town the Pocatello Destination is named after, was founded in 1889. People called it the "Gateway to the Northwest" because it was one of the most important relocations for the pioneers. The pioneers who first came to Pocatello were gold miners and settlers. They took the Oregon Trail and passed through the Portneuf Gap, which is located south of the town. The town became somewhat of a trade center and transportation junction when freight and state lines led to the railroad passing through. Pocatello would later become a permanent settlement because of its access to transportation.[8] 

The name "Pocatello" comes from an Indian chief over the Shoshone tribe. The chief granted the railroad a right-of-way through the Forst Hall Indian Reservation. Long before this happened, Shoshone and Bannock Indian tribes lived in southeastern Idaho for hundreds of years. The expedition by Lewis and Clark traveled across Idaho in 1805 where they were led to southeastern Idaho by reports of the many riches in the area. This also drew trappers and traders to southeastern Idaho. In 1834, one of the first permanent settlements was established by Nathaniel Wyeth, a man from Massachusetts, at Fort Hall. Fort hall became a supply point for immigrants traveling on the Oregon Trail over time because of over-trapping and a shift in fashion that put an end to the fur trade.[8] 

Over the years, thousands of immigrants passed through Idaho. However, gold was not discovered until 1860. Large numbers of settlers were attracted to Idaho because of the gold. The gold rush caused the need for goods and services for multiple towns. Portneuf Valley, the valley that Pocatello is located in, was the corridor initially used by freight lines. When the railroad came, it led to further development of Idaho's mineral resources. The Pocatello junction became a vital transportation crossroads. After the gold rush, the settlers who stayed in the area turned to agriculture. Because of irrigation from the Snake River, Pocatello became a supplier of potatoes, grain, and other crops. Commercial and residential development appeared by 1882.[8] 

The Academy of Idaho was founded in 1901, and since then, it has become Idaho State University. Today the university acts as a school and home for more than 12,000 students, some of which are from different countries. With more than 200 programs available, the Idaho State is a Carnegie-classified doctoral research and teaching institution. Some fields of study include health professions, teaching, energy, humanities, nuclear research, performing and visual arts, engineering, pharmacy, business, and biological sciences.[8]

Today, the city of Pocatello has a population of 58,602 people. The demographics are 88.84% white, 2.07% Native American, and 0.86 black or African American. The median age in the city is 32.5 years, 33.9 years for females, and 31.3 for males. Around 92.8% of the population speaks only English.[7]