Atomic City, Idaho

Geography

Atomic City is located at 43°26′33″N 112°48′47″W, at an elevation of 5,013 feet (1,528 m) above sea level.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.11 square miles (0.28 km²), all of it land.

Atomic City is just south of the Idaho National Laboratory site, on U.S. Route 26.

History

Atomic City was called "Midway" until 1950, as it is halfway between the towns of Blackfoot and Arco. The town had a larger population when the neighboring Idaho National Laboratory site was newer, known as the "National Reactor Testing Station" until 1975.

There is one store and one bar in Atomic City; the store no longer sells gasoline, due to new laws pertaining to its underground gas tanks. Most of the people who were raised in the town have now passed on, and many of the current residents are retired. There is an RV park on the south end of town with full hook-ups, and stock car races are held in the summer.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 29 people, 17 households, and 9 families residing in the city. The population density was 263.6 inhabitants per square mile (101.8/km²). There were 48 housing units at an average density of 436.4 per square mile (168.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.6% White and 3.4% Native American. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.4% of the population.

There were 17 households of which 52.9% were married couples living together and 47.1% were non-families. 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 1.71 and the average family size was 2.11.

The median age in the city was 59.8 years. 0.0% of residents were under the age of 18; 0.0% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 6.9% were from 25 to 44; 58.6% were from 45 to 64; and 34.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.3% male and 51.7% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 25 people, 16 households, and 7 families residing in the city. The population density was 245.4 people per square mile (96.5/km²). There were 22 housing units at an average density of 216.0 per square mile (84.9/km²). 24 of the residents are White, and one is Asian.

There were 16 households out of which one has a child under the age of 18 living with them, six are married couples living together, and nine are non-families. Nine households are made up of individuals, and two have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.56 and the average family size was 2.29.

In the city, the population was spread out with one person under the age of 18, one from 18 to 24, two from 25 to 44, twelve from 45 to 64, and eight who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 58 years. Ten citizens are females and fifteen are males; one of the males is under 18.

The median income for a household in the city was $9,375, and the median income for a family was $8,750. Males had a median income of $43,750 versus $8,750 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,276. 57.1% of the population and 62.5% of families were below the poverty line. None of those under the age of 18 and half of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Economics

It was home of Experimental Breeder Reactor I, the world's first electricity-generating nuclear power plant.

Current news

Atomic City was chosen as a possible site for a nuclear processing plant.

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Atomic City has a semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.