Mountain Home Real Estate
A Short History of Mountain Home, Idaho
Mountain Home Economic Information
Places of Interest In the Mountain Home Area
Mountain Home, Idaho Real Estate For Sale
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Mountain Home Real Estate
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Many people find Mountain Home real estate attractive because of the low utility
rates as well as the surrounding recreational areas. With Boise less than an hour
away, Mountain Home presents a unique opportunity for both affordable country living
and easy access to the big city.
The median value of single family housing was up from $55,900 in 1990 to $133,355
in 2006, making Mountain Home a great place to invest in real estate. Even with
this huge increase in value, the property in Mountain Home continues to be a fantastic
value when compared to the state ($189,000) or national average ($246,000) in 2006.
Nearby towns include Grand View and Glenns Ferry, both within 30 miles. Mountain
Home Air Force Base is about 13 miles away and has a substantial impact on the local
real estate market.
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A Short History of Mountain Home, Idaho
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The original site of Mountain Home was at a junction of the old Kelton Boise state
road known as Rattlesnake Station about 8 miles east of the present city. This was
a campground on the Oregon Trail and after gold was discovered in the area, it became
an important crossroads.
In the 1870's, William "Commodore" Jackson bought the station at Rattlesnake Springs,
which he used for a ranch. He had filed a claim on a piece of land south of Rattlesnake
Station that later became the current site of Mountain Home, Idaho. When the Oregon
Short Line railroad reached his land in 1883, he had anticipated its arrival and
already laid out the town site parallel with the survey stakes of the new tracks.
The area was originally called "Tutville" after a gentlemen by the name of Tutwiler.
It had started as a tent city for the crews laying track for the railroad. Tutwiler
had set up a tent and whiskey barrel right where the railroad was being built and
the crews named the area Tutville in his honor.
Jule Hager, the postmaster and stage agent at "The Mountain Home", decided that
the post office should be where the railroad was going to be and moved it without
authorization from the government. He brought with it the name of the town "Mountain
Home" which soon replaced "Tutville" as the official name of the city.
Idaho became a State in 1890 and in the its first election of 1891, Mountain Home
became the County Seat of the new Elmore County. Mountain Home was incorporated
as a village in 1896.
From its early beginnings until the end of World War 1, Mountain Home thrived from
the boom in mining and agriculture. Cattle, horses and sheep played an important
role in the early development of Mountain Home and the surrounding area. The heavy
influx of Basque sheep herders during this time is notable and had a significant
impact
on the area economy.
The railroad had made it possible for the hard working people of Elmore county to
ship their products throughout the world. However, after the end of the war, agriculture
started to bust and everything just got worse going through the Great Depression.
When World War 2 started, the economy began to improve and construction on Mountain
Home Air Force Base started. By the end of WWII, the economic picture for Mountain
Home had changed quite a bit. Mining died off and ranching and farming grew rapidly.
With the Air Force Base nearby, the population of Mountain Home began to quickly
grow and other types of businesses also grew to meet the needs of the military personnel.
Today, Mountain Home is a place of diverse people, businesses and interests. With
more than 11,500 people, it really has become a true melting pot of Americans.
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Mountain Home Economic Information
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Mountain Home has shifted from it's early beginnings of mining, livestock and agriculture
to a more diverse economy. This has happened primarily because of Mountain Home
Air Force Base being built around World War 2. Livestock and agriculture continue
to play a prominent role in the local economy, but the Air Force Base is the single
largest employer in the area.
The estimated annual median income in 2005 was $38,100 which was up from $37,307
in 2000. This is slightly less than the average for the state of Idaho, but the
cost of living in Mountain Home is favorable especially when compared to neighboring
Boise.
Of particular interest is the Mountain Home Economic Development team which aggressively
strives to strengthen and diversify the area economy. Their website (www.mountain-home.us/economic.htm)
is a great place to find a wealth of information on the area and the team stands
ready to help new and existing businesses any way they can.
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Places of Interest in the Mountain Home Area
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The tallest single-structured sand dune in North America is about 20 miles south
of Mountain Home at the Bruneau Dunes State Park. The Park is also home to one of
only two public observatory's in the state of Idaho. Visitors are welcome to climb
the sand dunes and there is a visitor center with information about the Park's ecosystem.
With the Boise National Forest and the Sawtooth National Forest nearby, outdoor
recreation is right in your backyard, if you live in Mountain Home. Whether you
like to hunt, fish, backpack or camp, there are plenty of places with all kinds
of activities available.
There are lakes, rivers and streams with everything from trout to bass to catfish
for the catching. There are two major reservoirs in the area, C. J. Strike Reservoir
and Anderson Ranch Reservoir. Both places are ideally suited for boating. The county
is home to many different kinds of wildlife including elk, deer, pheasant, sage
grouse and chukar.
Soldier Mountain Ski Resort is about 55 miles northeast of Mountain Home and offers
1425 feet of vertical drop covering 1150 acres, if skiing is your sport. There are
cross country ski trails in the Boise National Forest and snowmobile areas throughout
Elmore county.
Three Island Crossing State Park is located at nearby Glenns Ferry and is where
the settlers taking the Oregon Trail would cross the Snake River on their journey.
There is a visitor center with information about the crossing and wagon ruts are
still visible in the park. A reenactment of the historic crossing is held each August.
Sources:
Mountain Home Air Force Base
State of Idaho Department of Commerce
The City of Mountain Home
City-Data.com
Elmore County Idaho Government Pages
Glenns Ferry Idaho
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What I Love About Mountain Home, Idaho
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The Air Force moved my family and I from Oklahoma to Idaho and from the minute
we entered this awesome state we fell in love with Idaho. I have been an Air Force
Wife for more than 13 years and we have been stationed many places, but none of
them have the warmth and open arms like Mountain Home showed us when we arrived
in 1996. With the small community it is an awesome place to raise a family. We are
also just minutes away from dirt bike riding, camping, hunting, fishing, and water
skiing.
---Charlene Wyman, Mountain Home Real Estate Agent
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Mountain Home, Idaho Real Estate For Sale
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Duplex in Air Force Community!
Here is your chance to own a great investment property in Mountain Home, Idaho. With the Air Base running strong, rentals are needed and the history of this 1764 sq. foot duplex is excellent! Current rent roll is $650 per unit for an...
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Single Family w/ Acreage
Country living at it's best. 2 acre with irrigation. 2280 sq ft. 4 bd. 2 bath. Detached 2 car garage. Bunk House, storage shed, machine sheds, all kinds of fruit trees and shade trees. You must see this beauty. Newer furnace and AC. Newer...
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Single Family
Great home completely remodeled and located in the heart of Mtn Home. Lot features mature landscaping, RV parking, storage shed and a covered back patio. Inside you'll find new tile floors in the kitchen, entry and dining with new knotty...
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Single Family
The Oakridge is an open floor plan that includes a great master suite with a corner garden tub in the master bathroom and a walk-in closet. The ample sized living room includes a fireplace to cozy up to. The kitchen features loads of...
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Single Family
SAVE ON YOUR ENERGY BILLS! 3 BEDROOM, 2 BATH, 2 CAR GARAGE NEW ENERGY STAR HOME! QUALITY 2X6 CONSTRUCTION & HARDIE BOARD SIDING! SPRINKLER SYSTEM, HYDROSEED & A FLOWERING TREE! READY FOR QUICK MOVE-IN...
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