Grace is a city in Caribou County, Idaho, in the United States. The population was 990 at the 2000 census.

History

The area of Grace was once inhabited by the Shoshone Indians. White settlement dates back to the mid to late 1800s. The Oregon Trail passed within of Grace. Unlike other nearby historic towns such as Paris and Franklin, Grace was not originally settled by Mormon pioneers, but has since become a predominantly Mormon-populated town. The economy in and around Grace has traditionally been driven by agriculture, with potatoes, alfalfa, grain, dairy and ranching being the main staples.

Geography

Grace is located at (42.576245, -111.729599).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.0 square miles (2.6 km²), all of it land.

Grace is one of the northernmost cities along the Wasatch Range which extends approximately south, and is only west of the large fault line that defines the range. Grace is located near the center of Gem Valley.

In stark contrast to the surrounding mountains, the valley floor in the immediate area of Grace is flat due to sedimentary deposit from the prehistoric Lake Bonneville which once covered the valley, of which the Great Salt Lake is a remnant. The Bear River runs to the north and west of Grace.

Grace's neighboring towns are Soda Springs to the north east, Bancroft to the north west, and Preston to the south. It is about from Lava Hot Springs, which is a local tourism and recreation destination. The nearest city with a major airport is Salt Lake City, Utah, which is approximately south.

Geology

There are several extinct volcanoes and lava domes within miles of Grace, which contributes to the dark, nitrogen rich volcanic soil of the area. This soil type is ideal for farming, particularly potatoes and grain. Solid basalt can be found beneath the soil throughout most of the valley and exposed outcrops are common. Other types of rock that are common in the area are limestone and shale. These non-volcanic rock beds are rich with fossils of prehistoric marine life once native to Lake Bonneville, ranging from well preserved molluscan shells, to small fish. Trilobite fossils can often be found in local shale deposits.

The Bear River runs through Black Canyon which originates northwest of town and extends approximately south. Approximately one-half mile downstream from the point of origin, the Black Canyon forms a sharp gorge with steep walls of black basalt cliffs. At this point the gorge is only about wide and nearly deep.

The Wasatch Fault is visible from Grace due to the sharp displacement that creates a small bench at the foot of the mountains. Mild to moderate earthquakes have been reported to originate at the fault.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 990 people, 364 households, and 274 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,002.7 people per square mile (386.1/km²). There were 389 housing units at an average density of 394.0/sq mi (151.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.56% White, 0.20% Native American, 3.33% from other races, and 0.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.95% of the population.

There were 364 households out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.3% were married couples living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.5% were non-families. 23.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.21.

In the city the population was spread out with 31.4% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 103.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,303, and the median income for a family was $39,306. Males had a median income of $33,214 versus $14,306 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,452. About 5.7% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.

Recreation

Although a small community, Grace offers an array of activities that most can enjoy. Hunting and fishing are popular among many residents of Grace, as are motorsports. There are several local canyons that are accessible during the summer by truck or ATV, and in the winter by snowmobile. The nearby Alexander Reservoir provides summertime water recreation such as boating and swimming. The local Niter Ice Cave is accessible year-round and even beginning spelunkers have little trouble exploring the cave. In recent years, however, there has been trouble with graffiti.

Education

There are 4 schools:Grace Elementary, Grace Junior High, Grace High, and Thatcher Elementary. There was a motion recently rejected for a bond approving the demolition of Grace Elementary and Thatcher Elementary and the building of a new school behind the Junior High.

Vocational Sports

In Grace, there are a couple of Pee-Wee and Little League, mainly American football and basketball. Neither of the elementaries support teams. The junior high supports track/athletics, American football, basketball (boys and girls), and volleyball. The high school also supports all these sports, along with golf, and formerly supported cross country. The basketball teams, both boys and girls, have been successful for the majority of their duration. The football program, while successful in the past, has not won a game for 2 years.

See also

Niter Ice Cave

Caribou County

Idaho

References

External links

• Grace Chamber of Commerce