...Gooding County is located in south-central Idaho, in a semi-arid region with an annual rainful of about 9". The geology of the area is quite fascinating with the remnants of ancient volcanic activity. Little City of the Rocks north of thecity of Gooding is a natural phenomenon full of hoodoos and caves of soft rhyolite. The southwestern area of the county drops off in spectacular lava cliffs, where groundwater flows out of the rock walls and down into the Snake River. The county is home to four towns, Gooding (the county seat), Wendell, Hagerman and Bliss. Bliss was a whistle stop for the train, and has maintained a small population of less than 300. Hagerman is located on the Snake River and has gained a reputation as a sportman's paradise, bragging on not only fishing and boating, but the thousands of springs flowing out of the canyon walls that draw tourists to the area. Gooding has the distinction of being one of those "planned communities" long before the term was coined. It was planned by Senator Gooding who originally tried to use the water from Magic Reservoir for irrigation. When that water proved to be an insufficient source, he and others used their legislative muscle to build the Milner Dam, diverting water from the Snake River onto arid sagebrush land. Then his ranch became the town, and he traveled all over promoting the area. The State School for the Deaf and Blind was a major factor in the growth of the town of Gooding which now has a population of of around 3,174. The county is supported by a ag/dairy based economy. To learn more about the town of Gooding or things to see and do in the area, call the city office at 208-934-5669

Irrigation changed the Gooding area forever as canals delivered water to land once covered in sagebrush and rocks. Today, center pivots and wheel lines have replaced most of the open ditches that once provided habitat for an assortment of wildlife. But in a semi-arid land, efficient irrigation turns rangeland into cropland. Alfalfa, samll grains, corn, beets, potaotes and beans and the dairy industry depend on water delivered in the most cost effective manner.