The City of Dietrich, Idaho
The City of Dietrich is located on the south slope of a sagebrush-covered,
extinct volcano called Crater Butte in rural Lincoln County, Idaho. The "Dietrich
Tract" includes the small town, surrounding farms, and desert rangeland. The
215 people, who have homes in the town, mostly find employment elsewhere in
Magic Valley. Many are retired. The Dietrich exit from State Highway 24 takes
you past the LDS Church, the new Highway District building, across the Union
Pacific Railroad tracks into Dietrich’s "business district." It consists of
a restaurant/bar called the "Eagles Nest" and one general store called the
"Dietrich Merc," which was established in 1910. There is no place to buy gasoline.
Travel three more blocks and you see the newly remodeled Dietrich School (K-12).
Two more blocks and you arrive at the city park, which occupies a full city
block, including a log shelter where many of the town’s activities are celebrated.
Dietrich City Park
Statistics:
|
Population of the City of Dietrich |
215 |
|
Description of terrain |
Sagebrush covered, lava rock desert |
|
Climate |
Windy. Average
Temps: January 16 Fo, July 93 Fo |
|
Average Annual Precipitation |
10.4 inches of precipitation; 35.3 inches of snow |
|
Number of Sunshine Days |
About 260 days |
|
Elevation |
4075 - 4175 feet |
|
Major Industries |
Agriculture |
|
Educational Institutions |
Dietrich School (K – 12 on one campus) |
|
Key nearby Amenities |
City Park; Eagle’s Nest Restaurant; Dietrich Merc |
Pre-incorporation Years: Dietrich, Idaho came into existence as a "Carey Act" town in 1909. It was developed by the Idaho Irrigation Company to be a recipient of water from Magic Reservoir that the company was constructing. Dietrich was located along the Oregon Short Line Railroad, to give it railroad access. The company built a large hotel and an experiment farm in Dietrich, both designed to entice immigrants to buy Dietrich Tract land from the company. After a spurt of enthusiasm, the little town almost literally dried up and blew away in the frequent desert winds. There was too little water from the canals and the sandy soil was difficult to irrigate. Not until sprinkler irrigation technology came to Dietrich, did the town begin to feel some farming success.
Formation of the City: Dietrich was incorporated in 1913, but this action was later rescinded because of legal technicalities and the town did not have a government of its own until it successfully incorporated in 1946. Ned Bolton, Walter Fechner, C. H. Frees, Jerry Church and Kent Gage were appointed trustees of the Village of Dietrich. The city got its name from a prominent railroad attorney and judge, Judge Frank S. Dietrich. He was known for his service on the adjudication of water rights in Idaho. He later became a Judge of the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Ninth District.
Turning Points: The technology of sprinkler irrigation was a significant
turning point for the Dietrich Tract. Farming finally became productive. Street
paving began in 1957. Dietrich put in a community drinking water system in
1993. Dietrich began planning a sewer system in 1996. Dietrich’s sewer project
was done as a Small Town Environment Project (STEP). The town functioned as
its own contractor and used a lot of volunteer
Dietrich sewer lagoons excavated through layers of lava rock
labor and equipment to do much of the work, including construction of a 7 acre facultative sewer lagoon system. Because the town is located on the side of a volcanic crater, the excavation of sewer lines through lava rock was very expensive and time consuming. The Dietrich School was the first connection to the sewer system in 2002. The physical size of the city doubled after annexation of the Dietrich West Subdivision in 2004. A major renovation of the Dietrich School that enlarged classroom sizes and included a new gym was completed in 2005. Property owners of development land on the east side of Dietrich requested that their property be annexed into the city in 2005.
Time Capsule Vision: Dietrich appears to be strategically placed for unprecedented growth. A large new airport is expected to be built near the north Lincoln County line and a major coal-fired power plant is being planned near the southern border of Lincoln County. Dietrich will likely feel the impact of this industrial development growth. As wind energy development increases, Dietrich will likely see scores of wind turbines turning across the wind-blown highlands of the Dietrich Tract. As communication technologies continue to improve so that many people can work from home and other remote locations, living in remote Dietrich will become more attractive to a broad range of families. We expect Dietrich’s population will grow significantly by 2050, as will the businesses that support a growing population. For example, we expect to be able to buy gasoline at a service station in Dietrich before long.
Mayors of Dietrich:
Walter Fechner 1946 - 1953
Ben Lauer 1953 - 1965
Dick N. Roice 1965 - 1969
Marvin Dean Durfee 1969 - 1972
Homer Anderson 1972 - 1973
Clifford L. Davis 1973 - 1981
Scott L. Bolton 1982 - 1985
Willard Stevenson 1986 - 1986 (died in office)
Pete L. Gage 1986 - 1988
Jeanetta R. Knowles 1988 - 2008
Don Heiken 2008 - Present
Bibliography:
Dietrich City Council Minute Books. 1946 – 1991. City of Dietrich.