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Idaho · Snake River Plain · #512
Bingham County, Idaho
On the Snake River Plain where the Lost River Range rises to the north, Bingham County grows more potatoes per acre than almost anywhere on earth and sits in the shadow of Idaho National Laboratory - a combination of agricultural productivity and nuclear science that defines the upper Snake River Plain with quiet authority.
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Office: Bingham County Sheriff’s Office – 501 N. Maple Street, Blackfoot, ID 83221 | (208) 785-4440 | Fax (208) 785-3033; Sheriff Jeff Gardner. Dispatch non-emergency (208) 785-1234, Jail Command (208) 782-3076, Booking (208) 782-3055.
Notes: For an active emergency, call 911. Bingham County’s first sheriff, Sam Taylor, is remembered locally as a “fearless and efficient officer.” A genuinely dramatic 1887 episode is documented in county history: on Sunday, July 2, 1887, four prisoners – including two men held for murder and awaiting execution – overpowered jail staff, held several people captive for hours, and staged a dramatic escape down the courthouse’s east steps; three fled on horseback toward Eagle Rock while a fourth was quickly captured heading toward the Blackfoot River, and a posse was formed to pursue the others.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: I-15 serves Blackfoot, the county seat and largest city, on the south side of the Snake River.
Notes: Bingham County was created January 13, 1885, named for Henry H. Bingham, a Pennsylvania congressman and friend of Idaho Territorial Governor William M. Bunn, who signed the legislation creating the county. Blackfoot was designated county seat by the territorial legislature that same January, a decision that reportedly stirred rumors of political maneuvering against rival Eagle Rock. Frederick S. Stevens and Joe Warren were the first permanent white settlers of the Blackfoot area.
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Bingham County Courthouse – Blackfoot, ID.
Notes: Confirm current courthouse building history and any historic designation via binghamid.gov.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Bingham County Veterans Services – confirm current contact via binghamid.gov.
Libraries
LIBRARIES
Blackfoot Public Library (Blackfoot) – confirm current address/phone via the county library system.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Downtown Blackfoot and the Snake River corridor are the county’s premier heritage and recreational attractions.
Notes: The genuine, dramatic 1887 jailbreak story tied to Bingham County’s first sheriff, Sam Taylor, is among the standout local historical facts covered in this project.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
Appraisal/Parcel Search: Bingham County Assessor’s Office – confirm current contact via binghamid.gov.
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Confirm current dedicated shelter contact via binghamid.gov; Bingham County Sheriff’s Office for animal control arrangements.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Office: Bingham County Solid Waste / Planning & Zoning – confirm current contact via binghamid.gov.
NOTES: Bingham County is the sixth county completed in Idaho’s Round 3 v2 redo, under the A+ sourced standard established for this project. The genuine, dramatic 1887 jailbreak story tied to the county’s first sheriff, Sam Taylor, is among the standout local historical facts covered in this project. All contact information above was sourced via web search as of early August 2026 and should be reconfirmed directly with the relevant office before a visit, deadline-sensitive filing, or emergency-adjacent decision.
About Bingham County
Bingham County’s claim to potato capital status is not merely promotional – the volcanic soil, Aquifer-fed irrigation water, and high-altitude sunshine of the Snake River Plain produce extraordinary potato yields, and Bingham County’s output in Russet Burbanks, Yukon Golds, and specialty varieties is staggering at scale. The potato industry anchors the county’s economy with packing sheds, processing facilities, and seed potato operations that tie the county into national fast-food, grocery, and food service supply chains. The Idaho Potato Museum in Blackfoot celebrates this heritage with an earnestness that actually works.
Idaho National Laboratory, just north of the county in Butte County but drawing heavily from Bingham County’s workforce, employs thousands of scientists, engineers, and support personnel in nuclear energy research, advanced reactor design, and national security programs. The INL’s presence gives the upper Snake River Plain an unusual combination of agricultural tradition and cutting-edge nuclear science that doesn’t exist in many other American rural regions. The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes’ Fort Hall Reservation occupies a significant portion of the county and operates the Fort Hall Casino and agricultural enterprises.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Idaho assesses property at 100% of market value; the homestead exemption reduces the taxable value of an owner-occupied primary residence by 50% (up to $125,000). Property owners may appeal to the County Board of Equalization. Idaho has no estate or inheritance tax.
Courts & Legal
Courts & Legal
SENIOR SERVICES
Eastern Idaho Area Agency on Aging (SEICAA)
150 Shoup Avenue, Suite 15, Idaho Falls, ID 83402
Phone: (208) 525-7930
Senior transportation, Meals on Wheels, caregiver support, and long-term care counseling for Bingham County residents.
Senior Services
Eastern Idaho Area Agency on Aging (SEICAA)
150 Shoup Avenue, Suite 15, Idaho Falls, ID 83402
Phone: (208) 525-7930
Senior transportation, Meals on Wheels, caregiver support, and long-term care counseling for Bingham County residents.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK / ADMINISTRATOR
501 N. Maple St., Blackfoot, ID 83221
(208) 785-8040
CLERK OF COURT (Records, Marriage Licenses)
501 N. Maple St., Blackfoot, ID 83221
(208) 785-8060
ELECTIONS / CLERK
501 N. Maple St., Blackfoot, ID 83221
(208) 785-8040
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Bingham County Magistrate Court (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
Local societies
No dedicated Bingham County genealogical society was confirmed in available directories.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Bingham County Magistrate Court 501 North Maple Street, #205, Blackfoot, ID 83221-1700
Magistrate Judge: Hon. Scott Hansen. Bingham County is in southeastern Idaho, along the Snake River plain.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
Idaho has adopted the Uniform Probate Code (Idaho Code Title 15). Idaho is also a community property state. Idaho recognizes four main paths:
Small Estate Affidavit – a non-court process for estates with a total value of $100,000 or less (excluding liens and encumbrances) and no real property. Available 30 days after death. No court filing required (Idaho Code § 15-3-1201).
Summary Administration – available when the value of all the decedent’s property is less than the homestead allowance, exempt property, and last-illness medical expenses combined, or when a surviving spouse is sole beneficiary (Idaho Code §§ 15-3-1203, 15-3-1205).
Informal Probate – the most common track for uncontested estates, handled through the court registrar.
Formal Probate – court-supervised proceedings required when disputes arise or the will is contested.
Step 2: filing
For informal probate with a will, file an Application for Informal Probate of Will and Appointment of Personal Representative with the Magistrate Division.
For formal probate, file a Petition for Probate of Will and Appointment of Personal Representative (or the equivalent for intestate estates).
Idaho does not have a statutory fee schedule for attorneys or personal representatives – fees must be reasonable given the services rendered and complexity.
If formal or informal probate is needed
Determine whether small estate affidavit, summary administration, or full probate applies.
File the appropriate application or petition with the Bingham County Magistrate Court.
Under informal proceedings, the registrar reviews the application without a hearing. Under formal proceedings, a judge holds a hearing.
The personal representative accepts the appointment and may need to post a bond.
Once appointed, the court issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration. Obtain several certified copies.
Publish notice to creditors as required.
Mail notice to all heirs, beneficiaries, and interested parties.
Marshal assets, obtain an EIN, open an estate account, pay valid debts and expenses, and prepare any required inventory.
Distribute remaining assets per the will or Idaho’s intestacy statutes, then close the estate.
What it costs
Idaho does not impose its own state estate or inheritance tax.
Idaho does not have a statutory fee schedule for attorneys or personal representatives.
Court filing fees and publication costs are separate – confirm current amounts with the Bingham County Magistrate Court.
Probate in Idaho typically takes 6-12 months for uncontested estates.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
600 Courthouse Dr., Blackfoot, ID 83221
(208) 785-1234
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
ELECTIONS / CLERK
501 N. Maple St., Blackfoot, ID 83221
(208) 785-8040
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Idaho Dept of Health & Welfare — Southeast
(208) 236-6700
Idaho Medicaid
(800) 926-2588
Bingham Memorial Hospital
binghammemorial.org (Blackfoot)
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Southeastern Idaho Public Health (serving Bingham County) – confirm current contact via siphidaho.org.
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Blackfoot
Population: 47,000
Area: 2,094 sq mi
Established: 1885
Tier: 4
Inmate Services
Care Packages
Send care packages to inmates in Bingham County facilities via Amazon.
