Twin Falls, Idaho: A History of Irrigation and Development
Twin Falls, Idaho is a city known for its stunning natural beauty and rich history of irrigation and development. The story of Twin Falls began with the vision of Ira Burton Perrine, a pioneer who saw the potential in the land and worked to transform it from sagebrush into fertile farmland through irrigation.
Ira Burton Perrine: The Visionary of South-Central Idaho
Ira Burton Perrine was born in Delaware, Indiana in 1861, and is often credited as the person who transformed south-central Idaho through irrigation. He moved to Idaho Territory in 1884 and established a farm and ranch operation in the Snake River Canyon near present-day Jerome. Perrine was a successful farmer and rancher, receiving a gold medal for his fruit display at the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis.
Perrine recognized the potential for irrigation in the area and began working to convince private financiers to build a dam on the Snake River, along with a corresponding canal system to irrigate the surrounding area. This work culminated in the 1900 founding of the Twin Falls Land and Water Company and the subsequent completion of Milner Dam in 1905. The irrigation project attracted a large number of settlers to the area, leading to the rapid growth of Twin Falls and the surrounding towns.
In addition to his contributions to the development of irrigation in the area, Perrine also contributed to the growth of the tourist industry by building the Blue Lakes Hotel on his ranch and starting a ferry and stagecoach service. He served as a bank president and owned a hotel in the newly founded city of Twin Falls. Perrine died in 1943 at the age of 82, and his legacy lives on through the naming of the Perrine Bridge, which carries U.S. 93 over the Snake River Canyon, as well as an elementary school in Twin Falls and Perrine Coulee, which runs through the city and ends as a waterfall on the south rim of the canyon, west of the bridge.
The Birth of Twin Falls (1904)
- 1904: The Twin Falls Land and Water Company surveys and plats the town site.
- 1905: The city is officially incorporated.
- 1905-1910: The initial growth of the city is driven by the success of the irrigation project and the influx of settlers.
- 1910: The city’s main street, Main Avenue, is lined with business and commercial buildings, including the Perrine Hotel, the Twin Falls Bank, and the Twin Falls Mercantile Company.
Development and Growth (1905-1910)
- 1905-1910: The construction of the Twin Falls Canal and the success of the irrigation project bring about rapid development and growth in the area.
- 1910: The population of Twin Falls grows from a few hundred in 1904 to over 4,000.
- 1907: Twin Falls County is established.
- 1910: The county courthouse is built.
- 1910: The Oregon Short Line Railroad arrives in Twin Falls, facilitating the transportation of goods and people to and from the area.
- 1910-1920s: The city’s economy is diversified with the establishment of various businesses and industries, including agriculture, mining, and manufacturing.
Mining in Jarbidge and Contact (1910s-1930s)
- 1910s-1930s: The discovery of gold in the Jarbidge and Contact areas brings a rush of prospectors and miners to the region.
- 1910s-1930s: Mining camps in Jarbidge and Contact are characterized by makeshift living conditions, with residents facing sporadic production and jobs and fluctuations in outside capital.
- 1930s: Despite the challenges, mining activity in Jarbidge continues into the early 1930s.
- 1950s: Copper is produced in Contact until the late 1950s.
Irrigation and Development (1907-2021)
- The opening of the South Side tract to irrigation in 1907 transformed the sagebrush plain into fertile farmland, attracting a large number of settlers to the area and leading to the rapid growth of Twin Falls and the surrounding towns.
- The construction of Milner Dam in 1905 provided irrigation water for the tract, and the success of the irrigation project led to the expansion of agricultural production and the development of other industries such as manufacturing and mining.
- Throughout the 20th century, the city continued to grow and develop, with new residential subdivisions, shopping centers, and infrastructure projects being built.
- In the 21st century, Twin Falls has continued to experience growth and development, with an emphasis on sustainable practices and quality of life for residents.
The Comfort of Home (1907-1920s)
- 1907-1920s: The success of the irrigation project attracts a large number of settlers to the area, leading to the growth of Twin Falls and the surrounding towns.
- The construction of the Twin Falls Canal, the establishment of Twin Falls County, and the arrival of the Oregon Short Line Railroad solidify Twin Falls as a center of commerce and government in the region.
- The city’s economy is diversified with the establishment of various businesses and industries, including agriculture, mining, and manufacturing.
Churches of a Variety of Faiths (1910s-1920s)
- 1910s-1920s: Churches of a variety of faiths are built on streets bordering the city’s center.
- These religious institutions play a vital role in the social and cultural life of the community.
The Park in the Center of Town (1910s-1920s)
1910s-1920s: The siting of the park in the center of the town site is attributed to landscape architect, Emmanuel Louis Masqueray.
- The park serves as a central gathering place for the community and is surrounded by churches of various faiths, reflecting the diversity of the community.
- The Catholic Church, located on the corner of Shoshone and Second, was one of the first churches to be built in Twin Falls. The First Baptist Church, located on the corner of Shoshone and Fourth, and the Christian Science Church, located on the corner of Second and Blue Lakes Boulevard, were also early additions to the community.
Twin Falls in the 1920s and 1930s
- The city continues to prosper, with a bustling downtown area and new businesses and industries being established.
- The Twin Falls movie theater and Twin Falls High School were popular destinations for residents.
- The city also saw an influx of tourists, drawn to the area by the natural beauty of Shoshone Falls and the nearby Snake River.
The Boom of World War II
- Twin Falls experienced a population and industry boom during World War II.
- The construction of the nearby Jerome County Air Base brought many new residents to the area.
- The city’s economy also benefited from the establishment of war-related industries, such as the construction of a large aluminum plant.
Twin Falls in the Post-War Years
- After the war, the city experienced a period of growth and expansion with a growing population, new homes and neighborhoods, and a diversifying economy.
- The nearby Milner Dam, completed in the early 1950s, provided irrigation water for the Twin Falls South Side Tract, which opened to settlers in 1907.
- The city’s downtown area was also revitalized, with the construction of new buildings and the renovation of existing ones.
settlers to the area and leading to the rapid growth of Twin Falls and surrounding towns. This success was due in large part to the Carey Act of 1894, which provided a framework for private investment, state supervision, and local management to make large areas of arid federal land agriculturally productive.
The Twin Falls Land and Water Company, led by Ira B. Perrine, was the driving force behind the construction of Milner Dam and the irrigation system that would provide water to over 200,000 acres on the south side of the Snake River. This project was the first and most successful example of reclamation under the Carey Act.
As the city grew, so did the economy. The arrival of the Oregon Short Line Railroad in 1910 facilitated the transportation of goods and people, allowing for the diversification of industry in the area. Agriculture, mining, and manufacturing all played a role in the growth and development of Twin Falls.
Mining in the nearby areas of Jarbidge and Contact brought a rush of prospectors and miners to the region in the 1910s and 1920s. While the living conditions in the mining camps were often makeshift, and production and jobs were sporadic, mining activity in Jarbidge continued into the early 1930s and copper was produced in Contact until the late 1950s.
Today, Twin Falls continues to be a thriving community, built on the foundation of irrigation and development. The legacy of Ira B. Perrine and the Twin Falls Land and Water Company lives on through the continued success of the irrigation system and the numerous businesses and industries that call Twin Falls home.
