Teton County, Idaho

The Creation of Teton County

The Idaho State Legislature established Teton County in January 1915 with land taken from Madison County.  Some records say the land came from Fremont and Bingham counties as well, but I find this hard to believe. A look at the map shows the Teton county’s line with Madison County is a straight line. This is unlike the northern border with Fremont County or the eastern part of the southern border with Bonneville. To further bolster my claim, Madison county’s official website talks about the creation of that county in 1913. It tells how the eastern part was separated to make Teton County in 1915.

Originally, yes, pretty much all of eastern Idaho had been in Bingham County. Then northern Bingham became Fremont County in 1893.  In 1911, Bingham County lost more area when Bonneville county came into being.  By 1915, no part of Bingham County touched the new Teton County.  So much for history.

Topography of Teton County

However it came into being, Teton County sits in a valley between Idaho’s Big Hole Mountains and the Teton Mountains of Wyoming.  It and its eastern neighbor, Teton County Wyoming, are one of eleven such pairs where a state line divides 2 counties with the same name.

The Teton River formed the valley. It flows in a northerly direction through the center of the county parallel to Idaho Highway 33. That highway is the main road connecting the county’s three communities of any size.  

Teton County Demographics

Second smallest in area among Idaho’s 44 counties, Teton covers 450 square miles and as of 2020 had 11,630 residents. This is almost 395% more than the 1970 census showed–a  fact not unknown to the county’s planning office. Between 2000 and 2010, Teton County grew faster than any other county in Idaho. While the state’s growth rate during that decade was 1.88% per annum, Teton County grew by 5.28%. The county’s comprehensive plan 2012 suggests that in-migration is largely responsible for the substantial increase.  It further suggests that a good number of people are commuting to Jackson, Wyoming which is, after all, closer than any major community in Idaho. Of course any such commute means crossing Wyoming’s 8,432 foot Teton  Pass, a serious obstacle in the winter.

 

Politics and Religion

Before this growth surge Teton County, like most of eastern Idaho, was predominantly Mormon.  Even today, there are 10 LDS churches in the county but only one Roman Catholic, 1 Episcopalian, and a few small evangelical churches. Nonetheless, according to city-data.com, in 2010 sixty-one percent of the county’s population claimed to have no religious affiliation. As far as the LDS church is concerned, the last decade has seen its numbers grow from 2,889 members in 2000 to 3,442 in 2010, but because of the rapid growth of the total population, the percentage of Mormons in the community has dropped from 48% to 34% rounded up. One thing that hasn’t changed with the growth is political affiliation.  The county has often shown an almost even split between Republicans and Democrats. Teton County was one of only two Idaho counties to vote for Harris in 2024.  And then, only by 51.7%.

Driggs, the County Seat

The county seat is located in Driggs a city of 1900 people founded in 1888 by Don Carlos Driggs and Benjamin Woodbury Driggs, Junior.   The Driggs family has quite a respectable genealogy but a bit of a confused one as well. Until DNA testing became available, the family was thought to have descended from a Dutchman named Drats.  DNA testing has now shown that the original Joseph Driggs was most likely born Jose Rodriguez and was from Portugal. The Driggs family later moved to Arizona where one of Don Carlos’s descendants became mayor of Phoenix in the 1970s.  

The town itself is the center for recreation and the arts with skiing in the Tetons and mountain biking on trails throughout the county.  Many artists moved into the area because of the spectacular scenery.  Teton Arts, formerly the Teton Arts Council, founded in 1994, operates an arts center with a ceramic studio and a multi use studio where they offer classes in ceramics, drawing , and printmaking.  They also operate the city gallery in downtown Driggs

Victor, Teton County’s Largest Community

Eight miles south of Driggs, Victor is now the largest city in the county with a 2020 population of 2,876–up from 302 in 1990  It has become the bedroom community for Jackson, Wyoming less than 25 miles away. The town was founded in 1889 and was named for one of those couriers who was not stayed from his appointed rounds. The city’s website used to say this about George Victor Sherwood:

Victor was named in honor of George Victor Sherwood the mail carrier between this community and Jackson Wyoming who delivered the mail through an Indian scare despite great danger. He devotedly carried mail on his back, walked or skied the route between Jackson Hole and the South end of Teton Valley.

Victor today is a thriving community with five city parks and a summer music festival but no high school. All Junior and Senior High students attend school in Driggs. Victor is home to the Teton Valley Foundation founded in 2005 to broaden local recreational and cultural opportunities. They do this primarily through the Music on Main summer concert series, the great snow fest which in 2016 had over 20 events spread across the county, and the ongoing operations of the Kotler Ice Arena, a covered rink for hockey and open skating. The city of Victor has an enormously informative website. You can read it here.

Teton County’s Third Metropolis

Eight miles north of Driggs, Tetonia is the only other incorporated city in Teton County. With a 2020 population of 290, Tetonia is a rural community, albeit one with a mayor and City Council. The city’s website has this to say about the community:

City of Tetonia…. Gateway to the Tetons! Where Adventure Begins!

Citizens of Tetonia support a family friendly, small town setting; endorse residential neighborhoods and core economic growth; and, strive to preserve the Teton Valley scenic vista and enviromental quality. 

Today, Tetonia does seem to be ready for company with two motels and three restaurants. Not bad for a town of less than 300 people.

In Conclusion

Teton County, Idaho, with its three distinct communities—Driggs, Victor, and Tetonia—offers a perfect balance of history, natural beauty, and small-town charm. Each city contributes its own character: Driggs as the cultural hub, Victor as the gateway to Jackson Hole, and Tetonia with its quiet rural appeal. Together, they create a county that celebrates its past while embracing growth and adventure. Whether you come for the breathtaking Teton views, the welcoming communities, or the endless recreational opportunities, Teton County stands as a remarkable place to visit, live, and explore.

And to discover more about Idaho and its forty-four counties, visit my Gem State page.