05/14/09

The U.S. Census Bureau says there are more Hispanics in southern Idaho, and they're younger too, with a median age of less than 24 years old. Last year the Gem State's Hispanic population grew to 156,000, more than ten percent of all Idaho residents.

Most Hispanic families live in highly agricultural areas, especially those surrounding Twin Falls County. Almost one out of three people living in Minidoka and Jerome counties are Hispanic, while that number drops to one in four people in Gooding and Cassia counties.

Hispanics make up a slightly smaller segment of the total population in Blaine and Jerome counties, at 17 and 12 percent, respectively.