Payette County
More About Payette County |
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Payette County was established on February 28, 1917, with its county seat at Payette. It was the 41st county created in the State of Idaho. It is named for the Payette River, which was named for Francois Payette, a Canadian fur trapper and explorer with the North West Company, who came to the county in 1818. He was the first white man in the area and brought the first cattle. Boomerang, which was named for the log boom on the Payette River, was constructed as a railroad camp in 1882 and later changed its name to Payette.
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County Statistics:
County seat: Payette
Population: 21,587
Payette County website
Borders: Canyon, Gem and Washington counties; Oregon
What To See And Do :
The Payette County Historical Museum contains many historical artifacts originating from the region. Payette has a rich architectural heritage. The Payette Museum's showcases are filled with memorabilia and interesting artifacts. The museum invites you to step back through time and celebrate the past through photos, stories and more. Admission is free and museum hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Famous Payette County Natives and Residents:
Harmon Killebrew (1936- ) was born in Payette. He became a great hitter in baseball, and later attributed his abilities to beginning with one of his first jobs--painting houses. He led the Minnesota Twins to three championships, and won six home-run crowns. He is listed eighth on the all-time list with 573 homers. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984. During his playing years, his nickname was "Killer."
(Sources include The Idaho Blue Book, 2005-2006.)