Twin Falls is the county seat of and the largest city in Twin Falls County, Idaho, United States. The population was 51,807 at the 2020 census, and was estimated at 55,589 in 2024. In the Magic Valley region, Twin Falls is the largest city in a radius, and is the regional commercial center for south-central Idaho and northeastern It is the principal city of the Twin Falls metropolitan statistical area, which officially includes the entirety of Twin Falls and Jerome The border town resort community of Jackpot, Nevada, south at the state line, is unofficially considered part of the greater Twin Falls area.Twin Falls visitidaho.org Retrieved May 7, 2007
Located on a broad plain at the south rim of the Snake River Canyon, Twin Falls is where daredevil Evel Knievel attempted to jump across the canyon in 1974 on a steam-powered rocket. The jump site is northeast of central Twin Falls, midway between Shoshone Falls and the Perrine Bridge.
History
Excavations at Wilson Butte Cave near Twin Falls in 1959 revealed evidence of human activity, including arrowheads, that rank among the oldest dated artifacts in North America.BLM.gov Retrieved January 16, 2010 Later Native American tribes predominant in the area included the Northern Shoshone and Bannock.Northern Shoshone and Bannock Economy Retrieved May 7, 2007
The first people of European ancestry to visit the Twin Falls area are believed to be members of a group led by American Wilson Price Hunt, who attempted to blaze an all-water trail westward from St. Louis, Missouri, to Astoria, Oregon, in 1811 and 1812. Hunt's expedition met with disaster; much of his expedition was destroyed and one man was killed in rapids on the Snake River known as Caldron Linn near present-day Murtaugh. Hunt and the surviving members of his expedition completed the journey to Astoria by land.The Fur Trade Explorers Retrieved May 7, 2007
In 1812 and 1813, Robert Stuart successfully led an overland expedition eastward from Astoria to St. Louis, which passed through the Twin Falls area. Stuart's route formed the basis of what became the Oregon Trail.The Astorians Retrieved May 7, 2007 Some 150 years later, Robert Stuart Middle School in Twin Falls was named in his honor.
The first permanent settlement in the area was a stage stop established in 1864 at Rock Creek near the present-day townsite.Rock Creek Station and Stricker Homesite Retrieved May 7, 2007 By 1890, a handful of successful agricultural operations were in the Snake River Canyon, but the lack of infrastructure and the canyon's geography made irrigating the dry surrounding area improbable at best.
To address this issue in 1900, I. B. Perrine founded the Twin Falls Land and Water Company, largely to build an irrigation canal system for the area. After an August 1900 area survey of in October 1900, the company was granted the necessary water rights to begin construction of the irrigation system. Several lots in the surveyed area were set aside specifically for future townsites. These lots eventually became the settlements of Twin Falls, Kimberly, Buhl, Filer, Hansen, and Murtaugh. In 1902, the project nearly failed, as most of the original investors pulled out, with only Salt Lake City businessman Stanley Milner maintaining a stake in the company.Smith, Paul. The History of Twin Falls (Retrieved January 17, 2012)
By 1903, Perrine, who had been a successful farmer and rancher in the Snake River Canyon, had obtained private financing from Milner and others under the provisions of the Carey Act of 1894 to build a dam on the Snake River near Caldron Linn. Completed in 1905, Milner Dam and its accompanying canals made commercial irrigation outside the Snake River Canyon practical for the first time.Ira Burton Perrine Retrieved May 7, 2007 As a result, Perrine is generally credited as the founder of Twin Falls.Times-News Summer Fun Guide Retrieved May 7, 2007
A land drawing was held for the future townsite in July 1903, with disappointing results. A much more successful drawing was held in October 1904. Twin Falls city was founded in 1904 as a planned community, designed by celebrated Franco-American architect Emmanuel Louis Masqueray, with proceeds from sales of townsite lots going toward construction of irrigation canals. Twin Falls was incorporated as a village on April 12, 1905.Welcome to Twin Falls County, Idaho (Retrieved January 17, 2012) The city is named for a nearby waterfall on the Snake River of the same name. In 1907, Twin Falls became the seat of the newly formed Twin Falls County.
After Milner Dam was constructed, agricultural production in south-central Idaho increased substantially. In 1909, the privately owned Twin Falls Land and Water Company was reorganized as the shareholder-owned Twin Falls Canal Company. Twin Falls became a major regional economic center serving the agriculture industry, a role which it has sustained to the present day. The city became a processing center for several agricultural commodities, notably beans and sugar beets. In later years, other food-processing operations augmented the local economy. By 1960, Twin Falls had become one of Idaho's largest cities, though its origins were still within living memory for many.
Twin Falls became the center of national attention in September 1974, when daredevil Evel Knievel attempted to jump the Snake River Canyon in a specially modified rocket cycle. Watched by millions on closed-circuit television on a Sunday afternoon, the attempt ultimately failed due to high winds and a premature deployment of Knievel's parachute. The launch ramp's foundation lies on private land on the canyon's south rim. Less than 2 miles west (3 km) of Shoshone Falls, it is still visible ().
During the last quarter of the 20th century, gradual diversification of the agriculture-based economy allowed the city to continue to grow. Major Twin Falls employers in 2006 included Dell, Glanbia and Jayco. In September 2009, Dell announced it would close its Twin Falls facility by January 2010.Dell to close Twin Falls call center Later in 2010, the call center company C3 opened a facility in the former Dell location.C3 to Add 300 Jobs in Twin Falls; Company to Expand into Texas, Arizona Times-News, August 4, 2011. (Retrieved January 17, 2012)
The College of Southern Idaho had administered a refugee program in Twin Falls from 1980 until 2024, when management was taken over by the United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants.After more than 40 years, the Refugee Program will have new management as CSI steps back Idaho News 6, January 30, 2024. (Retrieved August 19, 2024)
On August 1, 2026, a mass shooting occurred at an In-N-Out Burger restaurant in Twin Falls. Three people were killed, and seven others were injured. The gunman was also killed during the shooting.
Government
Twin Falls is one of only three Idaho cities that has a council-manager form of government.Wells, Michael. "Lewiston's manager system challenged often, Twin Falls stays quiet", McCall Star-News, July 16, 2009. (Retrieved February 15, 2012) The seven-member Twin Falls city council is directly elected in nonpartisan municipal elections to four-year terms. The mayor, who holds little executive power, is periodically selected among current city council members to chair meetings, and is "considered the official representative of the city." City council meetings are usually held on Mondays.Twin Falls, ID - Official Website - City Council (Retrieved February 25, 2014)
The city's day-to-day operations are overseen by a city manager, who is appointed by the city council. The current city manager is Travis Rothweiler. The city government through various citizen boards oversees parks and recreation, planning and zoning, sanitation and garbage collection, street maintenance, and wastewater collection, and maintains police and fire departments. Twin Falls Public Library, Twin Falls Municipal Golf Course and Joslin Field-Magic Valley Regional Airport are also under the city's jurisdiction.
Higher education Twin Falls is home to the College of Southern Idaho (CSI), a large community college in the northwestern part of the city. Three state universities (Boise State University, Idaho State University, and the University of Idaho) offer classes on the CSI campus. The nursing program received money from the 2007-2008 state budget to construct a state-of-the-art nursing facility to complement the nursing program.Dream Come True For CSI Nursing Program KMVT.com. Retrieved June 10, 2011 The CSI men's basketball team won its third NJCAA Division I Championship in March 2011.CSI MEN'S BASKETBALL WINS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP (Retrieved January 17, 2012)
Primary and secondary schools Public schools are administered by the Twin Falls School District, including Twin Falls High School, Canyon Ridge High School, the alternative Magic Valley High School, three middle schools, and nine elementary schools. Also, Twin Falls is home to Xavier Charter School and the district was awarded best title 1C district in the state.Gallery: Twin Falls Schools Awarded Best Title 1C District in State
On March 14, 2006, registered voters approved a bond to build an additional high school. A citywide contest was held to determine the school's nickname. In November 2006, the Twin Falls school board selected "River Hawks", thus officially starting the Canyon Ridge High School River Hawks. Also on the bond were plans to make general improvements to existing school facilities and to convert the junior high schools to middle schools. These projects were completed for the 2009–10 school year. The addition of Canyon Ridge High School meant that the student population was split nearly in half. Athletics for both schools are designated 4A rather than 5A by Idaho High School Activities Association.Canyon Ridge: A new history begins
Elementary schools Bickel Elementary School (K-5) Harrison Developmental Preschool Harrison Elementary School (K-5) I.B. Perrine Elementary School (preschool and K-5) Lincoln Elementary School (K-5) Morningside Elementary School (K-5) Oregon Trail Elementary School (K-5) Pillar Falls Elementary School (K-5) Sawtooth Elementary School (K-5) Rock Creek Elementary School (K-5) St. Edward's Catholic School (K-8)
Middle schools O'Leary Middle School (6-8) Robert Stuart Middle School (6-8) Bridge Academy (alternative 6-8) South Hills Middle School (6-8)
High schools Canyon Ridge High School (9-12) Twin Falls High School (9-12)
Alternative high schools Magic Valley High School (9-12)
Private schools include Lighthouse Christian School, Xavier Charter School, St. Edward's Catholic School, and Twin Falls Christian Academy.
Economy Twin Falls, the state's seventh-largest city, is the fastest growing city in south-central Idaho.Idaho Department of Labor Idaho Department of Labor. Retrieved June 13, 2011 As of April 2011, unemployment in Twin Falls County stood at 9.5%, below Idaho's average of 9.6%. From 1998 to 2007, the unemployment rate was steadily decreasing, to a low of just under 2%. Then, in tandem with the national economy, the unemployment rate increased to nearly 9.5% as of April 2011.Google Public Data Retrieved June 13, 2011
Twin Falls is the home of cheese producer Glanbia Foods, a major American division of Irish food company Glanbia plc.Glanbia Foods Glanbia.com. Retrieved June 13, 2011
Falls Brand, another food company, is located in the southern part of Twin Falls. In early 2011, Falls Brands' Old Fashioned Basque Chorizo sausage won the "Hold the Mustard" award presented by the National Meat Association (NMA) during their Annual Gourmet Sausagefest.NMA Annual Gourmet Sausagefest nmaonline.com. Retrieved June 24, 2011