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'Eastern Idaho' is a generic term used to describe areas of Idaho which lie east of the Magic Valley region. It is generally understood to include: Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Bonneville, Caribou, Clark, Franklin, Fremont, Jefferson, Madison, Oneida, Power and Teton Counties.

Contents

Demographics

Education

Culture

Agriculture

Technology

Demographics

According to the 2000 census the counties of the Eastern Idaho region had a combined population of 301,991. With nearly identical populations according to 2003 census estimates, Pocatello and Idaho Falls are the region's largest cities, accounting for approximately one-third of the total population. Other important cities include Blackfoot and Rexburg.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the largest religious organization in the region. In many parts of the region a majority of the population belong to the LDS Church.

Education

Eastern Idaho is home to several of the state's colleges and universities, including Idaho State University in Pocatello, Eastern Idaho Technical College in Idaho Falls and Brigham Young University-Idaho in Rexburg. Most of the region's cities and towns support separate public school districts.

Culture

Cultural events are routinely held at Idaho State University and Brigham Young University-Idaho. The Eastern Idaho State Fair is held every September in Blackfoot. The 2004 independent film Napoleon Dynamite was set in and filmed on location in Preston.
Because of its proximity to Utah and its large Mormon community, culturally and economically Eastern Idaho identifies more strongly with Utah and less with the Pacific Northwest than the rest of Idaho. Idahoans sometimes jokingly refer to the region as "northern Utah" as a result.

Agriculture

The Eastern Idaho region grows most of Idaho's potato crop, making it one of the world's most productive potato-growing areas. Barley for beer production is also significant. Several major breweries, including Coors, Anheuser-Busch and Mexico's Grupo Modelo have barley producing operations in the area.

Technology

The Idaho National Laboratory near Idaho Falls is one of the nation's top nuclear research facilities. Philo Farnsworth, inventor of the cathode ray tube, grew up in Rigby.