Gooding, Idaho Anyone? (Boise, Twin Falls, Sun Valley: homes, schools, agricultural)

[mom24ajs]

I am considering a position in Gooding, Idaho. Can anyone tell me information about this town / area? I have 4 kids who are school age. We currently reside in Missouri and have been waiting for a job opportunity to open up in the NW since we have family in Montana and Washington.

Any recommendations, advice, good or bad would be wonderful. Thank you.

[boisefan88]

It's a small town, very isolated, suffers a bit more of the extreme end of Southern Idaho temperatures as far as summer temps and winter cold and snow go. It's not in the most attractive area, either - pretty much flat high desert / foothills, suffers from some wind too.

There isn't much to do, and there isn't much in terms of culture or even self-contained activity - you have to make your own fun, so to speak.

There is a large agricultural (and thus, Hispanic) population base, and the town is pretty much entirely a blue collar town. I think people actually ride snowmobiles throughout town during the winter.

However, all that said, Gooding is one of my favorite small towns. It's fairly clean, quiet, and the downtown has a very old fashioned, "main street" feel to it. There are enough services that would limit your trips to Twin Falls to once or twice a month (which is nice, because it's a 32 mile, 35-40 minute trip).

The location, while quiet and isolated, is sort of a gateway to some really spectacular areas, including the Camas Prairie, Mormon and Magic Reservoirs, the Bennett hills, and even the Sun Valley area (about an hour or so away).

[kristinl5]

Have to agree with Boisefan88, small agricultural town..nice old fashioned feel.

[David Adair]

This town is old and the infrastructure is limited. Homes are older but many have been updated. Newer homes are being built outside edges of town. Streets are small and without sidewalks in many areas. Flood irrigation is being changed sometime in the future.
Water lines are not the best but being reviewed to rebuild. A lot of homes have 1/2 inch water lines. If interested you should consider a visit. Schools are good. A Charter school is also available K-12.