Murphy is a census-designated place in, and the county seat of, Owyhee County, Idaho, United States.[1] It is among the smallest of county seats nationwide, with a population as of the 2020 census of 96.[2][3] Murphy is part of the Boise City–Nampa, Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area. Murphy is also located within the census-designated place bearing its name. Murphy is home to the Owyhee County Historical Museum and Library.
Murphy, Idaho | |
|---|---|
 The Murphy General Store and Cafe, May 2019 | |
 Location of Murphy in Owyhee County, Idaho. | |
  Murphy, Idaho Locationof Murphy  Murphy, Idaho Murphy, Idaho (the United States) | |
| Coordinates: 43°13′06″N 116°33′08″W / 43.21833°N 116.55222°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Idaho |
| County | Owyhee |
| Area | |
• Total | 3.839 sq mi (9.94 km2) |
| • Land | 3.839 sq mi (9.94 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,820 ft (860 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 96 |
| • Density | 25/sq mi (9.7/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP codes | 83650 |
| Area code(s) | 208, 986 |
| FIPS code | 16-55720 |
History
edit
Murphy developed around a railhead of the Boise, Nampa and Owyhee Railroad, built in 1899 by Colonel William H. Dewey. Dewey had planned to extend the railroad to Silver City, but when mining operations in the Owyhee Mountains became unproductive, the line was not continued past Murphy. The railroad operated until 1947.[4]
By a narrow margin, Owyhee County voters selected Murphy as county seat in 1934, succeeding Silver City (which was located in the Owyhee Mountains and had been in decline; it is now defunct).[5] Although the county seat was moved to Murphy after the vote, and a new Owyhee County Courthouse was constructed in 1936, the Idaho State Legislature did not ratify the change of county seat until 1999. The error in the Idaho Code, discovered by county prosecutor G. Edward Yarbrough, was finally corrected by Senate Bill 1009.[6]
The community likely was named after Cornelius "Con" Murphy, a crew boss with the Boise, Nampa and Owyhee Railroad and foreman during construction of the Guffey Bridge in 1897.[4] Another source for the name may have been Pat Murphy, a Silver City mining engineer and friend of railroad owner Dewey.[7]
Murphy's population was estimated at 100 in 1909,[8] and was 50 in 1960.[9]
Demographics
edit| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 80 | — | |
| 1910 | 102 | 27.5% | |
| 1920 | 150 | 47.1% | |
| 1930 | 75 | −50.0% | |
| 1950 | 50 | — | |
| 1960 | 50 | 0.0% | |
| 1970 | 100 | 100.0% | |
| 1980 | 150 | 50.0% | |
| 1990 | 150 | 0.0% | |
| 2010 | 97 | — | |
| 2020 | 96 | −1.0% | |
| source:[10][3] | |||
Geography
editMurphy is located at 43°13′06″N 116°33′08″W / 43.21833°N 116.55222°W,[11] at an elevation of 2,820 feet (860 m) above sea level; it is 25 miles (40 km) south of Nampa.
Climate
editAccording to the Köppen climate classification, Murphy has a cold semi arid climate (BSk).
| Climate data for Murphy, Idaho, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 2003–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 60 (16) |
65 (18) |
74 (23) |
83 (28) |
94 (34) |
103 (39) |
104 (40) |
103 (39) |
103 (39) |
88 (31) |
76 (24) |
62 (17) |
104 (40) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 53.4 (11.9) |
58.4 (14.7) |
67.8 (19.9) |
77.1 (25.1) |
86.1 (30.1) |
93.6 (34.2) |
99.0 (37.2) |
97.4 (36.3) |
91.1 (32.8) |
79.3 (26.3) |
67.1 (19.5) |
56.0 (13.3) |
99.9 (37.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 39.5 (4.2) |
43.6 (6.4) |
52.3 (11.3) |
58.7 (14.8) |
68.2 (20.1) |
76.9 (24.9) |
87.7 (30.9) |
86.1 (30.1) |
76.3 (24.6) |
62.1 (16.7) |
47.2 (8.4) |
38.2 (3.4) |
61.4 (16.3) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 30.7 (−0.7) |
33.9 (1.1) |
40.7 (4.8) |
45.6 (7.6) |
54.2 (12.3) |
61.6 (16.4) |
70.9 (21.6) |
69.5 (20.8) |
60.2 (15.7) |
48.1 (8.9) |
36.4 (2.4) |
29.4 (−1.4) |
48.4 (9.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 21.8 (−5.7) |
24.3 (−4.3) |
29.0 (−1.7) |
32.5 (0.3) |
40.2 (4.6) |
46.3 (7.9) |
54.1 (12.3) |
53.0 (11.7) |
44.0 (6.7) |
34.2 (1.2) |
25.5 (−3.6) |
20.5 (−6.4) |
35.5 (1.9) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 4.8 (−15.1) |
10.7 (−11.8) |
17.3 (−8.2) |
20.4 (−6.4) |
26.3 (−3.2) |
35.1 (1.7) |
43.8 (6.6) |
42.0 (5.6) |
32.2 (0.1) |
19.7 (−6.8) |
11.0 (−11.7) |
1.9 (−16.7) |
−1.9 (−18.8) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −16 (−27) |
−3 (−19) |
10 (−12) |
14 (−10) |
20 (−7) |
31 (−1) |
40 (4) |
35 (2) |
25 (−4) |
4 (−16) |
−4 (−20) |
−10 (−23) |
−16 (−27) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.24 (31) |
0.83 (21) |
1.12 (28) |
0.98 (25) |
1.40 (36) |
1.10 (28) |
0.33 (8.4) |
0.30 (7.6) |
0.56 (14) |
0.74 (19) |
1.30 (33) |
1.40 (36) |
11.30 (287) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 9.4 | 9.2 | 10.1 | 8.4 | 9.7 | 7.2 | 3.0 | 2.8 | 3.8 | 5.4 | 9.1 | 10.9 | 89.0 |
| Source 1: NOAA[12] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service (mean maxima/minima 2006–2020)[13] | |||||||||||||
Airstrip
editMurphy's airstrip is situated immediately northeast of the community, without a control tower. Its 2,500-foot (760 m) asphalt runway is oriented NW-SE (12/30),[14] parallel with State Highway 78. The elevation drops 60 feet (18 m) in the northwest (30) direction, from 2,855 to 2,795 feet.
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
- ^ a b Spokesman-Review Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine - 2010 census - Murphy, Idaho - accessed 2011-12-12
- ^ a b Sandra Forester (September 6, 2007). "Idaho's largest artifact turns 110". Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho.
- ^ Walt Schramm (January 24, 1960). "Town of Murphy, Owyhee County Seat, Rates High as One of Most Unusual in Entire Country". Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho. p. 26.
- ^ Tim Woodward (January 25, 1999). "65 Years in Wrong Town". Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho.
- ^ Lalia Boone (1988). Idaho Place Names. University of Idaho Press. p. 265.
- ^ Davis, Ellis A. (1909). Davis' New Commercial Encyclopedia: Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, the Pacific Northwest. Ellis A. Davis. p. 189.
- ^ World Book Encyclopedia. Vol. I. Field Enterprises Corporation. 1960. p. 27.
- ^ Moffatt, Riley. Population History of Western U.S. Cities & Towns, 1850-1990. Lanham: Scarecrow, 1996, 96.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Murphy 10 W, ID". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
- ^ "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Boise". National Weather Service. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
- ^ AirNav.com - airport information - Murphy, Idaho - accessed 2011-12-12
External links
edit
- Owyhee County Historical Society - Museum & Library - Murphy, Idaho
- Untraveled Road.com - photo tour - Murphy, Idaho - 2008-06-13
- Weather.com - Murphy, Idaho - current conditions and forecast