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The city of Pocatello calls itself “The Gate City”. It has (along with Chubbuck, a next-door community) a population of more than 60,000 people. It‘s home to Idaho State University, and provides small city living while being located within a same-day drive of such places as Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Jackson Hole in Wyoming, Salt Lake City, Jackpot, and Sun Valley.
Pocatello locals love the way the city is sited in a valley surrounded by foothills and mountains. The city got its start as a tent city of railroad workers, and the railroad is still important to the economy here.
Pocatello has recently completed a renovation of the Old Town historic district. And there are fantastic hiking and biking trails literally within blocks of anywhere in the city, along with a developed greenbelt system.
Shopping
The Pine Ridge Mall includes such major stores as Sears, ShopKo, JCPenney and Dillard's. It is also home to national retailers such as Bath & Body Works, Radio Shack, American Eagle Outfitters, Zumiez, Famous Footwear, and Waldenbooks. Next to the Pine Ridge Mall is the new 10-screen Carmike Pineridge stadium-seating movie theater. See movie times and buy tickets here
Driving Directions to Pineridge Mall
A major new shopping complex called Pocatello Square is under construction. Anchored by Lowe's, it also features several new retail stores and restaurants including Ashley Furniture, Bed Bath & Beyond, Big 5 Sporting Goods, Famous Footware, Jensen Jewelers, Ross, and Staples. Plus Texas Roadhouse and The Pita Pit are also now open.
Economy
Pocatello's largest employer is Idaho State University (ISU) with 3,400 employees. The University has approximately 13,000 students enrolled. A feature of the campus is Holt Arena which houses 12,000 seats and hosts local high school football, ISU sport events, the Dodge National Finals Circuit Rodeo, the Simplot Games, concerts, and other activities. Other major employers include American Microsystems, Inc., Union Pacific Railroad, Convergys, Simplot, Qwest, Heinz Frozen Foods, Ballard Medical, and Portneuf Regional Medical Center. Commute times are very low, with most residents living within 17 minutes of their workplace.
Travel
Pocatello Regional Airport
Pocatello Regional Transit
Business Development
Pocatello is experiencing a booming residential and business real estate market. For great information and assistance with locating a business in Pocatello, visit the Bannock Development website.
The Old Town Historic District encompasses all or part of eighteen city blocks and is host to the Farmer's Market in the summer months as well as many other community events. Community commitment to the revitalization of downtown Pocatello was demonstrated when an ordinance establishing the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID) was passed in 1991.
Old Town Pocatello Business Directory
Recreation and Activities
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An outstanding feature of Pocatello is the variety of outdoor activities made possible by the City Parks and Recreation Department. If you like your fun in the snow, try Pebble Creek, the local ski area. |
| Hiking and mountain biking enthusiasts enjoy maintained trails within close proximity of Pocatello's residential areas, and climbers often travel to Pocatello just to scale the lava cliffs located south of the city. |
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Fort Hall Indian Reservation
The Fort Hall Indian Reservation is a reservation of the Shoshoni and Bannock people located between Blackfoot and Pocatello. It is comprised of 815 square miles of land area in four counties: Bingham, Bannock, Power, and Caribou counties. It is named for Fort Hall, a trading post that was an important stop along the Oregon Trail. The community of Fort Hall is the largest population center on the reservation. The total population of the reservation is approximately 5,762.
The Fort Hall Reservation is very important to agriculture in Eastern Idaho. It is a major source of wheat and potatoes for the entire northwest region of the United States.
The reservation has recently become the site of a popular casino, The Fort Hall Casino, operated by the Shoshone-Bannock tribes along Interstate 15, exit 80, north of Pocatello.
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