Butte County, Idaho Real Estate

Butte County Economy & Jobs

Much of the eastern part of Butte County is occupied by Idaho National Laboratory, which is an important employer for the area. Ranching and irrigated agriculture in the Big Lost River Valley, along with tourism tied to Craters of the Moon, support the rest of the local economy.

History of Butte County

The first settlement, near present-day Arco, began in 1878 at a Lost River crossing, and the town took the name Arco when its post office opened in 1879. Construction of the railroad from Blackfoot to Mackay led Arco to move to its present site in 1901. Butte County was created on February 6, 1917, from parts of Bingham, Blaine and Jefferson counties, and named for the three volcanic buttes, Big Southern, Middle and East Butte, that guided trappers and pioneers across the plain. In 1955 Arco became the first town lit by nuclear power, using electricity from a reactor at what is now Idaho National Laboratory.

Towns & Communities in Butte County

Butte County's few towns sit along the Lost River valleys at the edge of the Snake River Plain.

• Arco — The county seat and largest town, gateway to Craters of the Moon, known for Number Hill, where local graduating classes paint their years on the cliff.
• Moore — A small farming town north of Arco in the Big Lost River Valley, surrounded by irrigated fields and ranch land.
• Howe — A rural community in the Little Lost River Valley on the county's eastern side, with large parcels and open range.

Popular Subdivisions in Butte County

Neighborhoods in Butte County with several homes or lots on the market right now:

Schools in Butte County

Butte County Joint School District 111 serves the county, including Butte County High School in Arco. The College of Eastern Idaho in Idaho Falls includes the county in its service area, and Idaho State University in Pocatello is the nearest university.

Commute & Getting Around

U.S. Highways 20, 26 and 93 meet in Arco, linking it east to Idaho Falls in roughly an hour and a quarter and north toward Mackay and Challis. Idaho Falls Regional Airport is the nearest commercial airport. Distances are long and services spread out, so most residents plan regular trips to Idaho Falls or Blackfoot.

Recreation & Outdoors in Butte County

Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, with its lava fields, cinder cones and caves, has its visitor center in Butte County. Experimental Breeder Reactor I, a National Historic Landmark near Arco, tells the story of the area's atomic history. The Big Lost River offers trout fishing, Big Southern Butte rises 2,500 feet above the desert floor, and the open country is popular for hunting and off-highway riding.

Land, Acreage & Horse Property in Butte County

Butte County land ranges from irrigated farm and ranch property in the Big Lost River Valley to dry high-desert parcels. Water is the key question: both the Big Lost and Little Lost rivers sink into the Snake River Plain aquifer within the county, so well depth and water rights matter on every purchase. Valorie's List only labels horse property when the MLS reports livestock permitted.

Cost of Living & Home Prices in Butte County

Butte County is among the most affordable places to buy rural property in East Idaho, with a small, older population and limited inventory. Shopping, healthcare and other services are limited locally. See the market snapshot on this page for current figures from active Snake River MLS listings; with few listings, the numbers can change quickly.