Rising some above sea level, Squaw Butte, named by Native Americans who used this area as their winter resort, stands at the north end of the valley. The Payette River was named after Francois Payette, a fur trader from Quebec who was put in charge of old Fort Boise in 1818 and traveled through the area. Permanent settlement began in the early 1860s, after gold discoveries in the Boise Basin brought people over the established stage and pack train routes. Two of these trails joined at the Payette River north of the present river bridge in Emmett. Originally called "Emmettville," it was primarily a post office named after Emmett Cahalan, the son of Tom Cahalan, an early settler of the area. The post office was later moved but retained the name. A few years later the "ville" was dropped and the post office and town became simply Emmett. In 1883 James Wardwell had the town platted, and in 1900 the town was incorporated as Emmett. Later, in March 1902, the Idaho Northern railroad came to the valley. After the closing of the mines in 1906, the power lines were extended to Emmett. A series of irrigation projects made it possible for more rapid expansion of the town as the major service center for a farming and fruit-growing valley. In the early 1900s fruit packers adopted the label of "Gem of Plenty" because of the fertility of the valley. During the mining era the valley was known as the "garden" for the mining regions. Until 2001, the city was home to a Boise Cascade manufacturing facility. The Black Canyon diversion dam on the Payette River, built in the early 1920s, is east of the city. While campaigning for a return to Congress in 1934, Robert M. McCracken died in an automobile accident near Emmett. His vehicle went through a guard rail and tumbled down Freezeout Hill.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, of which is land and is water. It is located south of the Payette River, at an elevation of above sea level.
As of the census of 2010, there were 6,557 people, 2,616 households, and 1,635 families living in the city. The population density was. There were 2,916 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 91.1% White, 0.2% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 4.6% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.7% of the population. There were 2,616 households, of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.5% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.5% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.12. The median age in the city was 36.3 years. 27.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.7% were from 25 to 44; 22.3% were from 45 to 64; and 17.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,490 people, 2,095 households, and 1,412 families living in the city. The population density was 3,022.5 people per square mile. There were 2,264 housing units at an average density of 1,246.4 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 90.60% White, 0.07% African American, 0.75% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 5.79% from other races, and 2.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.57% of the population. There were 2,095 households, out of which 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.5% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.13. In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.4% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males. The median income for a household in the city was $26,480, and the median income for a family was $34,663. Males had a median income of $30,598 versus $19,088 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,027. About 16.3% of families and 17.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.4% of those under age 18 and 16.5% of those age 65 or over.
