Formed March 3, 1911 (26th county)
Adams County (4,380), Council (869)
A one-story red brick and concrete building is the courthouse for this county. It is located on Industrial Avenue at United States Highway 95. This Modern structure was built in 1999 replacing a 1915 courthouse also in Council. Archetype Design provided the courthouse drawings. A metal roof is on top of the building. Veteran memorials are across the highway from the courthouse. The county is created on March 3, 1911 from Washington County as the 26th county with Council as the only county seat. It was named for President John Adams. The county seat was named for the many Native American councils held here in the town. The county center is 18.9 miles North of Council nearer New Meadows.
Adams County government consists of a sheriff, a prosecuter, a coroner, a clerk, a treasurer, and an assessor (executive). It has 3 Commissioners (legislative.) Six Circuit Court Judges and a Magistrate Court Judge serve Adams, Canyon, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, and Washington counties (judicial.) Adams County is in western Idaho on the border with Oregon. The Snake River forms its western border. The county is surrounded clockwise by Idaho, Valley, Gem, and Washington counties and Oregon.
The area of the county is 1365 square miles. It is 22 out of 44 in the state. It ranks 39 out of 44 in population in the state. It has a density of 3.2 persons per square mile making it 36 out of 44 in the state. Adams County has 31.6% of its population in its incorporated areas. United States Highway 95 crosses the county north to south from Idaho County to Washington County. The county is shaped like a comma. Council is located in the southern third of the county. Council is the county seat and the largest city. It is 19.8% of the county population.
Council
New Meadows
