Pocatello is the largest city in Bannock County and is the county seat as well. There is a small part on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in the southeastern portion of Idaho state within neighboring Power County. Within the Pocatello metropolitan area it is the principal city and this area encompasses all of Bannock and Power counties. The population of Pocatello was 54,255 according to the 2010 Census.
Within Idaho State, the city of Pocatello is the 5th largest city in Idaho coming in behind Idaho Falls. On the Forbes list of Best Small Places for Careers and Business, Pocatello was ranked 20th on the list. The city of Pocatello has an elevation of 1360 meters or 4462 above sea level and is served by the Pocatello Regional Airport. It is home to the manufacturing facility of ON Semiconductor and the Idaho State University.
During the gold rush, Pocatello was established as a very important stop on the first railroad in the state. Afterward, the city grew to become an essential hub for agriculture because it is situated along the Portneuf River. Pocatello emerges from the mountains on the Snake River Plain and travels along the route of the Oregon Trail. Pocatello is named to honor Chief Pocatello from the Shoshoni Tribe. He permitted the railroad to travel across the Fort Hall Indian Reservation.
In 1860, gold was discovered within Idaho. This started the first big group of U.S. settlers to the area and caused the Portneuf Valley to become a major conduit for the transportation of goods and freight. Jay Gould of the Union Pacific Railroad obtained and extended the Northern and Utah Railway in the year 1877. This had previously stopped at the Utah border and entered into Idaho State via the Portneuf Canyon. The area was initially called "Pocatello Junction," and was established as an essential stop along this route during the gold rush. The region started to attract ranchers and farmers after the gold rush. The very first residences and first commercial development appeared in Pocatello by 1882.
In the year 1962, the city of Pocatello absorbed neighboring Alameda. After this took Place, it became the biggest city in Idaho State, ahead of Boise for a brief time. Until the late 1990s, Pocatello was the second largest city in the state after the city of Boise. The Treasure Valley then experienced rapid growth of southwestern Idaho placed Nampa and Meridian ahead of Idaho Falls and Pocatello. These are now respectively the 4th and 5th biggest cities within the state of Idaho.