The population of the entire county, Shoshone county, remains in the 15-20k range. And it's a lot of retirees.
I think tho, the main employer is scammers & wood cutters. Lol, otherwise known as the underground economy.
Idaho minimum wage remains around $7.50 per hour.
Most "employers" pay in the $10-$15 per hour range. Necessitated by a near non existent work force.
This is a sweet area to retire. It's a tough place for young ppl to earn a living and create a future unless your willing to go underground into the silver mines. Those shafts are 2 or more miles below ground. Temps hover near 100° down that deep- all day, every day. But it is high pay. Hard physical work that leaves most retirees with broken bodies if they stick with it.
Like the oil patch in Alaska. The silver mines mostly hire via the good ol boy network. Gotta know someone, & they vouch for you.
The miners work in small crews. 6-10 guys in a crew. And everybody has to trust each other. One rogue- doing his own thing, leads to mining accidents, often death.
The lucky Friday mine- the richest silver mine in the area, recently( last 5 years) introduced robotic tools. But it's still a case down in those shafts. One idiot making a mistake creates a very dangerous environ. So- outsiders aren't welcomed in to these tight "clans" very often.
Hell, many residents don't much like outsiders even living here.
Elvis & Buster given you a bark out🐶
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