About Victor

Victor Idaho

VISIT VICTOR

Heading over Teton Pass as you leave the hustle and bustle of Jackson, Wyoming attractions, the City of Victor is a traveler’s introduction to the quiet serenity and beautifully scenic and historic Teton Valley, Idaho area. Nestled in amongst the forest and mountain ranges and boasting a population of over 1,800 residents and growing, people are finding that once they visit this charming community, they keep finding reasons to come back and eventually put down roots for themselves and their families.

Established as a township in the late 1800’s, Victor is named for George Victor Sherwood, a postman who devotedly walked the route between Jackson Hole and the south end of Teton Valley to bring residents their mail.

Victor’s history would not be complete without mentioning the ties to the Oregon Short Line Railroad and Union Pacific and its service that linked the city with the rest of the county and state. Rail kept Victor fortified with supplies and provided the opportunity for visits from loved ones; Victor’s stockyards shipped cattle to other areas. Though no longer served by rail, a future commercial development is planned that will incorporate small shops with a community park that will pay homage to the rail history that will be near the historic train depot that still stands today.

This is truly a sports enthusiast’s paradise. Bordered by Teton Springs on the south end and Teton Reserve on the north, a golfer has options to play on two of the finest courses in the Valley. There are hiking and biking trails available for anyone to take a deep breath and look around and see the beauty that Teton Valley surrounds you with. Streams teaming with four different types of trout are available for the anglers in your family. You are only a stone’s throw away from any physical activity imaginable while in Victor.

Victor has five city parks, one on Main Street that is the city’s heartbeat for the 4^th of July craft fair and other festivities; Pioneer Park which is the city’s softball headquarters and three local subdivision tot lots. Pioneer Park includes a covered ice skating rink and is used as an indoor ice hockey.

You can experience food to satisfy all kinds of palates while in Victor. From burgers, steaks, pizza to Mexican and Italian cuisines, we have it here for you. We have a movie theater for you to enjoy family-friendly entertainment. Or for a real taste treat, stop at our local Emporium and try one of the fabulous huckleberry shakes that it’s famous for.

You can stay at one of our area motels, bed and breakfasts as well as a campground within the city’s boundaries that can take care of those who come with RV’s, tents or those looking for a bed upon which to lay their heads.

Please come see us and experience our friendly, home town atmosphere. We know that for once you have visited and the magic of this area envelops you, you will want to call it your home, whether it’s for a limited stay or a lifetime.

CITY OF VICTOR TODAY

Located at the southern end of Teton County in Southern Idaho, the City of Victor is your introduction to Teton Valley, the area known as the “quiet side of the Tetons.” Approximately 67 miles northeast of Idaho Falls, Victor is surrounded on the east, south and west by foothills, forests full of pine, fir and quaking aspens and high mountains that when viewed just outside the city limits takes the breath away of tourists and local residents combined. A person cannot drive in this area without taking a moment and behold the gorgeous portrait that nature has provided.

At present the Victor’s population has risen to 1,216 residents and is continuously growing. People are attracted to the area due to its beauty, sense of small town charm, and proximity to a plethora of outdoor activities that individuals and families have easy access to right out their front doors.

Due to its proximity to the mountains and located 6,207 feet above sea level, Victor averages a staggering 216 days of sunshine a year. Temperatures may vary averaging between 19 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit in winter, low 30’s to upper 40’s in the spring, upper 60’s to mid-80’s (with an occasional over 90 degree temperature) in the summer to lower 50’s to upper 20’s in the fall. The drought has changed the average precipitation amounts over the past few years but a typical year yields from 16.7 inches of rain to 73.7 inches of snowfall. A generous amount of the snowfall occurs in the upper elevations, giving Victor an awesome winter wonderland scene that occasionally rivals a Currier and Ives print.

This is a true sportsmen’s paradise, both for residents and visitors alike. The nearby Targhee National Forest allows outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy backpacking, fishing, mountain biking, and hunting while providing exquisite vistas for those who just want to take a hike to enjoy wildlife and lush scenery. For those who love winter, we are close to a variety of area ski resorts and have groomed cross country ski trails throughout Teton County, starting within the city limits.

State Highway 33 is the main travel route for those coming and going throughout the Valley. Victor has a small business district compared to some cities, but we offer a variety of businesses that gives hungry families a choice of nine different eating establishments, a family-run melodrama playhouse and Dutch oven eatery that has been in business for over 40 years to home decorating shop options, and an embroidery shop, just to name a few. Victor is proud to offer its’ residents and tourists products and services that just ten years ago seemed unlikely to obtain without having to commute a distance to another community to find.

The construction industry continues to be one of the major employment sources for city residents; as the population of Victor expands, the need for adequate housing also grows. There is something available for every price range, whether you want to buy an existing property or build to suit your taste. Being based in both a rural and an expanding tourist attraction area, seasonal jobs in these industries are also plentiful. Other major employers are the school district and positions with county and city governments.

Victor has its own elementary school. Middle and high school students travel to nearby Driggs. Higher education is located nearby with BYU-Idaho in Rexburg, and Idaho State University in Pocatello.

Victor is conveniently located on the drive from the Jackson Hole area, including Grand Teton National Park as well as being a stop along the way to the West Yellowstone Park entrance. From Memorial Day weekend through the winter, the Highway 33 has non-stop traffic; long time residents remember when you would only see an occasional car passing by!

Click here to learn about Victor's Pre-Incorporation Years

Mayor’s Time Capsule Vision

When asked this question, Mayor Don Thompson’s first response was to ask if there was a crystal ball “handy” because thinking about what the city will look like in 2050 is a daunting challenge, given the amount of growth the city is currently experiencing.

The future boundaries of the city limits are expected to exceed the current impact area and surrounding land. The space between the three communities in the valley (Victor, Driggs and Tetonia) is expected to get smaller in actual mileage due to factors like human nature, developed change and the passage of time. Life is lived in the present - but Victor can’t wait for the future to get here! The Mayor, City Council and Planning and Zoning Commission are looking and will continue to look to the future in terms of city layout and the types of planning needed to keep our residents and business owners experiencing continued economic stability and quality of life. There is a historic district near the present downtown that is being planned and hopes of developing a pedestrian friendly walking tour around Victor is nearing fruition. Adequate parking for residents and tourists alike must be taken into consideration as progress grows. The future population may exceed today’s total by as much as 10 times in amount or 12,160.

Because of the proximity to the Jackson Hole area, Victor has their past to gauge our future by, albeit our progress tends to follow theirs by the passage of a couple of decades. Victor does plan on seeing an increase in tourist-related businesses as this area continues to thrive on the outdoor recreation variety that is available to locals as well as out of town guests. It is a hope, rather than an expectation, that small manufacturing businesses with a connection outdoor recreation trade become part of the core businesses that flourish in Victor.

Can Victor expect a WalMart or similar chain store(s) in our future? While not currently seen in the crystal ball, it is not something that can not be dismissed as a possibility.

Our population will continue to grow as more of these tourists passing through make the decision to move their families and relocate their businesses or start a new business in Victor because there was just “something” about it that made them want to make it their home base. Demographics of the county as a whole will change and with this diversity of population it is predicted that there will be a change from conservative views to moderate or even liberal views.

It is the Mayor’s hope that those young people who grow up, go to school and work here will see that it is their responsibility to invest in the future of Victor and that they will decide to stay and support all the local businesses, activities and community events to keep Victor’s current slogan “a town to come home to” one that will continue to have its heartfelt meaning that exists today last through the ages.