Idaho Falls, city, seat of Bonneville County, southeastern Idaho, at falls on the Snake River; incorporated as a city 1889. It is a commercial, manufacturing, and transportation center situated in an area in which potatoes, livestock, and grain are produced. Major manufactures include processed food, vitamins, toiletries, and building materials. The city also has a large tourist industry and is the site of a technical college. The nearby Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, a U.S. nuclear power research center, is a source of employment. Of interest in Idaho Falls are a Mormon Temple (opened 1945), the Bonneville Museum, a Japanese garden, and the Intermountain Science Experience Center, with exhibits on scientific topics. The community, settled in the 1860s, adopted its present name in 1891. Population 39,590 (1980); 43,929 (1990); 50,730 (2000).
