Menan
Pioneer Island Town Beneath the Menan Buttes
Why People Move Here
Menan is a 715-resident Jefferson County city about 25 miles northwest of Idaho Falls, first settled in 1879 as 'Pooles Island' and among the earliest Latter-day Saint agricultural settlements in the Snake River Valley. Its defining landmark is North Menan Butte, a National Natural Landmark just west of town — one of the world's largest tuff cones and the only documented freshwater-formed volcanic eruption site in the continental United States. Commerce is limited, so residents rely on Rigby, Rexburg, and Idaho Falls for grocery, healthcare, and most employment.
Key Statistics
Data sourced from census records, school district reports, and local transit authorities.
Commute Times
School Districts
Jefferson County Joint School District 251 (Rigby)
B#49 of 172 Idaho districts (top 30%) by 2022–23 proficiency testing
- Midway Elementary (in Menan) serves the K–6 local population
- Rigby High School serves the secondary grades — 2,088 students, Niche B-, 88% graduation rate, average ACT 25
- District-wide: ~6,706 students across 14+ schools, student-teacher ratio ~19:1
FAQ — Menan
How far is Menan from Idaho Falls and Rexburg?
Menan is about 25 miles northwest of downtown Idaho Falls (~32 minutes via US-20) and about 15 miles from Rexburg (~22 minutes). Rigby, the Jefferson County seat, is only 8 miles south — roughly a 12-minute drive.
What schools serve Menan?
Menan is in Jefferson County Joint School District 251 (Rigby), not West Jefferson SD 253. Midway Elementary is located in Menan itself; secondary students attend Jefferson 251 schools including Rigby High School (2,088 students, Niche B-, 88% graduation rate, average ACT 25). Verify enrollment eligibility by address.
What is there to do around Menan Buttes?
North Menan Butte is a BLM-managed National Natural Landmark with a 3.1-mile rim loop trail rising 800 feet above the Snake River Plain. It is non-motorized only and carries no day-use fee. The North Menan Butte is one of the largest freshwater-formed volcanic tuff cones in the world.
What is the housing market like in Menan?
Data is thin at this scale. ACS 2024 put the median property value in Menan around $292,700, and Jefferson County typical sale prices currently range from the mid-$300Ks to the low-$400Ks depending on acreage. Buyers should work with a local agent — listings are infrequent.
Does Menan have a grocery store?
No full-service grocery store operates in Menan. Residents drive about 12 minutes to Broulim's Fresh Foods in Rigby, or 22–35 minutes to Albertsons, WinCo, Walmart, and Costco in Rexburg and Idaho Falls.
What is the history of Menan, Idaho?
Menan was settled in April 1879 by John R. Poole and was originally called 'Pooles Island', then 'Cedar Butte', and finally Menan — reported to be an Indigenous word meaning 'island'. It was one of the earliest Latter-day Saint agricultural settlements in the Snake River Valley and was incorporated as a city in 1907. The Long Island Canal, constructed beginning in 1880, brought irrigation water that shaped the area's potato-and-grain farming economy.
Compare Communities
Other communities in North Valley.