Mountain Home, Idaho, has a storied past tied closely to its role as a gateway to the Mountain Home Air Force Base (AFB). Founded in 1883 as a post office stop called Rattlesnake Station along the Oregon Short Line Railroad, the town shifted seven miles west when the railroad arrived, spurring growth. By 1891, it incorporated, flourishing as a ranching and farming hub thanks to the fertile Boise River Valley. The 1940s brought a seismic shift with the construction of Mountain Home AFB, activated in 1943 as a World War II training base for B-24 Liberator crews. Post-war, it briefly idled before reopening in 1948, cementing Mountain Home’s identity as a military town. Today, the base’s presence defines the city’s history, drawing airmen and their families for over 80 years.

Currently, Mountain Home thrives as Elmore County’s largest city, with a population of about 16,000, located 50 miles southeast of Boise along Interstate 84. As home to the Mountain Home AFB, it hosts the 366th Fighter Wing—nicknamed the “Gunfighters”—which operates F-15E Strike Eagles and supports the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s F-15SG detachment. The base employs over 5,000 military and civilian personnel, boosting the local economy alongside agriculture and small businesses like Albertsons and St. Luke’s Elmore Medical Center. The city’s high desert setting, framed by the Danskin and Owyhee Mountains, offers a rugged charm, though traffic on I-84 and limited urban amenities reflect its small-town scale.

Downtown Mountain Home blends history and community spirit along Main Street, where century-old brick buildings house local spots like the Dinky Diner and Mountain Home Arts Council events. The Mountain Home AFB, just 12 miles southwest, shapes the town’s rhythm, with airshows and the base’s influence felt in everyday life. Historic homes from the early 20th century dot the area, some tied to ranching roots, though no formal historic district exists. With 24 parks, including Legacy Park, and outdoor draws like Bruneau Dunes State Park nearby, Mountain Home pairs its military backbone with a quiet, welcoming vibe, enriched by the AFB’s tactical fighter legacy since 1972.