Founded in 1889, Pocatello is known as the “Gateway to the Northwest.” As pioneers, gold miners and settlers traveled the Oregon Trail , they passed through the Portneuf Gap south of town. Stage and freight lines and the railroad soon followed, turning our community into a trade center and transportation junction.

Pocatello still carries on this tradition with excellent air, rail, and ground transportation at the intersection of I-15 & I-86. We offer access to cutting-edge telecommunications services and are home to many high technology companies.

Recently the Financial Times' fDi Magazine found Pocatello to be one of the top ten Micro Cities of the Future and ranked it 2nd in Best Economic Potential and 5th in Best Quality of Life. We have also been recognized by Forbes.com as a “Best Small Place for Business” six years in a row, as well as ranked one of the top ten small places to move and raise a family according to Primary Relocation and World ERC.

All this plus we are just minutes to a day's drive away from the best recreational opportunities the West has to offer! Outdoor Life magazine recently ranked Pocatello 5th in their second annual survey of the 200 Best Towns for Sportsmen.

For over 100 years, Pocatello has welcomed visitors, tourists, new residents and new businesses, so please make use of our website information to answer any questions you may have about Pocatello, “Gateway to the Northwest.”

In addition, to learn more about Pocatello's rich history and what makes it a unique destination in the Intermountain West, watch the Spirit of Pocatello video to the right produced by the Pocatello Convention & Visitors Bureau.