Mountain Home is the largest city and county seat of Elmore County, Idaho, United States. The population was 15,979 in the 2020 census. Mountain Home is the principal city of the Mountain Home, Idaho Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Elmore County. Mountain Home was originally a post office at Rattlesnake Station, a stagecoach stop on the Overland Stage Line, about seven miles (11 km) east of the city, on present-day US-20 towards Fairfield. With the addition of the Oregon Short Line Railroad in 1883, the post office was moved downhill and west to the city's present site. Mountain Home Air Force Base, an Air Combat Command installation, is located southwest of the city. Opened in 1943 during World War II, the base was originally a bomber training base and later an operational Strategic Air Command bomber and missile base (1953–65). It switched to Tactical Air Command and fighters in January 1966, which was succeeded by Air Combat Command in 1992. Geography Mountain Home is located at (43.136812, -115.694474), at an elevation of above sea level. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water. About to the northwest are the Crater Rings, a National Natural Landmark. Mountain Home experiences a semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk) with short, cold winters and hot, dry summers. Highways - Interstate 84 bypasses the city, running about a mile east; it links with Boise to the northwest and Twin Falls to the southeast. - US 20 splits from I-84 at exit 95, heading eastbound toward Fairfield and over to Idaho Falls in eastern Idaho. - US 26 and US 30 follow Interstate 84 through the city. - SH-51 heads south-southwest towards Bruneau and on to Elko, Nevada, changing to Nevada State Route 225 midway through the Duck Valley Indian Reservation. - SH-67 heads west-southwest toward the air base and on to Grand View via SH-167. Demographics 2020 census At the 2020 census, there were 15,979 people, 6,081 households with 3.01 persons per household and 3,358 families in the city. The population density was . There were 6,597 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 75.0% White, 2.6% African American, 1.2% Native American, 3.0% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 6.6% from other races, and 11.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were