Mountain Home is the largest city and county seat of Elmore County, Idaho. The population was 11,143 at the 2000 census (2007 estimate: 12,236) and the mayor of the city is Tom Rist. Mountain Home is the principal city of the Mountain Home, ID 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 12 miles (19 km) southwest of the city. Opened in 1943 during World War II, MHAFB was originally a bomber training base and later an operational SAC bomber and missile base (1953–65). It switched to TAC and fighters in January 1966; TAC was succeeded by ACC in 1992.