Idaho County

History

Discovery of gold occurred in succession at Elk City, Newsome, and Florence during the spring and summer of 1861. At the time, all of the settlements were within Shoshone County, Washington Territory. Thousands flocked to Florence. As a result, Idaho County was founded 165 years ago as a region of Washington Territory on December 20, 1861, named for a steamer called Idaho that was launched on the Columbia River in 1860. It was reorganized by the Idaho Territorial Legislature on February 4, 1864. In this context, the Idaho Territory and the State of Idaho are both preceded by the county name.

Settlements at Cottonwood, Mount Idaho, and Warrens were established in 1862. The Warrens settlement was a fractured settlement as a result of settlement there by both Union and Confederate affiliated miners. The Union affiliated miners on the northern edge of the settlement named their portion of the settlement Washington while the Confederate affiliated miners named their portion Richmond. Richmond dwindled by 1866 and Washington went on to become the county seat in 1868 and was the name of the settlement used in most government documents during the period of settlement. Out of all these settlements, only Cottonwood went on to eventually become one of Idaho County's seven incorporated cities.

Idaho Territory conducted a census in 1863 and another in 1864. Population data was returned for both years for Warrens (660/521), Florence (575/254), Elk City (372/219), Slate Creek (216/117), Clearwater Station (212/76), and Newsome (62/24). For 1864, data was also returned for the settlements of Mount Idaho (74), Miller's Camp (36), and Cottonwood (17). Between 1863 and 1864, Idaho County saw a decrease from 1,601 residents to 955.

Settlement at White Bird occurred some time prior to 1870 as a precinct under the same name is listed with 71 inhabitants at the 1870 census. Efforts to force White Bird's band of Nez Perce tribesmen to the Nez Perce Reservation led to the Battle of White Bird Canyon in 1877. The town was established in 1891.

Grangeville emerged as a town at the 1880 census with 129 residents. It was incorporated as a city in 1904. Ferdinand and Kooskia were settled starting in 1895 and along with Cottonwood and Stites, were all incorporated prior to 1920. Development of Riggins started prior to 1930 with Riggins Village being incorporated in 1948.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 8,503 square miles (22,020 km2), of which 8,477 square miles (21,960 km2) is land and 26 square miles (67 km2) (0.3%) is water. It is the largest county by area in Idaho. The southeast portion of the Nez Perce Indian Reservation is in the county's northwest corner. Due to the county's size, it is the only county that touches Oregon and Montana.

National protected areas

There are 4,431,720 acres (17,934.5 km2; 6,924.56 mi2) of National Forest land within the county, more than in any county (or borough) outside of Alaska. National Forests and their acreage within the county are: Nez Perce National Forest 2,224,091; Clearwater National Forest 870,807; Payette National Forest 804,853; Bitterroot National Forest 464,108; Salmon National Forest 66,074; and Wallowa National Forest 1,787. The Nez Perce National Forest is located entirely within the county's borders, and is the largest National Forest lying within a single county.

Time zones

Idaho County is one of the few counties in the United States with two time zones, divided by the Salmon River. Most of the county is in the Pacific Time Zone, but those areas south of the Salmon River are in the Mountain Time Zone.

Transportation

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 16,541. The median age was 51.4 years. 19.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 29.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 110.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 110.4 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 89.6% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 2.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.5% from some other race, and 5.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.7% of the population.

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 7,006 households in the county, of which 22.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 20.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 8,872 housing units, of which 21.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 77.9% were owner-occupied and 22.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.0%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 16,267 people, 6,834 households, and 4,536 families living in the county. The population density was 1.9 inhabitants per square mile (0.73/km2). There were 8,744 housing units at an average density of 1.0 per square mile (0.39/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.8% white, 3.0% American Indian, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.6% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.6% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 39.8% were German, 16.6% were Irish, 15.0% were English, and 3.0% were American.

Of the 6,834 households, 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.6% were non-families, and 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.81. The median age was 48.0 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,536 and the median income for a family was $39,263. Males had a median income of $36,885 versus $25,982 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,980. About 12.7% of families and 19.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.7% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 15,511 people, 6,084 households, and 4,295 families living in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile (0.77 people/km2). There were 7,537 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0.39/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.12% White, 0.08% Black or African American, 2.89% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.91% from other races, and 1.72% from two or more races. 1.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 29.7% were of German, 12.9% American, 11.7% English and 9.0% Irish ancestry.

There were 6,084 households, out of which 29.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.80% were married couples living together, 6.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.40% were non-families. 25.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.00% under the age of 18, 6.30% from 18 to 24, 23.30% from 25 to 44, 28.40% from 45 to 64, and 17.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 103.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,515, and the median income for a family was $33,919. Males had a median income of $28,383 versus $18,214 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,411. About 12.50% of families and 16.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.00% of those under age 18 and 10.00% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Census-designated place

Elk City

Ghost towns

Mount Idaho

Florence

Politics

Idaho County has consistently supported the Republican candidate in national elections. A Democratic candidate has not carried the county since 1964, when Lyndon B. Johnson won in a national landslide. Since then, the last Democratic candidate to crack 40% of the county's vote was Jimmy Carter in 1976. After 1976, the county has voted reliably Republican, with the Republican candidate receiving over 70% of the county's vote since 2000.