Editing Clearwater County, Idaho

{{short description|County in Idaho, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Clearwater County
 | state                = Idaho
 | seal                 = Clearwater County, Idaho seal.png
 | ex image             = Weippe3 cropped.jpg
 | ex image cap         = [[Weippe Prairie]]
 | founded year         = 1911
 | founded date         = February 27
 | seat wl              = Orofino
 | largest city wl      = Orofino
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 2488
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 2457
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 31
 | area percentage      = 1.2
 | census yr            = 2020
 | population_total     = 8734
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | population_est       = 9151 {{increase}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | time zone            = Pacific
 | district             = 1st
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = www.clearwatercounty.org
 | named for            = [[Clearwater River (Idaho)|Clearwater River]] }}

'''Clearwater County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Idaho]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 8,734.<ref name="2020 Census" /> The [[county seat]] is [[Orofino, Idaho|Orofino]].<ref name="GR6">{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> Established in 1911, the county was named after the [[Clearwater River (Idaho)|Clearwater River]]. The county is home to [[North Fork Clearwater River|North Fork]] of the Clearwater River, and a small portion of the South Fork and the main Clearwater. Also in the county are the Dworshak Reservoir, [[Dworshak State Park]], [[Dworshak National Fish Hatchery]], and the [[Dworshak Dam]], third highest in the [[United States|U.S.]] The modest [[Bald Mountain Ski Area|Bald Mountain ski area]] is located between [[Orofino, Idaho|Orofino]] and [[Pierce, Idaho|Pierce]].

==History==
The Clearwater River and [[Lolo Pass (Idaho)|Lolo Pass]], in the southeast corner of the county, were made famous by the exploration of [[Lewis and Clark]] in the early 19th century. Following an arduous trek through the Bitterroot Mountains, suffering through a mid-September snowstorm and near starvation, the [[Corps of Discovery]] expedition camped with the [[Nez Perce tribe]] on the [[Weippe Prairie]] outside of present-day [[Weippe, Idaho|Weippe]] in 1805. With the assistance of the Nez Perce, the expedition recuperated and constructed burned-out canoes at Canoe Camp in October 1805 and then paddled down the Clearwater, [[Snake River|Snake]], and [[Columbia River|Columbia]] rivers and met the [[Pacific Ocean]] a month later at present-day [[Astoria, Oregon|Astoria]], [[Oregon]].

Elias D. Pierce and Wilbur F. Bassett made the first discovery of [[gold]] in Idaho, on Orofino Creek (Canal Gulch) in 1860, {{convert|1|mi|km|0}} north of present-day [[Pierce, Idaho|Pierce]].

Until 1904, Clearwater County was part of [[Shoshone County, Idaho|Shoshone County]] to the north. It was annexed by [[Nez Perce County, Idaho|Nez Perce County]] for several years and then was established as a new county in 1911.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Clearwater County, Idaho{{!}}History |url=http://www.clearwatercounty.org/visitors/history/index.html |access-date=April 4, 2018 |website=www.clearwatercounty.org |language=en}}</ref> The original county seat of Shoshone County was [[Pierce, Idaho|Pierce]], in today's Clearwater County. It was the first gold rush area of present-day Idaho (then [[Washington Territory]]) in 1860 and was made the county seat of a vast Shoshone County in 1861, two years prior to the establishment of the Idaho Territory. When the [[Silver Valley, Idaho|Silver Valley]] population rose dramatically in the 1880s, the seat was moved to [[Murray, Idaho|Murray]] in 1884 (and to [[Wallace, Idaho|Wallace]] in 1898) to better serve the majority of the county's population. The population of the southern area increased with homesteading in the [[Weippe, Idaho|Weippe]] area in the late 1890s. The vast distance and time required for travel to Wallace from the [[Clearwater River (Idaho)|Clearwater River]] area prompted the move of the southern portion to Nez Perce County.

==Geography==
[[File:02 17 07 elk creek.jpg|thumb|Elk Creek Falls]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|2488|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|2457|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|31|sqmi}} (1.2%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{Cite web |date=February 12, 2011 |title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html |access-date=April 23, 2011 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> It is part of the [[Palouse]], a wide and rolling prairie-like region of the middle [[Columbia River|Columbia basin]].

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Shoshone County, Idaho|Shoshone County]] – north
* [[Mineral County, Montana|Mineral County]], [[Montana]] – northeast/Mountain Time Border
* [[Missoula County, Montana|Missoula County]], [[Montana]]– east/Mountain Time Border
* [[Idaho County, Idaho|Idaho County]] – south
* [[Lewis County, Idaho|Lewis County]] – southwest
* [[Nez Perce County, Idaho|Nez Perce County]] – southwest
* [[Latah County, Idaho|Latah County]] – west

===Major highways===
*[[Image:US 12.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 12 in Idaho|US-12]]
*[[Image:ID-7.svg|20px]] [[Idaho State Highway 7|SH-7]]
*[[Image:ID-8.svg|20px]] [[Idaho State Highway 8|SH-8]]
*[[Image:ID-11.svg|20px]] [[Idaho State Highway 11|SH-11]]

===National protected areas===
* [[Clearwater National Forest]] (part)
**[[Mallard-Larkins Pioneer Area]]
**[[Lolo Trail National Historic Landmark]] (part)
* [[Nez Perce National Historical Park]] (part)
**[[Canoe Camp]]
**[[Musselshell Meadow]]
**[[Pierce Courthouse]]
**[[Weippe Prairie]]
* [[St. Joe National Forest]] (part)

===Ski area===
* [[Bald Mountain Ski Area]]

==Government and infrastructure==
The [[Idaho Department of Correction]] operates the Idaho Correctional Institution-Orofino in [[Orofino, Idaho|Orofino]].<ref name="IDOCFac">"[http://www.idoc.idaho.gov/content/locations Locations]." Idaho Department of Correction. Retrieved on June 4, 2011. "Idaho Correctional Institution-Orofino (ICIO) 381 West Hospital Drive Orofino ID 83544 "</ref><ref>"[http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=16000US1659320&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on Orofino city, Idaho] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124102733/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=16000US1659320&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on |date=November 24, 2011}}." [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]]. Retrieved on June 4, 2011.</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1920= 4993
|1930= 6599
|1940= 8243
|1950= 8217
|1960= 8548
|1970= 10871
|1980= 10390
|1990= 8505
|2000= 8930
|2010= 8761
|2020= 8734
|estyear=2024
|estimate=9151
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2024">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 17, 2025}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=June 28, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/ |archive-date=August 11, 2012 |access-date=June 28, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/id190090.txt |access-date=June 28, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |access-date=June 28, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 2010–2020<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/16/16035.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717015649/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/16/16035.html |archive-date=July 17, 2011 |access-date=June 28, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 2020<ref name="2020 Census">{{Cite web |title=2020 Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US16035 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
}}

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census website |url=https://www.census.gov |access-date=January 31, 2008 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> of 2000, there were 8,930 people, 3,456 households, and 2,481 families living in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|3.6|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 4,144 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 94.82% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.15% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 2.03% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.37% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.06% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.63% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.96% from two or more races. 1.85% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 24.0% were of [[Germans|German]], 14.0% [[English people|English]], 11.7% [[Irish people|Irish]] and 10.5% [[United States|American]] ancestry.

There were 3,456 households, out of which 28.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.50% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.20% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.00% under the age of 18, 5.90% from 18 to 24, 26.30% from 25 to 44, 29.20% from 45 to 64, and 15.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 113.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was [[United States dollar|$]]32,071, and the median income for a family was $37,259. Males had a median income of $31,426 versus $21,694 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $15,463. About 9.70% of families and 13.50% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 18.90% of those under age 18 and 8.20% of those age 65 or over.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States Census]], there were 8,761 people, 3,660 households, and 2,397 families living in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{Cite web |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US16035 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213025553/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US16035 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=January 9, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> The population density was {{convert|3.6|PD/sqmi}}. There were 4,453 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1.8|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}.<ref name="census-density">{{Cite web |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US16035 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213234105/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US16035 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=January 9, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 93.9% white, 2.2% American Indian, 0.7% Asian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.8% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.1% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1" /> In terms of ancestry, 29.3% were [[Germans|German]], 17.8% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 13.8% were [[English people|English]], 6.7% were [[Americans|American]], and 6.2% were [[Norwegians|Norwegian]].<ref name="census-dp2">{{Cite web |title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US16035 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213022231/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US16035 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=January 9, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

Of the 3,660 households, 22.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.5% were non-families, and 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.71. The median age was 49.0 years.<ref name="census-dp1" />

The median income for a household in the county was $41,835 and the median income for a family was $46,415. Males had a median income of $42,568 versus $30,048 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,507. About 9.0% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 14.7% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{Cite web |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US16035 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213013109/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US16035 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=January 9, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

As of the 2020 census, there were 8,734 people, and 3,474 households in the county.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=April 2023 |title=Census Quick facts Clearwater county |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/clearwatercountyidaho/PST045222}}</ref> The population density of the county was 3.6 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 93% [[White Americans|White]], 0.6% Black or [[African Americans|African American]], 2.6% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.8% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0.3% [[Pacific Islander]], and 2.6% from two or more races.<ref name=":0" /> Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.5% of the population.

==Communities==

===Cities===
*[[Elk River, Idaho|Elk River]]
*[[Orofino, Idaho|Orofino]]
*[[Pierce, Idaho|Pierce]]
*[[Weippe, Idaho|Weippe]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Ahsahka, Idaho|Ahsahka]]
*[[Cardiff, Idaho|Cardiff]]
*[[Cavendish, Idaho|Cavendish]]
*[[Dent, Idaho|Dent]]
*[[Grangemont, Idaho|Grangemont]]
*[[Greer, Idaho|Greer]]
*[[Headquarters, Idaho|Headquarters]]
*[[Hollywood, Idaho|Hollywood]]
*[[Judge Town, Idaho|Judge Town]]
*[[Konkolville, Idaho|Konkolville]]
*[[Moose City, Idaho|Moose City]]
*[[Teakean, Idaho|Teakean]]
{{div col end}}

===Ghost town===
*[[Fraser, Idaho|Fraser]]

===Population ranking===
The population ranking of the following table is based on the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]] of Clearwater County.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Decennial Census, 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/data/datasets.All.html}}</ref>

'''†''' ''county seat''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Rank!!City/Town/etc.!!Municipal type!!Population (2010 Census)
|-style=background-color:#FFFACD
|1||'''†''' '''[[Orofino, Idaho|Orofino]]'''||City||3,142
|-style=background-color:#FFFACD
|2||'''[[Pierce, Idaho|Pierce]]'''||City||508
|-style=background-color:#FFFACD
|3||'''[[Weippe, Idaho|Weippe]]'''||City||441
|-style=background-color:#FFFACD
|4||'''[[Elk River, Idaho|Elk River]]'''||City||125
|}

==Politics==
{{PresHead|place=Clearwater County, Idaho|source1=<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |access-date=April 4, 2018 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>|source2=<ref>The leading "other" candidate, [[Progressive Party (United States, 1912)|Progressive]] [[Theodore Roosevelt]], received 345 votes while Socialist candidate [[Eugene Debs]] received 284 votes and [[Prohibition Party|Prohibition]] candidate [[Eugene Chafin]] 22 votes.</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|3,550|774|96|Idaho}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|3,453|877|89|Idaho}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|2,852|704|245|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|2,541|1,032|123|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|2,569|1,211|126|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|2,839|1,117|78|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|2,885|841|170|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|1,658|1,507|718|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|1,152|1,433|1,147|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|1,659|1,861|97|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|2,176|1,608|64|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|2,178|1,699|437|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,469|1,752|117|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,590|1,412|136|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|1,287|1,838|343|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|767|2,446|0|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|1,193|2,407|0|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|1,508|2,024|0|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|1,494|1,826|7|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|820|1,571|158|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|865|1,744|17|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|1,128|2,284|17|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|812|1,959|155|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|822|1,699|32|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,195|852|27|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|946|725|322|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|947|482|1|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|839|678|254|Idaho}} 
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|373|549|651|Idaho}}

==See also==
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Clearwater County, Idaho]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official website|http://www.clearwatercounty.org/}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121008112807/http://idaho.gov/aboutidaho/county/clearwater.html State of Idaho] – Clearwater County
* [http://www.clearwatermuseum.org/ Clearwater Museum] – official site

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Clearwater County, Idaho
|North     = [[Shoshone County, Idaho|Shoshone County]]
|Northeast = 
|East      = [[Missoula County, Montana]] and [[Mineral County, Montana]]
|Southeast = 
|South     = [[Idaho County, Idaho|Idaho County]]
|Southwest = [[Lewis County, Idaho|Lewis County]]
|West      = [[Latah County, Idaho|Latah County]] and [[Nez Perce County, Idaho|Nez Perce County]]
|Northwest = 
}} 
{{Clearwater County, Idaho}}
{{Idaho}}
{{Authority control}}
{{coord|46.67|-115.66|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-ID_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Clearwater County, Idaho| ]]
[[Category:Idaho counties]]
[[Category:1911 establishments in Idaho]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1911]]