Editing Idaho County, Idaho

{{short description|County in Idaho, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Idaho County
 | state                = Idaho
 | ex image             = Tolo-lake-idaho-august-2010-roger-peterson-006 (5623157536).jpg
 | ex image size        = 220px
 | ex image cap         = [[Tolo Lake]]
 | seal                 = Idaho_County_ID_Seal.PNG
 | founded year         = 1861
 | founded date         = December 20
 | seat wl              = Grangeville
 | largest city wl      = Grangeville
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 8503
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 8477
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 26
 | area percentage      = 0.3
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 16541
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | population_est       = 17912 {{increase}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | time zone            = Pacific
 | tz note              = North of Salmon River
 | time zone 2          = Mountain
 | tz note 2            = South of Salmon River
 | district             = 1st
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = idahocounty.org
 | named for            = [[Idaho (sidewheeler)|Idaho]] }}

'''Idaho County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Idaho]], and the largest by area in the state. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 16,541. The [[county seat]] is [[Grangeville, Idaho|Grangeville]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref> Previous county seats of the area were [[Florence, Idaho|Florence]] (1864–68), Washington (1868–75), and [[Mount Idaho, Idaho|Mount Idaho]] (1875–1902).<ref>{{cite web|title=SITE REPORT - WARRENS|url=https://history.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/reference-series/0197.pdf|publisher=Idaho State Historical Society|access-date=February 19, 2017|archive-date=February 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170209031218/https://history.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/reference-series/0197.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==History==
Discovery of gold occurred in succession at Elk City, Newsome, and Florence during the spring and summer of 1861.<ref name=lofgold>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=e7peAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qTAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4424%2C161512 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |last=Adams |first=Ann |title=Lure of gold built Idaho County |date=February 1, 1962 |page=3, section 2}}</ref> At the time, all of the settlements were within [[Shoshone County, Idaho|Shoshone County]], [[Washington Territory]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Mining in Idaho. Number 9. 1985.|url=https://history.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/reference-series/0009.pdf|publisher=Idaho State Historical Society|access-date=February 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180520142028/https://history.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/reference-series/0009.pdf|archive-date=May 20, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>  Thousands flocked to Florence. As a result, Idaho County was founded {{Years or months ago|1861}} as a region of Washington Territory on December 20, 1861,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Elliott |first=W.W. |title=History Of Idaho Territory, Showing Its Resources And Advantages |publisher=Wallace W. Elliot & Co. |year=1884 |pages=240}}</ref> named for a steamer called ''Idaho'' that was launched on the [[Columbia River]] in 1860. It was reorganized by the [[Idaho Territory|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, Idaho|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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Idaho State Historical Society Reference Series: SITE REPORT - WARRENS|url=https://history.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/reference-series/0197.pdf|publisher=Idaho State Historical Society|access-date=February 20, 2017|archive-date=February 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170209031218/https://history.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/reference-series/0197.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Historic Mount Idaho|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=za9fAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zzIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1966,3929135|publisher=Lewiston Morning Tribune|access-date=February 20, 2017}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Idaho State Historical Society Reference Series: Census of 1863|url=https://history.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/reference-series/0129.pdf|publisher=Idaho State Historical Society|access-date=February 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228041012/https://history.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/reference-series/0129.pdf|archive-date=December 28, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Idaho State Historical Society Reference Series: Census of 1864|url=https://history.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/reference-series/0130.pdf|publisher=Idaho State Historical Society|access-date=February 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170209035510/https://history.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/reference-series/0130.pdf|archive-date=February 9, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Settlement at [[White Bird, Idaho|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.<ref name=lofgold/> The town was established in 1891.<ref>{{cite book|title=Ninth Census-Volume I|date=1872|publisher=Government Printing Office|location=Washington|page=107|url=http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1870a-01.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051108174045/http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1870a-01.pdf |archive-date=November 8, 2005 |url-status=live|access-date=February 20, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Indians and Whites in the Nez Perce Country|url=https://history.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/reference-series/0089.pdf|publisher=Idaho State Historical Society|access-date=February 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204212107/https://history.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/reference-series/0089.pdf|archive-date=February 4, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Grangeville emerged as a town at the 1880 census with 129 residents.<ref>{{cite book|title=Statistics of the Population of the United States at the Tenth Census|date=1882|publisher=Government Printing Office|location=Washington|page=130|url=http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1880a_v1-01.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050413081350/http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1880a_v1-01.pdf |archive-date=April 13, 2005 |url-status=live}}</ref> It was incorporated as a city in 1904.<ref>{{cite book|title=Twelfth Census of the United States, Taken in the Year 1910|date=1913|publisher=Government Printing Office|location=Washington|page=112|url=http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/36894832v2.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912170833/http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/36894832v2.pdf |archive-date=September 12, 2015 |url-status=live|access-date=February 20, 2017}}</ref>  Ferdinand and Kooskia were settled starting in 1895 and along with Cottonwood and Stites, were all incorporated prior to 1920.<ref>{{cite book|title=Fourteenth Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1920|date=1921|publisher=Government Printing Office|location=Washington|page=391|url=http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/41084484v1.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100810065118/http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/41084484v1.pdf |archive-date=August 10, 2010 |url-status=live|access-date=February 20, 2017}}</ref>  Development of Riggins started prior to 1930 with Riggins Village being incorporated in 1948.<ref>{{cite book|title=A Report of the Seventeenth Decennial Census of the United States|date=1952|publisher=United States Government Printing Office|location=Washington|pages=12–16|url=http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/23761117v1.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912173656/http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/23761117v1.pdf |archive-date=September 12, 2015 |url-status=live|access-date=February 20, 2017}}</ref>

Idaho County's boundaries have changed more times than any other Idaho's county with changes occurring on 20 separate dates over the county's first 57 years. The majority of those changes were from boundary realignment with only three counties taking territory from Idaho County at their creation. Originating at 75,789 square miles, its original boundary under Washington Territory contained the southern portion of Idaho County, Idaho's 34 southern counties, part of Ravalli County, Montana, and parts of Fremont, Lincoln, Park, Sublette, and Teton counties in Wyoming. Boise was partitioned off in January 1863 with the Payette River being the primary dividing line. In 1864, two separate acts transferred the portion in Montana to Missoula County, established the southern boundary at 44° 30' latitude, and made slight adjustments in the northern boundary to define the county as one of Idaho Territory's seven original counties. Three boundary adjustments were made with Nez Perce and Ada between 1866 and 1867 and Lemhi was created in 1869 from territory east of the junction of the Middle Fork and main Salmon Rivers. In 1873, the southern border was moved north to the divide between the main Salmon River with the Payette River and Middle Fork of Salmon River, bringing the county to its smallest historical land area of 2,901 square miles. The boundary adjustment of 1875 created a county very similar to present Idaho County containing an area of 8,165 square miles. Between 1879 and 1885, one change added territory on the Camas Prairie from Nez Perce while another brought back territory in present-day Adams, Valley, Custer, and Lemhi counties in the south. In 1887, territory was exchanged with Boise County dividing present Valley County between the two counties. One change in 1889 transferred territory to Custer County while another change finalized the county's northern border at its present location. The southern border began to take shape after two changes in 1891 and 1895 exchanged territory between Washington and Idaho counties. Adjustments with Lemhi in 1903 and 1911 and the creation of Valley County in 1918 brought the county to its present boundary.<ref>{{cite book|title=Idaho Atlas of Historical County Boundaries|date=2010|publisher=The Newberry Library|location=Chicago|pages=95–114|url=http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/downloads/states.html|access-date=February 20, 2017|archive-date=June 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619133351/http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/downloads/states.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Idaho County is one of seven counties in the United States that has the same name as the state in which it lies. The other six are [[Arkansas County, Arkansas|Arkansas]], [[Hawaii County, Hawaii|Hawaii]], [[Iowa County, Iowa|Iowa]], [[Manhattan|New York]], [[Oklahoma County, Oklahoma|Oklahoma]], and [[Utah County, Utah|Utah]].<ref>{{cite book|author1=Joseph Nathan Kane|author2=Charles Curry Aiken|title=The American Counties: Origins of County Names, Dates of Creation, and Population Data, 1950–2000|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yC9vFvCuW84C|year=2005|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=978-0-8108-5036-1}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|8503|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|8477|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|26|sqmi}} (0.3%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> It is the largest county by area in Idaho. The southeast portion of the [[Nez Perce people#Nez Perce Indian Reservation|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.

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col}}
*[[Clearwater County, Idaho|Clearwater County]] – north
*[[Missoula County, Montana]] – northeast
*[[Ravalli County, Montana]] – east
*[[Lemhi County, Idaho|Lemhi County]] – southeast
*[[Valley County, Idaho|Valley County]] – south
*[[Adams County, Idaho|Adams County]] – southwest
*[[Wallowa County, Oregon]] – west
*[[Nez Perce County, Idaho|Nez Perce County]] – northwest
*[[Lewis County, Idaho|Lewis County]] – northwest
{{div col end}}

===National protected areas===
{{div col}}
* [[Bitterroot National Forest]] – (part)
* [[Clearwater National Forest]] – (part)
* [[Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness]] – (part)
* [[Gospel Hump Wilderness]]
* [[Hells Canyon National Recreation Area]] – (part)
* [[Hells Canyon Wilderness (Oregon and Idaho)|Hells Canyon Wilderness]] – (part)
* [[Nez Perce National Forest]]
* [[Nez Perce National Historical Park]] – (part)
* [[Payette National Forest]] – (part)
* [[Salmon-Challis National Forest]] – (part)
* [[Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness]] – (part)
* [[Wallowa–Whitman National Forest]] – (part)
{{div col end}}

There are {{convert|4,431,720|acre|km2 mi2|lk=in}} 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.<ref>[http://www.fs.fed.us/land/staff/lar/2008/TABLE_6.htm Table 6&nbsp;– NFS Acreage by State, Congressional District, and County, September 30, 2008]</ref>

===Time zones===
{{Further|Time in Idaho}}
Idaho County is one of the few counties in the United States with two time zones, divided by the [[Salmon River (Idaho)|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==

===Major highways===
{{col-begin}}{{col-break}}
*[[Image:US 12.svg|20px]]&nbsp;– [[U.S. Route 12 in Idaho|US 12]]
*[[Image:US 95.svg|20px]]&nbsp;– [[U.S. Route 95 in Idaho|US 95]]
{{col-break|gap=3em}}
*{{jct|state=ID|SH|13}} 
*{{jct|state=ID|SH|14}} 
{{col-break|gap=3em}}
*{{jct|state=ID|SH|62}}
*{{jct|state=ID|SH|64}}
{{col-end}}

===Airports===
{{div col}}
* [[Chamberlain USFS Airport]] (U79) – [[Chamberlain Guard Station]]
* [[Cold Meadows USFS Airport]] (U81) – [[Cold Meadows Guard Station]]
* [[Cottonwood Municipal Airport]] (S84) – [[Cottonwood, Idaho|Cottonwood]]
* [[Dixie USFS Airport]] (A05) – [[Dixie, Idaho County, Idaho|Dixie]]
* [[Wilson Bar USFS Airport]] (C48) – Dixie
* [[Elk City Airport]] (S90) – [[Elk City, Idaho|Elk City]]
* [[Fish Lake USFS Airport]] (S92) – [[Fish Lake, Idaho|Fish Lake]]
* [[Idaho County Airport]] (S80) – [[Grangeville, Idaho|Grangeville]]
* [[Kamiah Municipal Airport]] (S73) – [[Kamiah, Idaho|Kamiah]]
* [[Kooskia Municipal Airport]] (S82) – [[Kooskia, Idaho|Kooskia]]
* [[Moose Creek USFS Airport]] (1U1) – [[Moose Creek Ranger Station]]
* [[Orogrande Airport]] (USFS) (75C) – [[Orogrande, Idaho|Orogrande]]
* [[Shearer USFS Airport]] (2U5) – [[Shearer, Idaho|Shearer]]
* [[Slate Creek Airport]] (1S7) – [[Slate Creek, Idaho|Slate Creek]]
* [[Warren USFS Airport]] (3U1) – [[Warren, Idaho|Warren]]
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 849
|1880= 2031
|1890= 2955
|1900= 9121
|1910= 12384
|1920= 11759
|1930= 10107
|1940= 12691
|1950= 11423
|1960= 13542
|1970= 12891
|1980= 14769
|1990= 13783
|2000= 15511
|2010= 16267
|2020= 16541
|estyear=2024
|estimate=17912
|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|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 30, 2014}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=June 30, 2014}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/id190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 30, 2014}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |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 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 30, 2014}}</ref> 2010–2020<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/16/16049.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 30, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629024455/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/16/16049.html|archive-date=June 29, 2011}}</ref>
}}

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 15,511 people, 6,084 households, and 4,295 families living in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 7,537 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 94.12% [[Race (United States Census)|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 [[Germans|German]], 12.9% [[United States|American]], 11.7% [[English people|English]] and 9.0% [[Irish people|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 [[Marriage|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.

===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.<ref name="census-dp1">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US16049
  |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data
  |access-date=January 9, 2016
|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213032548/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US16049
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The population density was {{convert|1.9|PD/sqmi}}. There were 8,744 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1.0|/sqmi}}.<ref name="census-density">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US16049
  |access-date=January 9, 2016
|title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213183042/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US16049
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref> 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.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, 39.8% were [[Germans|German]], 16.6% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 15.0% were [[English people|English]], and 3.0% were [[Americans|American]].<ref name="census-dp2">{{cite web 
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US16049
  |title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=January 9, 2016
|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213012424/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US16049
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

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.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

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.<ref name="census-dp3">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US16049
  |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=January 9, 2016
|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213010823/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US16049
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

==Communities==

===Cities===
{{col-begin}}{{col-break}}
*[[Cottonwood, Idaho|Cottonwood]]
*[[Ferdinand, Idaho|Ferdinand]]
*[[Grangeville, Idaho|Grangeville]] (County seat)
*[[Kooskia, Idaho|Kooskia]]
*[[Riggins, Idaho|Riggins]] 
*[[Stites, Idaho|Stites]]
*[[White Bird, Idaho|White Bird]]
{{col-end}}

===Census-designated place===
* [[Elk City, Idaho|Elk City]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{col-begin}}{{col-break}}
* [[Burgdorf, Idaho|Burgdorf]]
* [[Clearwater, Idaho|Clearwater]]
* [[Dixie, Idaho County, Idaho|Dixie]]
* [[Fenn, Idaho|Fenn]]
* [[Golden, Idaho|Golden]]
* [[Greencreek, Idaho|Greencreek]]
* [[Harpster, Idaho|Harpster]]
* [[Lowell, Idaho|Lowell]]
* [[Lucile, Idaho|Lucile]]
* [[Orogrande, Idaho|Orogrande]]
* [[Pollock, Idaho|Pollock]]
* [[Syringa, Idaho|Syringa]]
* [[Warren, Idaho|Warren]]
{{col-end}}

===Ghost towns===
* [[Mount Idaho, Idaho|Mount Idaho]]
* [[Florence, Idaho|Florence]]

== Politics ==
{{PresHead|place=Idaho County, Idaho|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=April 4, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|8,148|1,460|259|Idaho}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|7,826|1,561|223|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|6,441|1,196|596|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|5,921|1,708|211|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|5,895|2,017|300|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|6,017|1,689|264|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|5,806|1,187|459|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|3,871|1,979|1,248|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|2,709|1,974|2,051|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|3,541|2,198|132|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|4,219|1,996|134|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|4,425|2,078|570|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|3,185|2,323|184|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|3,235|1,622|344|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|2,317|1,883|714|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,990|3,188|0|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|2,248|3,256|0|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|2,703|2,546|0|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|3,054|2,269|7|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|1,790|2,300|128|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|1,977|2,071|15|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|2,641|2,888|16|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,535|3,104|290|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,079|3,005|102|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|2,099|1,676|37|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1924|Progressive|1,363|779|1,429|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|2,386|1,128|0|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,892|2,265|395|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|989|1,679|1,616|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|2,126|1,833|489|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|2,731|1,381|356|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|1,527|1,884|0|Idaho}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|377|1,127|7|Idaho}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Populist|386|0|453|Idaho}}

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

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

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
* John M. Henderson and William S. Shiach, with Harry B. Averill, [https://archive.org/details/illustratedhisto00slwerich ''An Illustrated History of North Idaho: Embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone Counties, State of Idaho.''] n.c. [Chicago]: Western Historical Publishing Co., 1903.

==External links==
{{commonscat|Idaho County, Idaho}}
{{AmCyc Poster|Idaho (county)|Idaho County, Idaho}}
*{{official website|http://www.idahocounty.org/}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20121008112515/http://idaho.gov/aboutidaho/county/idaho.html State of Idaho official site] – Idaho County

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Idaho County, Idaho
|North     = [[Clearwater County, Idaho|Clearwater County]]
|Northeast = [[Missoula County, Montana]]
|East      = [[Ravalli County, Montana]]
|Southeast = [[Lemhi County, Idaho|Lemhi County]]
|South     = [[Valley County, Idaho|Valley County]]
|Southwest = [[Adams County, Idaho|Adams County]]
|West      = [[Wallowa County, Oregon]]
|Northwest = [[Nez Perce County, Idaho|Nez Perce County]] and [[Lewis County, Idaho|Lewis County]]
}} 
{{Idaho County, Idaho}}
{{Idaho}}
{{Authority control}}
{{coord|45.85|-115.46|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-ID_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Idaho County, Idaho| ]]
[[Category:Idaho counties]]
[[Category:1864 establishments in Idaho Territory]]
[[Category:Counties in multiple time zones]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1864]]