Editing Lemhi County, Idaho

{{short description|County in Idaho, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Lemhi County
 | state                = Idaho
 | seal                 = Lemhi County, Idaho seal.png
 | founded year         = 1869
 | founded date         = January 9
 | seat wl              = Salmon
 | largest city wl      = Salmon
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 4569
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 4563
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 5.4
 | area percentage      = 0.1
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 7974
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | population_est       = 8397 {{increase}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | time zone            = Mountain
 | district             = 2nd
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = www.lemhicountyidaho.org
 | named for            = Fort Lemhi
 | ex image             = Lemhi County Courthouse 1.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Lemhi County Courthouse in Salmon }}

'''Lemhi 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 7,974.<ref name="2020 Census" /> The largest city and [[county seat]] is [[Salmon, Idaho|Salmon]].<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}}</ref> The county was established in 1869 and named after [[Fort Lemhi]] (or Limhi), a remote [[Mormons|Mormon]] missionary settlement from 1855 to 1858 in [[Bannock (tribe)|Bannock]] and [[Shoshone]] territory.<ref>"Idaho for the Curious", by Cort Conley, ©1982, {{ISBN|0-9603566-3-0}}, p.214-216</ref>

==Traffic signals==
*Main (Hwy 28) and Challis (Hwy 93), [[Salmon, Idaho|Salmon]]
*Main (Hwy 93) and Church, Salmon

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|4569|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|4563|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|5.4|sqmi}} (0.1%) 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 fourth-largest county in Idaho by area. The highest point is [[Bell Mountain (Lemhi Range)|Bell Mountain]] at {{convert|11612|ft|m|abbr=on}} [[AMSL|above sea level]], and the lowest point is the [[Salmon River (Idaho)|Salmon River]] as it exits on the county's western border with [[Idaho County, Idaho|Idaho County]] at approximately {{convert|3000|ft|m|-1}}. The river cuts through the center of Lemhi County before turning west. The county's eastern border with [[Beaverhead County, Montana]], is the [[Continental Divide of the Americas|Continental Divide]].

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Idaho County, Idaho]] – northwest/[[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific Time]] border
*[[Ravalli County, Montana|Ravalli County]], [[Montana]] – north
*[[Beaverhead County, Montana|Beaverhead County]], [[Montana]] – northeast
*[[Clark County, Idaho]] – east
*[[Butte County, Idaho]] – south
*[[Custer County, Idaho]] – southwest
*[[Valley County, Idaho]] – west

===National protected areas===
* [[Challis National Forest]] (part)
* [[Salmon National Forest]] (part)
* [[Targhee National Forest]] (part)
* [[Frank Church—River of No Return Wilderness]] (part)

==History==
===Native settlement===
Habitation of the [[Lemhi River|Lemhi]] and Salmon Rivers dates back 14,000 years ago. Early natives were spear hunters of big game. The Salmon River was the dividing point among the first cultural split which occurred after 5,000&nbsp;BC. The Lemhi band of Shoshoni developed culturally in similar fashion to other Shoshoni tribes located south of and east of the Salmon River.<ref>{{cite web|title=Idaho State Historical Society Reference Series: IDAHO PREHISTORIC CULTURE AREAS|url=https://history.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/reference-series/0249.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503183740/http://www.history.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/reference-series/0249.pdf |archive-date=May 3, 2012 |url-status=live|publisher=Idaho State Historical Society|access-date=February 24, 2017}}</ref> The Lemhi band of Shoshoni gained early access to horses and had developed into a migratory culture. They were also known as "Salmon Eaters". Their migratory pattern consisted of fishing for salmon in the Lemhi Valley in the summer, digging [[Camassia|camas]] on Camas Creek in the spring, and hunting buffalo in the [[Three Forks, Montana|Three Forks]] area of the [[Missouri River]]. They were also known to travel to trade with other tribes. The Lemhi band was forced to a reservation on February 12, 1875, even though the tribe failed to ratify the treaty creating it in 1868. The reservation was disbanded in 1907 and the tribe sent to [[Fort Hall]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Idaho State Historical Society Reference Series: SHOSHONI AND NORTHERN PAIUTE INDIANS IN IDAHO|url=https://history.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/reference-series/0484.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503183611/http://www.history.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/reference-series/0484.pdf |archive-date=May 3, 2012 |url-status=live|publisher=Idaho State Historical Society Reference Series|access-date=February 24, 2017}}</ref>

===Exploration and early settlement===
The [[Lewis and Clark Expedition]] entered Idaho on August 12, 1805, at Lemhi Pass in present-day Lemhi County. [[Meriwether Lewis]] and three other members of the expedition were the first Americans of European descent to enter what is now Idaho. For [[Sacagawea|Sacajawea]], their guide and interpreter, the Lemhi Valley was her birthplace and her brother was the Chief of the Lemhi band. Clark went out to scout the expedition's route. Within a month, travel down the Salmon and Snake Rivers was ruled out and the expedition headed for [[Lolo Pass (Idaho–Montana)|Lolo Pass]] on the Bitterroot Range.<ref>{{cite web|title=Idaho State Historical Society Reference Series: The Lewis and Clark Trail Across Idaho|url=https://history.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/reference-series/0049.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503181228/http://www.history.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/reference-series/0049.pdf |archive-date=May 3, 2012 |url-status=live|access-date=February 24, 2017}}</ref> Michael Bourdon of the [[Hudson's Bay Company]] established the Lemhi Valley as a base of trapping operations in 1822. The region would support trapping operations for about 20 years. [[Finnan McDonald]], [[Alexander Ross (fur trader)|Alexander Ross]], [[David Skene Ogden]], [[Jedediah Smith]], and [[Jim Bridger]] all spent time in the area.<ref>{{cite web|title=Idaho State Historical Society Reference Series: JIM BRIDGER IN IDAHO|url=https://history.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/reference-series/0245.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503191128/http://www.history.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/reference-series/0245.pdf |archive-date=May 3, 2012 |url-status=live|publisher=Idaho State Historical Society|access-date=February 24, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Idaho State Historical Society Reference Series: Route of Alexander Ross, 1824|url=https://history.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/reference-series/0086.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502181818/http://www.history.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/reference-series/0086.pdf |archive-date=May 2, 2012 |url-status=live|publisher=Idaho State Historical Society Reference Series|access-date=February 24, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Idaho State Historical Society Reference Series: Lemhi-Lost River Fur Trade|url=https://history.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/reference-series/0246.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503183409/http://www.history.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/reference-series/0246.pdf |archive-date=May 3, 2012 |url-status=live|publisher=Idaho State Historical Society|access-date=February 24, 2017}}</ref> Exploration of the full Salmon River from its source to the [[Snake River]] did not occur until 1832. Mormon settlers established Fort Lemhi from 1855 to 1858. The settlement was withdrawn after a native attack on the settlement. The first gold miners ventured into Lemhi County in 1862, with miners working the main Salmon River all the way from Salmon down to Slate Creek.<ref>{{cite web|title=Idaho State Historical Society Reference Series: EXPLORATION AND SETTLEMENT OF SALMON RIVER|url=https://history.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/reference-series/0242.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503185932/http://www.history.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/reference-series/0242.pdf |archive-date=May 3, 2012 |url-status=live|publisher=Idaho State Historical Society|access-date=February 24, 2017}}</ref>

===Mining settlements===
F.B. Sharkey and his party struck gold at [[Leesburg, Idaho|Leesburg]] on July 16, 1866. The rush to Leesburg ensued within a month. A stagecoach route was established from Montana in May 1867 to the present location of Salmon City. Additional discovery of gold occurred at Lemhi in 1867 and [[Shoup, Idaho|Shoup]] in 1868. Salmon City became the county seat of Lemhi County when it was formed in 1869. Additional mining operations occurred at Yellow Jacket in 1869, [[Gibbonsville, Idaho|Gibbonsville]] in 1877, [[Gilmore, Idaho|Gilmore]] in 1880, Blackbird in 1892, and [[Leadore, Idaho|Leadore]] in 1904.<ref>{{cite web|title=Idaho State Historical Society Reference Series:LEESBURG|url=https://history.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/reference-series/0203.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005074421/http://history.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/reference-series/0203.pdf |archive-date=October 5, 2011 |url-status=live|publisher=Idaho State Historical Society|access-date=February 24, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Idaho State Historical Society Reference Series: Mining in Idaho|url=https://history.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/reference-series/0009.pdf|publisher=Idaho State Historical Society Reference Series|access-date=February 24, 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> The [[Gilmore and Pittsburgh Railroad]] was completed from Dubois to Salmon on May 18, 1910. The railroad was built to access ore from Gilmore. The railroad ceased operations in 1940.<ref>{{cite web|title=Idaho State Historical Society Reference Series: GILMORE AND PITTSBURGH RAILROAD|url=https://history.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/reference-series/0215.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503190638/http://www.history.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/reference-series/0215.pdf |archive-date=May 3, 2012 |url-status=live|publisher=Idaho State Historical Society|access-date=February 25, 2017}}</ref>

===Development of cities===
Salmon City was platted in 1867. While Salmon has gone by the name Salmon City since its inception, it did not have legal status as a city until around 1900.<ref>{{cite book|title=Census Reports Volume I: Twelfth Census of the United States, Taken in the Year 1900|date=1901|publisher=United States Census Office|location=Washington|page=112|url=http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/33405927v1.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914182802/http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/33405927v1.pdf |archive-date=September 14, 2015 |url-status=live|access-date=February 25, 2017}}</ref>

Leadore and Patterson were incorporated as villages in 1947. Patterson was disincorporated by 1980.<ref>{{cite book|title=A Report of the Seventeenth Census of the United States Census of Population: 1950|date=1952|publisher=United States Government Printing Office|location=Washington|pages=12–17|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 25, 2017}}</ref>

===County-boundary history===
At the start of mining operations in present-day Lemhi County in 1862, the region was fully within Idaho County, [[Washington Territory]]. [[Boise County, Idaho|Boise County]] was created in 1863, with its northern boundary running just north of the ridge dividing [[Birch Creek (Lemhi County, Idaho)|Birch Creek)]] from the Lemhi River. Under [[Idaho Territory]], the southern portion became part of [[Alturas County, Idaho|Alturas County]] on February 2, 1864, and the dividing line between Alturas and Idaho Counties was adjusted to 44°&nbsp;30′ North latitude. The Idaho territorial legislature actually created Lemhi County twice. The first occasion was on December 21, 1866. A county government was organized at Salmon City, yet the bill approving the county was misplaced and never published in session laws. The following session, the legislature passed the bill again, officially creating Lemhi County on January 9, 1869. The county government was reorganized at Salmon City on February 22, 1870.<ref>{{cite web|title=Idaho State Historical Society Reference Series: Early Lemhi County|url=https://history.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/reference-series/0329.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503190135/http://www.history.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/reference-series/0329.pdf |archive-date=May 3, 2012 |url-status=live|publisher=Idaho State Historical Society Reference Series|access-date=February 25, 2017}}</ref> The western and southern county boundaries for Lemhi were problematic and adjusted frequently. At its creation, Lemhi inherited Idaho County's southern and eastern boundaries, which effectively created two areas of noncontiguous territory, with one of the sections containing territory along the Salt Lake to [[Virginia City, Montana|Virginia City]] stagecoach route just north of the present town of [[Humphrey, Idaho]]. Finalization of the southern boundary came in several steps from 1885 to 1896. In 1885, the boundary was moved southward, gaining territory in present [[Clark County, Idaho|Clark County]], creating a contiguous boundary, and leaving a {{convert|6|by|25.5|mi|km|adj=on}} stretch of the Birch Creek Area in Alturas County. The eastern {{convert|6|by|9|mi|km|adj=on}} portion of that territory was transferred from Alturas to Bingham in 1889. A change in 1891 extended the boundary south to its present location and added territory presently in Clark County. With legislative approval, voters in that territory voted to become part of [[Fremont County, Idaho|Fremont County]] in 1896, finalizing the southern and eastern boundary. At Lemhi's creation, the western boundary was a line drawn from the Bitterroot Mountains to the southern line of Idaho County. The boundary was moved westward to the divide between the [[Payette River|Payette]] and Salmon Rivers in 1873, moved eastward to a line drawn through the confluence of the Middle Fork and main Salmon rivers in 1885, and then mistakenly extended to the northern line of Idaho County in 1903 before being finalized at its present location in 1911. [[Custer County, Idaho|Custer County]] was partitioned from Lemhi in 1881 with its initial boundary excluding the [[Loon Creek]] area. The Loon Creek area was transferred back to Idaho County in 1885.<ref>{{cite book|title=Idaho Atlas of Historical County Boundaries|date=2010|publisher=The Newberry Library|location=Chicago|pages=12, 42, 76, 95, 98, 123–131}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 988
|1880= 2230
|1890= 1915
|1900= 3446
|1910= 4786
|1920= 5164
|1930= 4643
|1940= 6521
|1950= 6278
|1960= 5816
|1970= 5566
|1980= 7460
|1990= 6899
|2000= 7806
|2010= 7936
|2020= 7974
|estyear=2024
|estimate=8397
|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=July 1, 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=July 1, 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=July 1, 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=July 1, 2014}}</ref> 2010–2020<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/16/16059.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 1, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717015902/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/16/16059.html|archive-date=July 17, 2011}}</ref> 2020<ref name="2020 Census">{{cite web |title=2020 Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US16059 |website=data.census.gov}}</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 7,806 people, 3,275 households, and 2,217 families living in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 4,154 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 96.63% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.10% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.60% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.18% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.04% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.77% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.68% from two or more races. 2.18% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 19.5% were of [[Germans|German]], 18.0% [[English people|English]], 11.4% [[United States|American]] and 6.5% [[Irish people|Irish]] ancestry.

There were 3,275 households, out of which 28.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.80% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were non-families. 27.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.50% under the age of 18, 5.50% from 18 to 24, 22.70% from 25 to 44, 29.50% from 45 to 64, and 16.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 99.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,185, and the median income for a family was $35,261. Males had a median income of $30,558 versus $18,289 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $16,037. About 10.60% of families and 15.30% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 19.80% of those under age 18 and 10.30% of those age 65 or over.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States Census]], there were 7,936 people, 3,576 households, and 2,267 families living in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US16059
  |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/20200213014320/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US16059
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The population density was {{convert|1.7|PD/sqmi}}. There were 4,729 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1.0|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}.<ref name="census-density">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US16059
  |access-date=January 9, 2016
|title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213162115/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US16059
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 96.4% white, 0.7% American Indian, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.6% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.3% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, 25.9% were [[Germans|German]], 22.4% were [[English people|English]], 13.0% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 9.9% were [[Americans|American]], and 6.2% were [[Swedes|Swedish]].<ref name="census-dp2">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US16059
  |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/20200213034020/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US16059
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

Of the 3,576 households, 22.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.6% were non-families, and 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.74. The median age was 49.7 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The median income for a household in the county was $36,411 and the median income for a family was $49,119. Males had a median income of $37,763 versus $21,233 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,699. About 13.0% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 36.3% of those under age 18 and 8.3% 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/DP03/0500000US16059
  |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/20200213015502/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US16059
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

==Communities==

===Cities===
* [[Leadore, Idaho|Leadore]]
* [[Salmon, Idaho|Salmon]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col}}
* [[Carmen, Idaho|Carmen]]
* [[Cobalt, Idaho|Cobalt]]
* [[Elk Bend, Idaho|Elk Bend]]
* [[Gibbonsville, Idaho|Gibbonsville]]
* [[Lemhi, Idaho|Lemhi]]
* [[May, Idaho|May]]
* [[North Fork, Idaho|North Fork]]
* [[Patterson, Idaho|Patterson]]
* [[Shoup, Idaho|Shoup]]
* [[Tendoy, Idaho|Tendoy]]
{{div col end}}

==Politics==
Like all of southeastern Idaho, Lemhi County has long been powerfully [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]. In no presidential election since 1940 has the county selected the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee, and the last Democrat to pass 30 percent of the county's vote was [[Michael Dukakis]] in 1988.
{{PresHead|place=Lemhi 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|3,716|1,038|120|Idaho}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|3,592|1,032|115|Idaho}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|3,011|733|352|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|3,029|960|121|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|2,938|1,061|106|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|3,079|915|61|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|2,859|660|122|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|2,334|1,015|519|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|1,540|996|1,285|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|2,378|1,157|55|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|2,810|852|46|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|2,646|794|259|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|1,685|1,159|145|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,812|526|585|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|1,476|547|539|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|1,496|1,067|0|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|1,355|1,283|0|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|1,794|1,038|0|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|2,100|848|2|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|1,037|864|37|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|1,048|988|4|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|1,412|1,664|1|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|943|1,648|75|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|793|1,332|42|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,139|837|18|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|1,005|442|401|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,289|699|4|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|723|1,080|81|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|669|910|420|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|809|777|69|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|786|564|68|Idaho}} 
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|523|897|0|Idaho}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|202|1,065|2|Idaho}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Republican|330|0|245|Idaho}}

=== Governance ===
The [[Lehmi County Sheriff's Office]] provides law enforcement duties in the county. It consists of 13 patrolmen and 16 corrections officers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sheriff's Office {{!}} Lemhi County, ID |url=https://www.lemhicountyidaho.org/sheriffs-office |access-date=2025-02-26 |website=www.lemhicountyidaho.org}}</ref> According to [[Officer Down Memorial Page|ODMP]], 4 officers of the Lehmi County Sheriff's Office have been killed in the line of duty.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lemhi County Sheriff's Department, ID |url=https://www.odmp.org/agency/2121-lemhi-county-sheriffs-department-idaho |access-date=2025-02-26 |website=The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP)}}</ref>

==Education==
School districts include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st16_id/schooldistrict_maps/c16059_lemhi/DC20SD_C16059.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Lemhi County, ID|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=March 12, 2024}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st16_id/schooldistrict_maps/c16059_lemhi/DC20SD_C16059_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
* Challis Joint School District 181
* Salmon School District 291
* South Lemhi School District 292

[[College of Eastern Idaho]] includes this county in its catchment zone; however this county is not in its taxation zone.<ref>{{cite book|chapter-url=https://legislature.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/budget/JFAC/sessionrecord/2020/2.Education/Education,%20State%20Board%20of/College%20and%20Universities/~Budget%20Hearing/January%2022,%202020/C.Presentation.pdf?1580760721|chapter=Community Colleges|title=Budget Hearing|publisher=[[Idaho Legislature]]|date=2020|access-date=March 12, 2024|pages=1–73 (PDF p. 8/14)}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Lemhi County, Idaho]]
* [http://lemhi.idahoparcel.us County Parcel Map]{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

==References==
{{reflist|22em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Lemhi County, Idaho}}
* {{official website|http://lemhicountyidaho.org}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Lemhi County, Idaho
|North     = [[Ravalli County, Montana|Ravalli County]], [[Montana]] and [[Beaverhead County, Montana|Beaverhead County]], [[Montana]]
|Northeast = [[Beaverhead County, Montana|Beaverhead County]], [[Montana]]
|East      = [[Clark County, Idaho|Clark County]]
|Southeast = 
|South     = [[Custer County, Idaho|Custer County]] and [[Butte County, Idaho|Butte County]]
|Southwest = 
|West      = [[Idaho County, Idaho|Idaho County]] and [[Valley County, Idaho|Valley County]]
|Northwest = 
}} 
{{Lemhi County, Idaho}}
{{Idaho}}
{{authority control}}
{{coord|44.96|-113.95|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-ID_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Lemhi County, Idaho| ]]
[[Category:Idaho counties]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1869]]
[[Category:1869 establishments in Idaho Territory]]