Athol, Idaho facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Athol, Idaho
|
|
|---|---|
Location of Athol in Kootenai County, Idaho.
|
|
 Athol, Idaho
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Idaho |
| County | Kootenai |
| Incorporated | 1909 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.89 sq mi (2.30 km2) |
| • Land | 0.89 sq mi (2.30 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,392 ft (729 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 709 |
| • Density | 796.63/sq mi (307.58/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
83801
|
| Area code(s) | 208 |
| FIPS code | 16-03700 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2409748 |
Athol (say it like AH-thol) is a small city in Kootenai County, Idaho, United States. In 2020, about 709 people lived there. This was a small increase from 692 people in 2010. Athol is part of the larger Coeur d'Alene area.
One of the most famous places in Athol is Silverwood Theme Park, a popular amusement park.
Contents
What to See in Athol
Athol is home to the exciting Silverwood Theme Park. This park is a big draw for visitors.
Just a few miles east of the city, you can find the historic Farragut State Park. This park is located at the southern end of Lake Pend Oreille, a beautiful lake. In 2022, a new Dollar General store opened in Athol. It was the first one in the state of Idaho!
A Look Back at Athol's History
Athol has a rich history that dates back many years.
Early Days and Native Americans
Before the early 1800s, Native American tribes lived in this area. The main tribes were the Coeur d’Alene and Spokane Tribes. They used the land to travel between their camps near lakes and streams.
Railroad and Settlers Arrive
Things changed when the Northern Pacific Railroad built a station in Athol in 1882. Settlers hoped the area would become a great farming community. The railroad depot helped the town grow. In 1895, people living in Athol, mostly railroad workers and homesteaders, asked for a post office. The Athol Post Office has been open ever since.
Logging and Land Issues
The tall white pine trees first brought settlers to Athol. Logging, sawmills, and farming helped the town become successful. However, the land where the new community was built belonged to the state. In 1903, the state sold lots in Athol at an auction. But there was a problem: the state surveyors didn't properly record the new owners. For many years, people living in Athol didn't officially own their land. The state eventually fixed this issue.
How Athol Got Its Name
Athol was first called Colton. A settler from Athol, Massachusetts, renamed the town Athol. The Massachusetts town was named after a town in Scotland. That Scottish town was named for the Duke of Atholl. No one knows for sure if Athol, Idaho, was named by someone from the same family or if the name just traveled west.
Growth and Businesses
In 1900, the Methodist church built a building that was also used as a school until 1902. That year, the town built its first school building. In December 1902, Hackett & Wilson opened a sawmill nearby. This mill became the biggest employer in the city. It could produce 25,000 board feet of lumber every day!
By 1903, many businesses had opened in Athol. These included:
- The Pacific Hotel
- A drugstore
- A smithy (a place where a blacksmith works)
- A jewelry store
- Restaurants
- A mercantile company (a general store)
- A saloon
Athol's First Water Well
Joe Pricsha and his team dug Athol's first water well by hand. It was over 350 feet deep! They hit a large rock, so they had to dig around it, making the shaft curved. A 5-horsepower pump was installed to supply the town with water. Later, a bigger pump was put into the same hand-dug hole.
You can learn more about the city's history on the City of Athol website.
Where is Athol?
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city of Athol covers about 0.79 square miles (2.0 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the city limits.
People of Athol
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 281 | — | |
| 1920 | 180 | −35.9% | |
| 1930 | 116 | −35.6% | |
| 1940 | 120 | 3.4% | |
| 1950 | 226 | 88.3% | |
| 1960 | 214 | −5.3% | |
| 1970 | 190 | −11.2% | |
| 1980 | 312 | 64.2% | |
| 1990 | 346 | 10.9% | |
| 2000 | 676 | 95.4% | |
| 2010 | 692 | 2.4% | |
| 2020 | 709 | 2.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, there were 692 people living in Athol. These people lived in 282 households. About 29.4% of households had children under 18. The average age in the city was 41.8 years old.
Famous People from Athol
- Hattie Johnson, an Olympic shooter, lived in Athol.
See Also
In Spanish: Athol (Idaho) para niños
