Bear Lake County, Idaho facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bear Lake County
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Bear Lake County Courthouse
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Location within the U.S. state of Idaho
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 Idaho's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Idaho |
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| Founded | January 5, 1875 | |
| Named for | Bear Lake | |
| Seat | Paris | |
| Largest city | Montpelier | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 1,049 sq mi (2,720 km2) | |
| • Land | 975 sq mi (2,530 km2) | |
| • Water | 75 sq mi (190 km2) 7.1% | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 6,372  |
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| • Density | 6/sq mi (2/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) | |
| Congressional district | 2nd | |
Bear Lake County is a special area in the state of Idaho, USA. It's like a big neighborhood with its own local government. In 2020, about 6,372 people lived here.
The main town, or county seat, is Paris. The biggest city in the county is Montpelier.
This county gets its name from Bear Lake. This is a large lake high up in the mountains. It sits about 5,924 feet (1,806 meters) above sea level. Part of the lake is in Idaho, and part is in Utah. Bear Lake County was created in 1875. This was 15 years before Idaho became a state!
Contents
History of Bear Lake County
The Bear Lake Valley has a rich history. A person named Peg-Leg Smith set up a trading post here. This was between 1848 and 1850, near a place called Dingle. His post was on the famous Oregon Trail.
The first real town in the valley was Paris. It was started by Mormon pioneers on September 26, 1863. About thirty families were the first to live there. In the spring of 1864, Montpelier was settled. It was on the other side of the valley, also along the Oregon Trail. Bear Lake County officially became a county in 1875. Later, in 1892, the railroad reached Montpelier, which helped the area grow.
Geography of Bear Lake County
Bear Lake County is in the very southeast corner of Idaho. Its eastern border touches the state of Wyoming. Its southern border touches the state of Utah.
The county covers about 1,049 square miles (2,717 square kilometers). Most of this is land (975 sq mi or 2,525 km²). About 75 square miles (194 km²) is water. The county is built around the Bear Lake Valley. It also includes the mountains around the valley. The valley itself is very high up. Its lowest point is over 5,900 feet (1,800 meters) above sea level. The highest point in the county is Meade Peak. It stands tall at 9,957 feet (3,035 meters).
Neighboring Counties
These are the counties that share a border with Bear Lake County:
- Caribou County - to the north
- Lincoln County, Wyoming - to the east
- Rich County, Utah - to the south
- Franklin County - to the west
Main Roads
Here are the important highways that go through Bear Lake County:
US 30
US 89
SH-36
SH-61
Protected Natural Areas
Bear Lake County is home to some beautiful natural areas:
- Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge
- Cache National Forest (part of it)
- Caribou National Forest (part of it)
People of Bear Lake County
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 3,235 | — | |
| 1890 | 6,057 | 87.2% | |
| 1900 | 7,051 | 16.4% | |
| 1910 | 7,729 | 9.6% | |
| 1920 | 8,783 | 13.6% | |
| 1930 | 7,872 | −10.4% | |
| 1940 | 7,911 | 0.5% | |
| 1950 | 6,834 | −13.6% | |
| 1960 | 7,148 | 4.6% | |
| 1970 | 5,801 | −18.8% | |
| 1980 | 6,931 | 19.5% | |
| 1990 | 6,084 | −12.2% | |
| 2000 | 6,411 | 5.4% | |
| 2010 | 5,986 | −6.6% | |
| 2020 | 6,372 | 6.4% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 6,766 | 13.0% | |
| US Decennial Census 1790–1960, 1900–1990, 1990–2000, 2020 |
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In 2010, about 5,986 people lived in Bear Lake County. Most people (96.3%) were white. A small number were American Indian, Asian, or Black. About 3.6% of the people were of Hispanic or Latino background. Many people had ancestors from England, Germany, America, or Denmark.
The average age of people living in the county was about 40.5 years old. The average income for a family was around $47,092 per year. About 13.9% of the people lived below the poverty line. This means they had a lower income compared to what is needed to live comfortably.
Towns and Villages
Bear Lake County has several communities, from small towns to tiny villages.
Cities
Census-Designated Place
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller places that don't have their own local government:
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Bear Lake para niños
