Boundary County, Idaho facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Boundary County
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Boundary 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 23, 1915 | |
| Named for | Canada–United States border | |
| Seat | Bonners Ferry | |
| Largest city | Bonners Ferry | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 1,278 sq mi (3,310 km2) | |
| • Land | 1,269 sq mi (3,290 km2) | |
| • Water | 9.3 sq mi (24 km2) 0.7% | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 12,056 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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13,557  |
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| • Density | 9.433/sq mi (3.6423/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) | |
| Congressional district | 1st | |
Boundary County is the northernmost county of the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,056. The county seat and largest city is Bonners Ferry.
Boundary County was created by the Idaho Legislature on January 23, 1915. It is so named because it borders Canada, and is therefore the only county in Idaho with an international border. It is also only one of three counties in the United States that borders two states and a foreign country, the others being Coös County, New Hampshire, and Erie County, Pennsylvania; these three counties additionally make up the entirety of the international border of their respective states, the only three counties nationwide to do so.
Contents
History
Boundary County was formed on January 23, 1915, from Bonner County. It was named Boundary County because it lies on the border of Canada, Washington and Montana.
Boundary County has seven election precincts: Bonners Ferry, Copeland, Kootenai, Moyie, Naples, North Bonners Ferry, and Valley View. All contain part of Bonners Ferry City except Copeland, Moyie, and Naples precincts. Moyie Springs was incorporated in 1947.
Settlement of the area started with the establishment of Bonners Ferry on the Kootenai River in 1864. Settlement was limited to the ferry operation until about 1890. The town of Bonners Ferry was established in 1893. At that point settlement was still sparse with small ranching and mining operations, but an expanding timber economy. By 1900, other areas started to develop with the Boulder (now Kootenai), Boundary (now Copeland), and Naples precincts first listed in the U.S. Census of that year. The Moyie precinct first appeared in the 1910 census.
In 1980, convicted spy Christopher John Boyce found refuge in Boundary County, for a few months, after his escape from the Lompoc Federal Correctional Complex. He stayed at the home of Gloria Ann White. Boyce sustained himself during his stay with a series of bank robberies in the surrounding area, allegedly with technical assistance from White.
In 1992, Boundary County was the scene of the Ruby Ridge siege by 350–400 armed federal agents against Randy Weaver and his family.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,278 square miles (3,310 km2), of which 1,269 square miles (3,290 km2) is land and 9.3 square miles (24 km2) (0.7%) is water.
Adjacent counties
- Lincoln County, Montana – east/Mountain Time Border
- Bonner County – south
- Pend Oreille County, Washington – west
- Regional District of Central Kootenay, British Columbia – north
National protected areas
- Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail (part)
- Kaniksu National Forest (part)
- Kootenai National Forest (part)
- Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge
Transportation
Highways
US 2
US 95
SH-1
Airports
Boundary County Airport is a county-owned, public-use airport located two nautical miles (3.7 km) northeast of the central business district of Bonners Ferry.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 4,474 | — | |
| 1930 | 4,555 | 1.8% | |
| 1940 | 5,987 | 31.4% | |
| 1950 | 5,908 | −1.3% | |
| 1960 | 5,809 | −1.7% | |
| 1970 | 6,371 | 9.7% | |
| 1980 | 7,289 | 14.4% | |
| 1990 | 8,332 | 14.3% | |
| 2000 | 9,871 | 18.5% | |
| 2010 | 10,972 | 11.2% | |
| 2020 | 12,056 | 9.9% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 13,557 | 23.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020 2020 |
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2010 census
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 10,972 people, 4,421 households, and 2,976 families living in the county. The population density was 8.6 inhabitants per square mile (3.3/km2). There were 5,175 housing units at an average density of 4.1 units per square mile (1.6 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.8% white, 1.7% American Indian, 0.6% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.5% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 22.5% were German, 12.8% were English, 11.2% were Irish, 7.4% were American, 5.9% were Norwegian, 5.4% were Dutch, and 5.1% were Scottish.
Of the 4,421 households, 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.7% were non-families, and 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.00. The median age was 42.8 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,712 and the median income for a family was $43,562. Males had a median income of $36,125 versus $26,076 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,011. About 15.7% of families and 18.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.0% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.
Media
Television
A local translator district provides broadcast television stations from Spokane, WA.
Radio
KBFI, 1450 AM - Bonners Ferry has been home to KBFI AM 1450 since 1983. It is owned by local licensee Radio Bonners Ferry, Inc, owned by Blue Sky Broadcasting, Inc. While licensed to Bonner's Ferry and its transmitter site is there, KBFI shares studios and offices with its sister stations (KSPT, KIBR, and KPND), at 327 Marion Avenue in Sandpoint, Idaho.
KSBF, 88.9 FM - Owned and operated by Bonners Ferry Baptist Church, KSBF began broadcasting in 2024, and is an affiliate of the Fundamental Broadcasting Network.
KQFR, 90.7 FM - On September 7, 2022, KQFR, 90.7 FM began broadcasting. Affiliated with "Cornerstone Christian School," KQFR airs a Christian format and is licensed to Moyie Springs.
Newspapers
Bonners Ferry is served by a single newspaper and several online news outlets. The weekly Bonners Ferry Herald, owned by Hagadone Publishing is the official paper of record.
Communities
Cities
Unincorporated communities
- Copeland
- Eastport
- Good Grief
- Naples
- Porthill
- Curley Creek
Education
There is one school district in Boundary County: Boundary County School District 101.
It is in the catchment area, but not the taxation zone, for North Idaho College.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Boundary para niños
