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Clark Fork, Idaho
Clark Fork (located to the left/north) of the Clark Fork River, which runs down the middle
Clark Fork (located to the left/north) of the Clark Fork River, which runs down the middle
Location of Clark Fork in Bonner County, Idaho.
Location of Clark Fork in Bonner County, Idaho.
Country United States
State Idaho
County Bonner
Area
 • Total 0.98 sq mi (2.55 km2)
 • Land 0.98 sq mi (2.55 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
2,090 ft (640 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 536
 • Estimate 
(2019)
579
 • Density 587.82/sq mi (226.96/km2)
Time zone UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
83811
Area code(s) 208, 986
FIPS code 16-14950
GNIS feature ID 0396290

Clark Fork is a small town in Bonner County, Idaho. The population was 536 at the time of the 2010 census.

Geography

Clark Fork is located at 48°8′50″N 116°10′42″W / 48.14722°N 116.17833°W / 48.14722; -116.17833 (48.147180, -116.178270), at an elevation of 2,090 feet (637 m) above sea level. The town is situated on the Clark Fork River, on the eastern shores of Lake Pend Oreille. in the northern panhandle of the state. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.92 square miles (2.38 km2), all of it land. The Lightning Creek passes just north and west of the town.

History

The Kutenai Indians have lived in the area around Lake Pend Oreille for centuries, well before the first Europeans explored the North American wilderness.

The town of Clark Fork was named in honor of William Clark, who along with Meriwether Lewis, headed the expedition through the western American wilderness in 1804. It is believed the Lewis and Clark party encountered the Clark Fork River near present-day Missoula, Montana, in October 1805. After the Lewis and Clark Expedition, fur traders would pass through the area. The origins of an actual town date back to when the Northern Pacific Railway constructed a line adjacent to the Clark Fork River, near the eastern shore of Lake Pend Oreille in the early 1880s. By the 1890s a ferry boat service was used to cross the river or to travel as far as Heron, Montana, about 12 miles (20 km) upriver.

Clark Fork is a small town that focuses on agriculture, forestry, small businesses and tourism (camping, hunting and fishing).

Climate

This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Clark Fork has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1920 325
1930 432 32.9%
1940 430 −0.5%
1950 387 −10.0%
1960 452 16.8%
1970 367 −18.8%
1980 449 22.3%
1990 448 −0.2%
2000 530 18.3%
2010 536 1.1%
2019 (est.) 579 8.0%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 536 people, 260 households, and 138 families living in the city. The population density was 582.6 inhabitants per square mile (224.9/km2). There were 308 housing units at an average density of 334.8 per square mile (129.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.5% White, 0.7% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.9% of the population.

There were 260 households, of which 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.4% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 46.9% were non-families. 41.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.87.

The median age in the city was 45.5 years. 21.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.8% were from 25 to 44; 32.5% were from 45 to 64; and 18.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.6% male and 49.4% female.

Notable people

  • Ron Heller (born 1963), former NFL tight end
  • Compton I. White (1877–1956), eight-term congressman from Idaho
  • Compton I. White, Jr., (1920–1998), two-term congressman from Idaho

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Clark Fork para niños

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