Coolin, Idaho facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Coolin, Idaho
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Coolin, March 2020
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 Coolin, Idaho
Location in Idaho
Coolin, Idaho
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Idaho |
| County | Bonner |
Coolin is a small community located in Bonner County, Idaho, in the United States. It is not officially a town or city, but rather an "unincorporated community." This means it doesn't have its own local government like a city does. The closest school district for kids in Coolin is the West Bonner School District.
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Coolin's Location and Weather
Coolin is found at the southeast end of a beautiful place called Priest Lake. It sits about 2,490 feet above the level of the sea.
What's the Weather Like?
Coolin has a type of weather called a "humid continental climate." This means the weather changes a lot between seasons. Summers are usually warm to hot, and sometimes humid. Winters are cold, and can even be very cold.
A Look Back: Coolin's History
Coolin has an interesting history that started over a hundred years ago. It began as a hopeful spot for miners and travelers.
How Coolin Got Its Name
The community of Coolin was named after a man named Andy Coolin. He opened a post office here in 1893. This post office was at the southern end of Priest Lake.
Early Hopes and Buildings
In the early days, people thought there might be a lot of valuable minerals to mine in the area. They also hoped a railroad would come to Coolin. This would connect them to places 28 miles away.
To help people traveling through, a man named Walt Williams built a two-story log hotel in 1900. It was called the Northern Inn.
- In 1903, Andy Coolin got official ownership of some land. He planned to use it to build a big business.
- In 1907, he started a company with his brother and other local people. It was called the Priest Lake Town Site and Improvement Company.
- Around that time, a businessman from Spokane named Joseph Slee was already running a steamboat. This boat helped bring supplies, mail, and transportation across the lake from Coolin.
- In 1906, Leonard Paul opened a general store in the small village.
- Then, in 1908, Ida Handy opened another place for visitors called the Idaho Inn.
From Mining to Vacations
The mining boom didn't happen as people hoped. Also, Andy Coolin's efforts to get the railway to Priest Lake didn't work out. So, Coolin changed. It became a popular spot for summer vacationers. It offered services like a sawmill, a store, hotels, a ranger station, docks, and steamboat service.
Today, some of these old buildings are still standing. They remind us of Coolin's early days. These include the Old Northern Inn, the Leonard Paul Store, and the one-room schoolhouse. The schoolhouse was built in 1916 and is now used by the Coolin Civic Association.
In 1960, about 100 people were estimated to live in Coolin.
