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Idaho panhandle facts for kids

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Idaho panhandle
Red: The ten counties of the Idaho panhandle
Red: The ten counties of the Idaho panhandle
Country United States
State Idaho
Largest city Coeur d'Alene
Area
 • Total 21,012.64 sq mi (54,422.5 km2)
Population
 (2010)
 317,751
Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1900 58,486 —
1910 106,360 81.9%
1920 112,504 5.8%
1930 119,940 6.6%
1940 135,776 13.2%
1950 142,059 4.6%
1960 152,613 7.4%
1970 154,843 1.5%
1980 209,986 35.6%
1990 216,792 3.2%
2000 278,866 28.6%
2010 317,751 13.9%
2019 (est.) 355,638 11.9%
sources:

The Idaho panhandle—locally known as North Idaho, Northern Idaho, or simply the Panhandle—is a salient region of the U.S. state of Idaho encompassing the state's 10 northernmost counties: Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Clearwater, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, Lewis, Nez Perce, and Shoshone (though the southern part of the region is sometimes referred to as North Central Idaho). The panhandle is bordered by the state of Washington to the west, Montana to the east, and the Canadian province of British Columbia to the north. The Idaho panhandle, along with Eastern Washington, makes up the region known as the Inland Northwest, headed by its largest city, Spokane, Washington.

Coeur d'Alene is the largest city within the Idaho panhandle. Spokane is around 30 miles (50 km) west of Coeur d'Alene, and its Spokane International Airport is the region's main air hub. Other important cities in the region include Lewiston, Moscow, Post Falls, Hayden, Sandpoint, and the smaller towns of St. Maries and Bonners Ferry. East of Coeur d'Alene is the Silver Valley, which follows Interstate 90 to the Montana border at Lookout Pass.

The region has a land area of 21,012.64 square miles (54,422 km2), around 25.4% of the state's total land area; there is also 323.95 square miles (839 km2) of water area. As of the 2010 Census, the population of the Idaho panhandle was 317,751, around 20.3% of the state's total population of 1,567,582.

The town of Bonners Ferry has two Canada–US border crossings: Porthill-Rykerts Border Crossing connects with Creston, British Columbia; Eastport–Kingsgate Border Crossing connects with Yahk, British Columbia.

History

The eastern border of Idaho follows the Bitterroot Range, producing the narrow northern border.

Attractions

Geography and climate

The Idaho panhandle observes Pacific Time north of the western-flowing Salmon River in the southern part of Idaho County. The rest of the state to the south observes Mountain Time, which begins at Riggins. Though the Idaho panhandle is at the same longitude as southwestern Idaho, they have different time zones because (1) Spokane is the commercial and transportation center for the region, and (2) there are many cross-border towns and cities that are connected, including Spokane with Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls; Pullman (home of Washington State University) with Moscow (home of the University of Idaho); and Clarkston with Lewiston.

The panhandle is isolated from southern Idaho by distance and the east–west mountain ranges that divide the state. The passage by vehicle was arduous until significant highway improvements were made on U.S. Route 95 in North Central Idaho, specifically at Lapwai Canyon (1960), White Bird Hill (1975), the Lewiston grade (1977), and Lawyer's Canyon (1991).

Northern Idaho Köppen
Köppen climate types in northern Idaho

Regional agriculture

The North Idaho region is most noted for silvaculture, the growing of trees and the production of lumber through the region's 12 lumber mills. The production of grass seeds and hops for beer production are also significant in the region. Nine microbreweries have operations in the area, making North Idaho highly characteristic of the Pacific Northwest. There are also many cattle ranches.

Notable crops from the Palouse region include wheat, lentils, peas, and canola.

Indian reservations

Major communities

See also

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