Kamiah, Idaho facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kamiah, Idaho
City
Main Street in May 2012
Location of Kamiah in Lewis County and Idaho County, Idaho.
Country	United States
State	Idaho
Counties	Lewis (& Idaho)
Area
• Total	1.18 sq mi (3.07 km2)
• Land	1.10 sq mi (2.84 km2)
• Water	0.09 sq mi (0.22 km2)
Elevation	1,243 ft (379 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	1,295
• Density	1,132.97/sq mi (437.49/km2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code	83536
Area code(s)	208
FIPS code	16-42400
GNIS feature ID	2410163

Kamiah is a city located in the state of Idaho, in the United States. It's mainly in Lewis County, but a small part of it reaches into Idaho County. Kamiah is the biggest city in Lewis County.

In 2010, about 1,295 people lived there. The city is in a narrow valley next to the Clearwater River. Downstream from Kamiah, you'll find the cities of Orofino and Lewiston.

History of Kamiah

Kamiah, around 1950

The land where Kamiah is located has been home to the Nez Perce for hundreds of years. The name "Kamiah" comes from the Nez Perce language and means "many rope litters." This is because the Nez Perce people used to make special ropes in this area to catch steelhead fish. It's also believed that the famous Appaloosa horse breed first came from this area.

In the spring of 1806, the famous explorers Lewis and Clark and their team camped near Kamiah for several weeks. They were waiting for the snow to melt so they could continue their journey back east.

Important Nez Perce leaders lived in this area. Hohots Ilppilp was a leader around Kamiah from the time of Lewis and Clark until the 1840s. Later, his grandson, Ellis, became the first leader for all the Nez Perce people. Ellis lived in this area and had many animals, including sheep, cattle, and over a thousand horses.

Kamiah is part of the Nez Perce Indian Reservation. In November 1895, the U.S. government allowed non-Native American settlers to move onto parts of the reservation.

Geography and Location

Kamiah covers about 1.17 square miles (3.07 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

The city is located where Lawyer Creek meets the Clearwater River. The border between Lewis County and Idaho County follows Lawyer Creek and then the Clearwater River in this area. U.S. Route 12, a major road, goes through Kamiah.

Kamiah is in a deep, narrow valley, but it's surrounded by the relatively flat Camas Prairie region. The city is about 1,250 feet (381 meters) above sea level. However, just a few miles away, the prairie rises to over 2,800 feet (853 meters).

Besides U.S. Route 12, you can also reach Kamiah using Idaho State Highway 64 and Idaho State Highway 162.

Climate in Kamiah

Kamiah has a climate with hot summers. This means it gets quite warm in the summer months.

Population of Kamiah

Kamiah Population in 2010

According to the 2010 census, there were 1,295 people living in Kamiah. There were 596 households, which are groups of people living together in one home.

Most of the people living in Kamiah were White (82.2%). About 8.9% were Native American, and smaller percentages were from other racial backgrounds. About 5.5% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

In terms of households, about 25% had children under 18 living with them. Many households were made up of individuals living alone, especially people aged 65 or older. The average household had about 2.17 people.

Economy of Kamiah

The biggest employer in Kamiah used to be the Three Rivers Timber sawmill. It employed 108 people before it closed in late 2008. However, the mill was sold and reopened in August 2010 under a new name, Blue North Forest Products.

Notable People from Kamiah

• Chief Lawyer, a famous Nez Perce leader, is buried in Kamiah.
• Ken Hobart, a former professional football quarterback, went to Kamiah High School.
• Jeff Krogh, a racing driver.
• Mark Krogh, a racing driver.

See also

In Spanish: Kamiah (Idaho) para niños