Lapwai, Idaho Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Lapwai, Idaho
City
Location of Lapwai in Nez Perce County, Idaho.
Country	United States
State	Idaho
County	Nez Perce
Area
• Total	0.77 sq mi (1.98 km²)
• Land	0.76 sq mi (1.96 km²)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.03 km²)
Elevation	955 ft (291 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	1,137
• Estimate (2019)	1,137
• Density	1,503.97/sq mi (580.55/km²)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code	83540
Area code(s)	208, 986
FIPS code	16-45370
GNIS feature ID	0396768

Lapwai is a city in the northwest United States, in Nez Perce County, Idaho. Its population was 1,137 at the 2010 census, and it is the seat of government of the Nez Perce Indian Reservation. Lapwai actually means "The land of the butterflies"

History
Geography
Transportation
- Highway
- Railroad
Demographics
- 2010 census
Education
Notable residents
Images for kids
See also

History

The area that is today Lapwai was the home of Hin-ma-tute-ke-kaikt, also known as Big Thunder and later as James. It was here that Henry H. Spalding established a Protestant mission among the Nez Perce in 1836. This was also the general region that Bill Craig settled since his wife was James' daughter.

The city's predecessor, Fort Lapwai, operated on the site from 1863 to 1884. The village of Lapwai was incorporated in 1911, with a model rural school.

The word "Lapwai" means place of the butterflies, as the area had thousands in early summer in earlier years.

Lapwai is part of the Lewiston, ID-WA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

Lapwai is located at 46°24′16″N 116°48′16″W / 46.40444°N 116.80444°W / 46.40444; -116.80444 (46.404388, -116.804376)., at an elevation of 955 feet (291 m) above sea level

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.81 square miles (2.10 km²), of which, 0.80 square miles (2.07 km²) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km²) is water.

Transportation

Highway

- US 95 - to Lewiston (north & west) and Grangeville (southeast)

Railroad

The city is served by the BG&CM Railroad, a freight carrier which operates on the former Second Subdivision line of the Camas Prairie Railroad.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1870	91	—
1880	165	81.3%
1920	359	—
1930	416	15.9%
1940	426	2.4%
1950	480	12.7%
1960	500	4.2%
1970	400	−20.0%
1980	1,043	160.8%
1990	932	−10.6%
2000	1,134	21.7%
2010	1,137	0.3%
2019 (est.)	1,137	0.0%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,137 people, 369 households, and 272 families living in the city. The population density was 1,421.3 inhabitants per square mile (548.8/km²). There were 397 housing units at an average density of 496.3 per square mile (191.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 16.6% White, 0.4% African American, 78.1% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.7% from other races, and 4.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.0% of the population.

There were 369 households, of which 46.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.2% were married couples living together, 26.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 11.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 26.3% were non-families. 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.08 and the average family size was 3.58.

The median age in the city was 30.8 years. 31.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.9% were from 25 to 44; 24.6% were from 45 to 64; and 9.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.7% male and 51.3% female.