kids encyclopedia robot

Winchester, Idaho facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Winchester, Idaho
Location of Winchester in Lewis County, Idaho.
Location of Winchester in Lewis County, Idaho.
Country United States
State Idaho
County Lewis
Area
 • Total 0.18 sq mi (0.46 km2)
 • Land 0.18 sq mi (0.46 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
3,980 ft (1,210 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 356
 • Estimate 
(2019)
443
 • Density 2,517.05/sq mi (970.19/km2)
Time zone UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
83555
Area code(s) 208
FIPS code 16-87850
GNIS feature ID 0375955

Winchester is a city in western Lewis County, Idaho, United States, located on the Camas Prairie in the north central part of the state. The population was 356 at the 2020 census, up from 340 in 2010.

History

Winchester is within the Nez Perce Indian Reservation, and similar to the opening of lands in Oklahoma, the U.S. government opened the reservation for white settlement in November 1895. The proclamation had been signed less than two weeks earlier by President Cleveland.

The city was named in 1900 during a meeting to establish a school district. While considering the possibilities, an individual looked at the stack of Winchester rifles at the door and suggested the name, which was approved. The sawmill closed in May 1965 after the mature timber in the area had been cut. The mill was operated by Boise Cascade for its final five years; its closure followed a fire which destroyed much of downtown Winchester in November 1964.

A half mile (1 km) outside of town is Winchester Lake State Park, planned in 1966 and established in 1969. Originally it was a mill pond, created in 1910 by damming Lapwai Creek. Water quality issues at the lake were addressed with the installation of aeration units in 2002.

Geography

Winchester is located at 46°14′27″N 116°37′24″W / 46.24083°N 116.62333°W / 46.24083; -116.62333 , at an elevation of 3,980 feet (1,210 m) above sea level.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.18 square miles (0.47 km2), all of it land.

Climate

Climate data for Winchester, Idaho (3972 feet)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °F (°C) 36.6
(2.6)
39.7
(4.3)
45.3
(7.4)
52.3
(11.3)
59.6
(15.3)
66.7
(19.3)
76.7
(24.8)
78.0
(25.6)
68.9
(20.5)
56.2
(13.4)
42.1
(5.6)
34.7
(1.5)
54.7
(12.6)
Daily mean °F (°C) 29.5
(−1.4)
31.4
(−0.3)
36.3
(2.4)
42.0
(5.6)
48.6
(9.2)
54.8
(12.7)
62.1
(16.7)
62.6
(17.0)
54.8
(12.7)
44.9
(7.2)
34.8
(1.6)
27.7
(−2.4)
44.1
(6.7)
Average low °F (°C) 22.3
(−5.4)
23.0
(−5.0)
27.4
(−2.6)
31.8
(−0.1)
37.5
(3.1)
43.0
(6.1)
47.5
(8.6)
47.2
(8.4)
40.7
(4.8)
33.7
(0.9)
27.5
(−2.5)
20.6
(−6.3)
33.5
(0.8)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 1.73
(44)
1.44
(37)
2.36
(60)
2.44
(62)
3.00
(76)
2.23
(57)
1.20
(30)
1.04
(26)
1.28
(33)
1.76
(45)
2.46
(62)
1.58
(40)
22.52
(572)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 17.0
(43)
11.0
(28)
13.9
(35)
8.1
(21)
1.8
(4.6)
0.2
(0.51)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0.1
(0.25)
1.4
(3.6)
13.8
(35)
14.8
(38)
82.1
(208.96)
Source: NOAA (normals 1981−2010)

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1920 745
1930 665 −10.7%
1940 634 −4.7%
1950 488 −23.0%
1960 427 −12.5%
1970 274 −35.8%
1980 343 25.2%
1990 262 −23.6%
2000 308 17.6%
2010 340 10.4%
2019 (est.) 443 30.3%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 340 people, 134 households, and 84 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,888.9 inhabitants per square mile (729.3/km2). There were 167 housing units at an average density of 927.8 per square mile (358.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 92.1% White, 1.2% African American, 3.2% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.9% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.1% of the population.

There were 134 households, of which 20.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% were married couples living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.3% were non-families. 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.75.

The median age in the city was 50.4 years. 17.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 17.6% were from 25 to 44; 39.4% were from 45 to 64; and 21.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 52.1% male and 47.9% female.

Transportation

Highway

The city is two miles (3 km) west of U.S. Route 95, which connects it to Craigmont to the east and Lewiston to the northwest, via the Lapwai Canyon.

Until 1960, US 95 was routed through Winchester on this spur and descended Culdesac Hill (46°19′55″N 116°37′59″W / 46.332°N 116.633°W / 46.332; -116.633), considered the worst of the three major grades (White Bird, Lewiston), all of which were extremely twisty. The new route through Lapwai Canyon was built in three years and reduced the distance by over 4 miles (6.4 km) and saved 25 minutes of driving time. The earlier road was completed in 1923. The first organized road race on the old road took place in 1964; among the participants in the hill climb was Bob Knievel of Butte, Montana, later known as Evel Knievel.

The timber trestles of the former Camas Prairie Railroad are visible throughout the area.

Education

The public schools are in Craigmont, operated by the Highland Joint School District #305, led by Highland High School. The consolidated district was formed in 1962; prior to that Winchester had its own schools and the high school's mascot was a logger.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Winchester (Idaho) para niños

kids search engine
Winchester, Idaho Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.