Clearwater County, Idaho

History

The Clearwater River and Lolo Pass, in the southeast corner of the county, were made famous by the exploration of Lewis and Clark in the early 19th century. Following an arduous trek through the Bitterroot Mountains, suffering through a mid-September snowstorm and near starvation, the Corps of Discovery expedition camped with the Nez Perce tribe on the Weippe Prairie outside of present-day Weippe in 1805. With the assistance of the Nez Perce, the expedition recuperated and constructed burned-out canoes at Canoe Camp in October 1805 and then paddled down the Clearwater, Snake, and Columbia rivers and met the Pacific Ocean a month later at present-day Astoria, Oregon.

Elias D. Pierce and Wilbur F. Bassett made the first discovery of gold in Idaho, on Orofino Creek (Canal Gulch) in 1860, 1 mi north of present-day Pierce.

Until 1904, Clearwater County was part of Shoshone County to the north. It was annexed by Nez Perce County for several years and then was established as a new county in 1911. The original county seat of Shoshone County was Pierce, in today's Clearwater County. It was the first gold rush area of present-day Idaho (then Washington Territory) in 1860 and was made the county seat of a vast Shoshone County in 1861, two years prior to the establishment of the Idaho Territory. When the Silver Valley population rose dramatically in the 1880s, the seat was moved to Murray in 1884 (and to Wallace in 1898) to better serve the majority of the county's population. The population of the southern area increased with homesteading in the Weippe area in the late 1890s. The vast distance and time required for travel to Wallace from the Clearwater River area prompted the move of the southern portion to Nez Perce County.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2488 sqmi, of which 2457 sqmi is land and 31 sqmi (1.2%) is water. It is part of the Palouse, a wide and rolling prairie-like region of the middle Columbia basin.

Adjacent counties

• Shoshone County – north
• Mineral County, Montana – northeast/Mountain Time Border
• Missoula County, Montana– east/Mountain Time Border
• Idaho County – south
• Lewis County – southwest
• Nez Perce County – southwest
• Latah County – west

Major highways

• [[Image:US 12.svg|20px]] US-12
• [[Image:ID-7.svg|20px]] SH-7
• [[Image:ID-8.svg|20px]] SH-8
• [[Image:ID-11.svg|20px]] SH-11

National protected areas

• Clearwater National Forest (part)
  • Mallard-Larkins Pioneer Area
  • Lolo Trail National Historic Landmark (part)
• Nez Perce National Historical Park (part)
  • Canoe Camp
  • Musselshell Meadow
  • Pierce Courthouse
  • Weippe Prairie
• St. Joe National Forest (part)

Ski area

• Bald Mountain Ski Area

Government and infrastructure

The Idaho Department of Correction operates the Idaho Correctional Institution-Orofino in Orofino.

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020 2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 8,734, a median age of 52.1 years, 16.4% of residents were under the age of 18, 29.0% were 65 years of age or older, and there were 120.4 males for every 100 females (121.0 males per 100 females age 18 and over). The population density was 3.6 people per square mile.

The racial makeup of the county was 91.2% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 1.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.4% from some other race, and 4.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.4% of the population.

There were 3,634 households in the county, of which 20.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 19.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 4,552 housing units, of which 20.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 78.4% were owner-occupied and 21.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.4%. 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 8,761 people, 3,660 households, and 2,397 families living in the county. The population density was 3.6 PD/sqmi. There were 4,453 housing units at an average density of 1.8 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 93.9% white, 2.2% American Indian, 0.7% Asian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.8% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.1% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 29.3% were German, 17.8% were Irish, 13.8% were English, 6.7% were American, and 6.2% were Norwegian.

Of the 3,660 households, 22.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.5% were non-families, and 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.71. The median age was 49.0 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,835 and the median income for a family was $46,415. Males had a median income of $42,568 versus $30,048 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,507. About 9.0% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.7% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 8,930 people, 3,456 households, and 2,481 families living in the county. The population density was 3.6 /mi2. There were 4,144 housing units at an average density of 2 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 94.82% White, 0.15% Black or African American, 2.03% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.63% from other races, and 1.96% from two or more races. 1.85% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.0% were of German, 14.0% English, 11.7% Irish and 10.5% American ancestry.

There were 3,456 households, out of which 28.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.50% were married couples living together, 6.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.20% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.00% under the age of 18, 5.90% from 18 to 24, 26.30% from 25 to 44, 29.20% from 45 to 64, and 15.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 113.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,071, and the median income for a family was $37,259. Males had a median income of $31,426 versus $21,694 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,463. About 9.70% of families and 13.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.90% of those under age 18 and 8.20% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Elk River
• Orofino
• Pierce
• Weippe

Unincorporated communities

• Ahsahka
• Cardiff
• Cavendish
• Dent
• Grangemont
• Greer
• Headquarters
• Hollywood
• Judge Town
• Konkolville
• Moose City
• Teakean

Ghost town

• Fraser

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Clearwater County.

† county seat

Politics

References

References

1. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
2. "Clearwater County, Idaho{{!}}History".
3. (February 12, 2011). "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". [[United States Census Bureau]].
4. "[http://www.idoc.idaho.gov/content/locations Locations]." Idaho Department of Correction. Retrieved on June 4, 2011. "Idaho Correctional Institution-Orofino (ICIO) 381 West Hospital Drive Orofino ID 83544 "
5. link. (November 24, 2011." [[United States Census Bureau). U.S. Census Bureau]]. Retrieved on June 4, 2011.
6. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau.
7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
11. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
12. "2020 Census Data".
13. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
14. (April 2023). "Census Quick facts Clearwater county".
15. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
16. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
17. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". [[United States Census Bureau]].
18. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County". [[United States Census Bureau]].
19. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". [[United States Census Bureau]].
20. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". [[United States Census Bureau]].
21. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
22. "Decennial Census, 2010".
23. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
24. The leading "other" candidate, [[Progressive Party (United States, 1912). Progressive]] [[Theodore Roosevelt]], received 345 votes while Socialist candidate [[Eugene Debs]] received 284 votes and [[Prohibition Party. Prohibition]] candidate [[Eugene Chafin]] 22 votes.