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Boundary County, Idaho
Boundary County Courthouse
Seal of Boundary County, Idaho
Seal
Map of Idaho highlighting Boundary County
Location in the state of Idaho
Map of the U.S
Idaho's location in the U.S.
Founded January 23, 1915
Named for Canada/U.S. Border
Seat Bonners Ferry
Largest city Bonners Ferry
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

1,278 sq mi (3,310 km²)
1,269 sq mi (3,287 km²)
9.3 sq mi (24 km²), 0.7
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

12,056
Congressional district 1st
Time zone Pacific: UTC-8/-7
Website boundarycountyid.org

Boundary County is the northernmost county of the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,056.[1] The county seat and largest city is Bonners Ferry.[2]

Boundary County was created by the Idaho Legislature on January 23, 1915. It is so named because it borders Canada, and is therefore the only county in Idaho with an international border. It is also only one of three counties in the United States that borders two states and a foreign country, the others being Coös County, New Hampshire and Erie County, Pennsylvania.

History[]

Boundary County was formed on January 23, 1915, from Bonner County. It was named Boundary County because it lies on the border of Canada, Washington and Montana.[3]

Boundary County has seven election precincts: Bonners Ferry, Copeland, Kootenai, Moyie, Naples, North Bonners Ferry, and Valley View. All contain part of Bonners Ferry City except Copeland, Moyie, and Naples precincts.[4][5] Moyie Springs was incorporated in 1947.[6]

Settlement of the area started with the establishment of Bonners Ferry on the Kootenai River in 1864. Settlement was limited to the ferry operation until about 1890. The town of Bonners Ferry was established in 1893. At that point settlement was still sparse with small ranching and mining operations, but an expanding timber economy.[7] By 1900, other areas started to develop with the Boulder (now Kootenai), Boundary (now Copeland), and Naples precincts first listed in the U.S. Census of that year. The Moyie precinct first appeared in the 1910 census.[8][9]

In 1980, convicted spy Christopher John Boyce found refuge in Boundary County, for a few months, after his escape from the Lompoc Federal Correctional Complex. He stayed at the home of Gloria Ann White.[10] Boyce sustained himself during his stay with a series of bank robberies in the surrounding area, allegedly with technical assistance from White.

In 1992, Boundary County was the scene of the infamous Ruby Ridge siege by 350–400 armed federal agents against Randy Weaver and his family.

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,278 square miles (3,310 km2), of which 1,269 square miles (3,290 km2) is land and 9.3 square miles (24 km2) (0.7%) is water.[11]

Adjacent counties[]

National protected areas[]

  • Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail (part)
  • Kaniksu National Forest (part)
  • Kootenai National Forest (part)
  • Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge

Transportation[]

Highways[]

  • US 2 US 2
  • US 95 US 95
  • ID-1 SH-1

Airports[]

Boundary County Airport is a county-owned, public-use airport located two nautical miles (3.7 km) northeast of the central business district of Bonners Ferry.[12]

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1920 4,474
1930 4,555 1.8%
1940 5,987 31.4%
1950 5,908 −1.3%
1960 5,809 −1.7%
1970 6,371 9.7%
1980 7,289 14.4%
1990 8,332 14.3%
2000 9,871 18.5%
2010 10,972 11.2%
Est. 2021 12,561 [13] 27.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]
1790–1960[15] 1900–1990[16]
1990–2000[17] 2010–2020[18]

2000 census[]

As of the census[19] of 2000, there were 9,871 people, 3,707 households, and 2,698 families living in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile (3/km2). There were 4,095 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.24% White, 0.16% Black or African American, 2.02% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.86% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. 3.39% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 21.4% were of German, 12.9% American, 12.7% English, 9.9% Irish and 6.4% Norwegian ancestry.

There were 3,707 households, out of which 34.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.40% were married couples living together, 7.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.20% were non-families. 23.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 29.20% under the age of 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 24.40% from 25 to 44, 26.20% from 45 to 64, and 13.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 101.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,250, and the median income for a family was $36,440. Males had a median income of $31,209 versus $18,682 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,636. About 11.50% of families and 20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.50% of those under age 18 and 11.40% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census[]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 10,972 people, 4,421 households, and 2,976 families living in the county.[20] The population density was 8.6 inhabitants per square mile (3.3 /km2). There were 5,175 housing units at an average density of 4.1 per square mile (1.6 /km2).[21] The racial makeup of the county was 94.8% white, 1.7% American Indian, 0.6% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.5% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.7% of the population.[20] In terms of ancestry, 22.5% were German, 12.8% were English, 11.2% were Irish, 7.4% were American, 5.9% were Norwegian, 5.4% were Dutch, and 5.1% were Scottish.[22]

Of the 4,421 households, 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.7% were non-families, and 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.00. The median age was 42.8 years.[20]

The median income for a household in the county was $37,712 and the median income for a family was $43,562. Males had a median income of $36,125 versus $26,076 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,011. About 15.7% of families and 18.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.0% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.[23]

Politics[]

Like most of Idaho, Boundary County is solidly Republican. The last Democratic presidential candidate to carry the county was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.

United States presidential election results for Boundary County, Idaho[24]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 4,937 78.15% 1,220 19.31% 160 2.53%
2016 3,789 73.39% 933 18.07% 441 8.54%
2012 3,138 69.06% 1,225 26.96% 181 3.98%
2008 3,078 65.02% 1,484 31.35% 172 3.63%
2004 3,012 68.78% 1,268 28.96% 99 2.26%
2000 2,797 72.01% 832 21.42% 255 6.57%
1996 1,937 50.05% 1,194 30.85% 739 19.10%
1992 1,479 39.19% 1,095 29.01% 1,200 31.80%
1988 1,800 56.21% 1,336 41.72% 66 2.06%
1984 2,159 63.46% 1,158 34.04% 85 2.50%
1980 2,088 59.44% 1,087 30.94% 338 9.62%
1976 1,458 52.15% 1,217 43.53% 121 4.33%
1972 1,587 59.26% 860 32.11% 231 8.63%
1968 1,084 47.19% 883 38.44% 330 14.37%
1964 1,065 42.89% 1,418 57.11% 0 0.00%
1960 1,237 45.18% 1,501 54.82% 0 0.00%
1956 1,419 55.24% 1,150 44.76% 0 0.00%
1952 1,641 60.98% 1,040 38.65% 10 0.37%
1948 910 43.35% 1,029 49.02% 160 7.62%
1944 1,064 49.26% 1,053 48.75% 43 1.99%
1940 1,221 45.49% 1,393 51.90% 70 2.61%
1936 732 33.86% 1,304 60.31% 126 5.83%
1932 763 33.35% 1,451 63.42% 74 3.23%
1928 1,015 61.66% 607 36.88% 24 1.46%
1924 829 46.97% 244 13.82% 692 39.21%
1920 883 62.71% 525 37.29% 0 0.00%
1916 598 44.07% 653 48.12% 106 7.81%



Media[]

Television[]

A local translator district provides broadcast television stations from Spokane, WA.

Radio[]

Bonners Ferry has been home to KBFI AM 1450 since 1983. It is owned by local licensee Radio Bonners Ferry, Inc, owned by Blue Sky Broadcasting, Inc. While licensed to Bonner's Ferry and its transmitter site is there, KBFI shares studios and offices with its sister stations (KSPT, KIBR, and KPND), at 327 Marion Avenue in Sandpoint, Idaho.

Newspapers[]

Bonners Ferry is served by a single newspaper and several online news outlets. The weekly Bonners Ferry Herald, owned by Hagadone Publishing is the official paper of record.

Communities[]

Cities[]

  • Bonners Ferry
  • Moyie Springs

Unincorporated communities[]

  • Copeland
  • Eastport
  • Good Grief
  • Naples
  • Porthill
  • Curley Creek

See also[]

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Boundary County, Idaho

References[]

  1. ^ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named 2020 Census
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  3. ^ Idaho Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. Chicago: The Newberry Library. 2010. p. 62. http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/downloads/states.html. 
  4. ^ "P.L. 94-171 VTD/SLD REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): Boundary County, ID". United States Census Bureau. http://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/pl10map/vtd_sld/st16_id/c16021_boundary/PL10VTD_C16021_001.pdf. 
  5. ^ "Boundary County, Idaho voting districts". US Census Bureau. http://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/pl10map/vtd_sld/st16_id/c16021_boundary/PL10VTD_C16021_VTD2MS.txt. 
  6. ^ A Report of the Seventeenth Decennial Census of the United States Census of Population: 1950. Washington: United States Government Printing Office. 1952. pp. 12–14. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html. 
  7. ^ "Bonners Ferry, Idaho". http://www.bonnersferry.com/AboutBonnersFerry.asp. 
  8. ^ Census Reports Volume I: Twelfth Census of the United States taken in the year 1900. Washington: United States Census Office. 1901. p. 112. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html. 
  9. ^ Sixteenth Census of the United States: 1940. Washington: United States Government Printing Office. 1942. p. 272. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html. 
  10. ^ "Boundary County, Idaho, News". http://www.newsbf.com/news/110304gloria_white.html. 
  11. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html. 
  12. ^ FAA Airport Master Record for 65S (Form 5010 PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. Effective June 3, 2010.
  13. ^ "County Population Totals: 2020-2021". https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html. 
  14. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html. 
  15. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/. 
  16. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/id190090.txt. 
  17. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf. 
  18. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/16/16021.html. 
  19. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/. 
  20. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US16021. 
  21. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US16021. 
  22. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US16021. 
  23. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US16021. 
  24. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 

External links[]


This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Boundary County, Idaho. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
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