Boundary County | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofIdaho | |
 Idaho's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:48°47′N116°27′W / 48.79°N 116.45°W /48.79; -116.45 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Idaho |
| Founded | January 23, 1915 |
| Named after | Canada–United States border |
| Seat | Bonners Ferry |
| Largest city | Bonners Ferry |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,278 sq mi (3,310 km2) |
| • Land | 1,269 sq mi (3,290 km2) |
| • Water | 9.3 sq mi (24 km2) 0.7% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 12,056 |
• Estimate (2023) | 13,557 |
| • Density | 9.4/sq mi (3.6/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | boundarycountyid |
Boundary County is the northernmostcounty of theU.S. state ofIdaho. As of the2020 census, the population was 12,056.[1] Thecounty seat and largest city isBonners Ferry.[2]
Boundary County was created by the Idaho Legislature on January 23, 1915. It is so named because it bordersCanada, and is therefore the onlycounty in Idaho with aninternational border. It is also only one of three counties in the United States that borders two states and a foreign country, the others beingCoös County, New Hampshire, andErie County, Pennsylvania; these three counties additionally make up the entirety of the international border of their respective states, the only three counties nationwide to do so.
Boundary County was formed on January 23, 1915, fromBonner 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, convictedspyChristopher John Boyce found refuge in Boundary County, for a few months, after his escape from theLompoc 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 theRuby Ridge siege by 350–400 armed federal agents againstRandy Weaver and his family.
According to theU.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]
Boundary County Airport is a county-owned, public-useairport located two nautical miles (3.7 km) northeast of thecentral business district of Bonners Ferry.[12]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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% | |
| 2020 | 12,056 | 9.9% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 13,557 | [13] | 12.5% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[14] 1790–1960[15] 1900–1990[16] 1990–2000[17] 2010–2020[18] 2020[1] | |||
As of thecensus[19] of 2000, there were 9,871 people, 3,707 households, and 2,698 families living in the county. Thepopulation density was 8 people per square mile (3.1 people/km2). There were 4,095 housing units at an average density of 3 units per square mile (1.2 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.24%White, 0.16%Black orAfrican American, 2.02%Native American, 0.58%Asian, 0.07%Pacific Islander, 0.86% fromother races, and 1.07% from two or more races. 3.39% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 21.4% were ofGerman, 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% weremarried 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. Theper capita income for the county was $14,636. About 11.50% of families and 20% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 19.50% of those under age 18 and 11.40% of those age 65 or over.
As of the2010 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 units per square mile (1.6 units/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% wereGerman, 12.8% wereEnglish, 11.2% wereIrish, 7.4% wereAmerican, 5.9% wereNorwegian, 5.4% wereDutch, and 5.1% wereScottish.[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 thepoverty line, including 22.0% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.[23]
Like most of Idaho, Boundary County is solidly Republican. The last Democratic presidential candidate to carry the county wasLyndon B. Johnson in 1964.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 5,794 | 81.49% | 1,145 | 16.10% | 171 | 2.41% |
| 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% |
A local translator district provides broadcast television stations fromSpokane, WA.
KBFI, 1450 AM -Bonners Ferry has been home toKBFI AM 1450 since 1983. It is owned by local licenseeRadio Bonners Ferry, Inc, owned byBlue 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, andKPND), at 327 Marion Avenue in Sandpoint, Idaho.
KSBF, 88.9 FM - Owned and operated by Bonners Ferry Baptist Church, KSBF began broadcasting in 2024, and is an affiliate of theFundamental Broadcasting Network.
KQFR, 90.7 FM - On September 7, 2022, KQFR, 90.7 FM began broadcasting. Affiliated with "Cornerstone Christian School," KQFR airs a Christian format and is licensed to Moyie Springs.
Bonners Ferry is served by a single newspaper and several online news outlets. The weeklyBonners Ferry Herald, owned by Hagadone Publishing is the official paper of record.
There is one school district in Boundary County:Boundary County School District 101.[25]
It is in the catchment area, but not the taxation zone, forNorth Idaho College.[26]
Places adjacent to Boundary County, Idaho | |
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Municipalities and communities ofBoundary County, Idaho,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Indian reservation | ||
State ofIdaho | |
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Boise (capital) | |
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