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Clearwater County, Idaho

Coordinates: 46°40′N 115°40′W / 46.67°N 115.66°W / 46.67; -115.66
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Clearwater County
County
Weippe Prairie
Weippe Prairie
Official seal of Clearwater County
Seal
Map of Idaho highlighting Clearwater County
Location within the U.S. state of Idaho
Map of the United States highlighting Idaho
Idaho's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 46°40′N 115°40′W / 46.67°N 115.66°W / 46.67; -115.66
Country United States
State Idaho
FoundedFebruary 27, 1911
Named forClearwater River
SeatOrofino
Largest cityOrofino
Area
 • Total
2,488 sq mi (6,440 km2)
 • Land2,457 sq mi (6,360 km2)
 • Water31 sq mi (80 km2)  1.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
8,734
 • Estimate 
(2023)
9,214 Increase
 • Density3.5/sq mi (1.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC−8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.clearwatercounty.org

Clearwater County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,734.[1] The county seat is Orofino.[2] Established in 1911, the county was named after the Clearwater River. The county is home to North Fork of the Clearwater River, and a small portion of the South Fork and the main Clearwater. Also in the county are the Dworshak Reservoir, Dworshak State Park, Dworshak National Fish Hatchery, and the Dworshak Dam, third highest in the U.S. The modest Bald Mountain ski area is located between Orofino and Pierce.

History

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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 mile (2 km) 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.[3] 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

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Elk Creek Falls

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,488 square miles (6,440 km2), of which 2,457 square miles (6,360 km2) is land and 31 square miles (80 km2) (1.2%) is water.[4] It is part of the Palouse, a wide and rolling prairie-like region of the middle Columbia basin.

Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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National protected areas

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Ski area

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Government and infrastructure

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The Idaho Department of Correction operates the Idaho Correctional Institution-Orofino in Orofino.[5][6]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19204,993—
19306,59932.2%
19408,24324.9%
19508,217−0.3%
19608,5484.0%
197010,87127.2%
198010,390−4.4%
19908,505−18.1%
20008,9305.0%
20108,761−1.9%
20208,734−0.3%
2023 (est.)9,214[7]5.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10]
1990–2000[11] 2010–2020[12] 2020[1]

2000 census

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As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 8,930 people, 3,456 households, and 2,481 families living in the county. The population density was 3.6 people per square mile (1.4 people/km2). There were 4,144 housing units at an average density of 2 units per square mile (0.77 units/km2). 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.

2010 census

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As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 8,761 people, 3,660 households, and 2,397 families living in the county.[14] The population density was 3.6 inhabitants per square mile (1.4/km2). There were 4,453 housing units at an average density of 1.8 units per square mile (0.69 units/km2).[15] 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.[14] 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.[16]

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.[14]

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.[17]

As of the 2020 census, there were 8,734 people, and 3,474 households in the county.[18] The population density of the county was 3.6 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 93% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 2.6% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, and 2.6% from two or more races.[18] Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.5% of the population.

Communities

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Cities

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Unincorporated communities

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Ghost town

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Population ranking

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The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Clearwater County.[19]

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2010 Census)
1 † Orofino City 3,142
2 Pierce City 508
3 Weippe City 441
4 Elk River City 125

Politics

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United States presidential election results for Clearwater County, Idaho[20][21]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 3,550 80.32% 774 17.51% 96 2.17%
2020 3,453 78.14% 877 19.85% 89 2.01%
2016 2,852 75.03% 704 18.52% 245 6.45%
2012 2,541 68.75% 1,032 27.92% 123 3.33%
2008 2,569 65.77% 1,211 31.00% 126 3.23%
2004 2,839 70.38% 1,117 27.69% 78 1.93%
2000 2,885 74.05% 841 21.59% 170 4.36%
1996 1,658 42.70% 1,507 38.81% 718 18.49%
1992 1,152 30.87% 1,433 38.40% 1,147 30.73%
1988 1,659 45.87% 1,861 51.45% 97 2.68%
1984 2,176 56.55% 1,608 41.79% 64 1.66%
1980 2,178 50.49% 1,699 39.38% 437 10.13%
1976 1,469 44.01% 1,752 52.49% 117 3.51%
1972 1,590 50.67% 1,412 45.00% 136 4.33%
1968 1,287 37.11% 1,838 53.00% 343 9.89%
1964 767 23.87% 2,446 76.13% 0 0.00%
1960 1,193 33.14% 2,407 66.86% 0 0.00%
1956 1,508 42.70% 2,024 57.30% 0 0.00%
1952 1,494 44.91% 1,826 54.88% 7 0.21%
1948 820 32.17% 1,571 61.63% 158 6.20%
1944 865 32.94% 1,744 66.41% 17 0.65%
1940 1,128 32.90% 2,284 66.61% 17 0.50%
1936 812 27.75% 1,959 66.95% 155 5.30%
1932 822 32.20% 1,699 66.55% 32 1.25%
1928 1,195 57.62% 852 41.08% 27 1.30%
1924 946 47.47% 725 36.38% 322 16.16%
1920 947 66.22% 482 33.71% 1 0.07%
1916 839 47.37% 678 38.28% 254 14.34%
1912 373 23.71% 549 34.90% 651 41.39%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "2020 Census Data". data.census.gov.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Clearwater County, Idaho|History". www.clearwatercounty.org. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  5. ^ "Locations." Idaho Department of Correction. Retrieved on June 4, 2011. "Idaho Correctional Institution-Orofino (ICIO) 381 West Hospital Drive Orofino ID 83544 "
  6. ^ "Orofino city, Idaho Archived November 24, 2011, at the Wayback Machine." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on June 4, 2011.
  7. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  12. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  14. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  15. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  16. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  17. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  18. ^ a b "Census Quick facts Clearwater county". April 2023.
  19. ^ "Decennial Census, 2010".
  20. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  21. ^ The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 345 votes while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 284 votes and Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin 22 votes.
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46°40′N 115°40′W / 46.67°N 115.66°W / 46.67; -115.66

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