Geography and Weather Population Economy Major Employers Labor Force Boundary Community Hospital Schools Government

Community Organizations Churches Agriculture Local Talent Communications Taxations Transportation Utilities

Geography and Weather

Forest and rich farmland abound in beautiful Boundary County, lying along the Canadian border. The 1,277-square-mile county, whose county seat is Bonners Ferry, is bordered on the west by Washington state, on the east by Montana and on the south by Bonner County. More than 90 percent of the county is forested, and three mountain ranges run through the county: Selkirk, Purcell and Cabinet. The Kootenai, Pack, Upper Priest and Moyie rivers flow through this mountainous county. Most of the county’s agricultural land, accounting for 9 percent of the county’s land, lies in the fertile glacial valley of the meandering Kootenai River.

Bonners Ferry is located in the northeastern corner of Idaho on Highway 95 and 2. For reference, here’s the mileage from Bonners Ferry to other points: 24 miles south of Canada, 31 miles north of Sandpoint, 16 miles west of Montana, 106 miles northeast of Spokane, Wash., and 400 miles east of Seattle, Wash.

Government ownership of the county is divided among the following: federal, 61 percent; state, 13 percent; county and municipal, less than 1 percent.

The climate in Bonners Ferry is relatively moderate with four distinct seasons. At an elevation of 1,810 feet, Bonners Ferry has 130 frost free days.

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Population

Boundary County’s scenery, recreational opportunities and quality of life have drawn many new residents. From 1990 to 1997, Boundary County’s population increased 18.6 percent, while the U.S. population increased 7.6 percent and Idaho’s population increased 20.2 percent. Boundary County added 223 people a year, three-fourths of those from net migration (the difference between people moving in and moving out.) See below for a table tracking population since 1980.

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Economy

Timber and agriculture are the traditional mainstays of the county. During the last 10 years, the timber industry in Boundary County bucked the trend of declining employment seen in most of the Pacific Northwest. In 1997 employment in logging and mills reached an all-time high of 704. Agriculture’s importance as an employer also increased. When Anheuser-Busch developed Elk Mountain Farms, a large hops farm, it became a primary reason for the county’s rapid economic development in the late 1980s. The creation of ornamental tree nurseries and Christmas tree farms further increased agricultural employment. Agriculture occurs on 69,000 acres of farms producing barley, wheat, oats and livestock, employing more than 800 people in the summer and more than 200 in the winter.

At the same time that timber and agriculture were adding jobs, Boundary County’s economy became less dependent on them. In 1982 CEDU Education Service founded Rocky Mountain Academy, a specialized boarding school six miles east of Bonners Ferry. CEDU is now the county’s largest employer, employing more than 350 people.

In 1986 the Kootenai Tribe opened the Kootenai River Inn, a luxury motel in Bonners Ferry, the flagship of its economic development efforts. The Inn’s opening gave the county’s small tourism industry new potential. In 1993, the Tribe expanded the motel and added bingo and gaming machines, increasing visitors to Bonners Ferry. The Inn’s employment doubled from 60 in 1991 to 120 in 1997.

A comprehensive view of the present economic situation and future business opportunities in Boundary County may be obtained from the Boundary Economic Development Council.

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Major Employers

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Labor Force

As most of the jobs in Boundary County are in forest-related activities, agriculture and tourism, employment tends to peak in late summer. The lowest point of economic activity is at spring break-up, when muddy roads prevent loggers from working for a six- to eight-week period in March and April. The high unemployment rates in the winter and spring push up the average unemployment for the year. The civilian labor force was made up of 4,573 people in 1997. There was an average of 8.8 percent unemployment for that year.

Wages in Boundary County, as in many rural counties in Idaho, tend to be lower than in most of the United States. The per capita, annual income was $15,682 (1997).

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 Boundary Community Hospital

Boundary Community Hospital, a non-profit medical facility, is the northern-most hospital in Idaho. Placed on a 2.5-acre campus at 6640 Kaniksu Street, the hospital and nursing home were completely renovated and expanded in 1993. . The facility has 62 beds including 12 beds for acute care. The hospital maintains a 24-hour service for emergencies and semi-urgent problems and operates a fully staffed home health service for the community. A new outpatient clinic was opened at that time. A full range of inpatient and outpatient services is provided at the hospital, i.e. laboratory, cardiopulmonary, rehabilitation – physical, speech, occupational, and diagnostic imaging – mammograms, bone density, x-rays, CT, and MRI. In addition, the outpatient clinic provides visiting specialty physicians in orthopedics, cardiology, and general surgery.

The hospital employs approximately 190 dedicated employees. Part of that staff is employed to care for the patients in the extended care facility. For two years the facility has been the recipient of the Jean Schoonover award of excellence, by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. In addition, for two years in a row, the state declared the extended care facility to be deficiency-free following their annual survey.

A volunteer ambulance service is also located in Bonners Ferry. Helicopter service is available from the hospital for transfer of [patients to trauma centers in Coeur d’Alene and Spokane.

Visit their website at www.boundaryhospital.org.

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Schools

The Boundary County School District No. 101 has a student population of about 1,700 attending four elementary schools, one junior high, one high school and one alternative school.

The district’s central office may be contacted at 267-3146, P.O. Box 899, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805. There are five trustees elected to the Board of Trustees.

In 1982 CEDU Education Service founded Rocky Mountain Academy, a specialized boarding school six miles east of Bonners Ferry. In the 1990s, CEDU has expanded its family of private schools in and around Bonners Ferry, by adding the Northwest Academy, Ascent, Boulder Creek and other programs. CEDU education serves teens and their families facing tough challenges. CEDU may be contacted at their central office: 110 Main St., Sandpoint, ID. Phone 208-265-0607.

Opportunities for post-high school education are available throughout northern Idaho and eastern Washington, including the University of Idaho and Washington State University, 162 miles south in the Moscow-Pullman area. The Spokane area, 106 miles southwest, has seven schools, and North Idaho College is located in Coeur d’Alene, 78 miles south.

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Government

Incorporated in 1899, Bonners Ferry currently has a population of about 2,500 people. Voters elect a city council consisting of four councilmen and a mayor. The day-to-day operations are handled by a city administrator appointed by the council. The city has a seven-member police force and shares court facilities and a new jail with the county. Fire protection is provided by a 20-member volunteer fire department. In addition to a water and sewer system, the City supplies about a third of the town’s electric power through a city-owned power plant and dam on the Moyie River.

Boundary County is managed by a three-member board of commissioners elected by the people. The commissioners’ office and all county services are centered in Bonners Ferry, the county seat, at the historic Boundary County Courthouse. Other offices include the Sheriff, Treasurer, District Court, Appraiser, Assessor, Planning and Zoning and Motor Vehicle Licensing.

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 Community Organization list is being developed

 

 

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Boundary County Churches
Listed by major denomination

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Agriculture in Boundary County

The agricultural areas of Boundary County are confined to the old flood plain of the Kootenai River Valley (approximately 35,000 acres) and the bench areas above the flood plain (approximately 60,000 acres). Although the growing season is 120 days to 130 days for these areas, cool night temperatures limit economic production of some crops.

Crop production in the flood plains consists of winter and spring wheat, spring barley, winter and spring canola, timothy and white clover for seed and hops (grown by Elk Mountain Farms, a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch). Crops of the bench area are spring and winter wheat, spring barley, alfalfa hay, alfalfa seed, grass hay, pasture and production of forestry and nursery landscape plant material.

Although there are many micro-climates in Boundary County, most inhabited areas are suitable for fruit and vegetable garden production. Apples, pears, plums and apricots are grown, but peaches are not a reliable crop in the county. Vegetables successfully grown include corn, tomatoes, beans, squash, and all the cool-season vegetables (cabbage, broccoli, etc.).

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Local Talent

A surprising number of a wide range of artists call Bonners Ferry home. The area’s natural beauty lends itself to artistic expression. To enjoy the works of our many talented artists, visit studios, local galleries and area businesses. Each year artists organize a cooperative exhibit lasting three days at an area business. Call 267-2857 for more information.

Check with these galleries for more information on current artists featured:

• K. Haynes Gallery north of Bonners Ferry on District 2 Road exhibits the watercolors of regional landscapes by Katherine Haynes and wood sculptures by Will Venard. Haynes also teaches watercolor classes. Phone 208-267-2007.
  
  
• Mace Gallery on Deep Creek Road off Highway 95 near the golf course showcases Jean Mace’s oils and watercolors featuring Northwest subjects. Notice the signs for Mace Gallery are hand-carved by Bob Venard, who is the Herald’s cartoonist. Phone 208-267-2857.
  
  
• Northern Color Artworks (Directors: Maureen Lange & Diana Moses Botkin) Local art in all media: pastel, ink, prints, oil, watercolor, etc. Sea/landscape to portrait to any inspired subjects. Studio workshops available as well as display. Not open until Spring/Summer 2000.
  
  
• The Hibernia Studio at 7193 Main in Bonners Ferry exhibits the artwork of several local artists, You never know what you are going to find in Bonners Ferry ... unless you stop and look!! Professional custom framing and gallery. Limited edition prints, sculptures, original works, local artists, and exclusive North Idaho dealer for Nickolas Mosse Pottery from Ireland. Variety is our specialty. We ship throughout the U.S. and Canada. Hours: Mon - Fri 9:30 am to 5:30 pm, Sat 9:30 am to 5 pm. Located in downtown. Email hibernia@dmi.net. Website www.usworldpages.com. Phone 208-267-9053

Businesses that display artwork include:

• Boundary Community Hospital displays paintings by Haynes and Botkin.
• All local banks display the work of local artists on a rotating basis.

For more information on the artists living here, call Jean Mace at 267-2857.

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Communications

Newspapers

The Bonners Ferry Herald provides weekly coverage of local and regional news. The paper has served the community since 1891. Phone 208-267-5521. Revived in 1988, after nearly a century hiatus, the Kootenai Valley Times is also distributed weekly covering local news. Phone 208-267-7004. More extensive regional, national and international coverage is available in the Daily Bee, based in Sandpoint, Idaho, and the Spokesman Review, based in Spokane, Wash.

Television

Three commercial stations, each one representing a major national network, broadcast from the Spokane area. These are supplemented by Public TV and an extensive cable system.

Radio

Bonners Ferry has one radio station, KBFI. Many of Spokane’s AM and FM stations can be received in the Bonners Ferry area. Sandpoint’s radio stations – KPND, KSPT, K-BEAR – are also received in most Boundary County areas.

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Taxation

Retail Sales: 5% state levied tax, no local tax levy

Property Taxes: For 1998, in the city, the property tax rate was .013313749 (about $13.31 per $1,000 assessed valuation) in addition to a flat-rate fee for solid waste.

Personal Income Tax: Idaho has a progressive income tax patterned after the Federal Income Tax structure.

Corporation Net Income Tax: A 7.7% tax is levied against income derived from sources within the state.

Workmen’s compensation: A firm has the option of private company insurance or insurance through the State Insurance Fund.

For more detailed information, contact: Department of Revenue & Taxation, State Tax Commission, P.O. Box 36, Boise, Idaho 83722 or the Boundary County Assessor, Boundary County Courthouse, Bonners Ferry, Idaho 83805.

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 Transportation

Air

Bonners Ferry has a general aviation airfield with a 4,000-foot, paved runway. Nearest air freight service is 83 miles south at Coeur d’Alene. Commuter service is available in Boundary County from Air Carrier Certificate on a non-scheduled basis. Charter flights are available locally through Northern Air, Inc. Phone 208-267-4359. Regional, national and international air service is available at Spokane International Airport located to the southwest of Bonners Ferry in Washington state.

Railroad

Two railroads serve Bonners Ferry, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe and the Union Pacific. Services include a freight terminal, freight house and rail yard. The closest Amtrak terminal is in Sandpoint, Idaho, 31 miles south of Bonners Ferry.
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Utilities

Telephone

Service is provided by GTE. The business office is in Coeur d’Alene. Phone: 1-800-483-4100.

Electricity

Electricity is provided by the city from two small dams on the Moyie River. The municipal system is backed up by the Bonneville Power Administration. Northern Lights Inc. serves rural areas.

Gas

Natural gas is provided by Avista Utilities. The business phone is 208-664-9191.

Water/Sewer

The City has an approved municipal water system and also provides standard sewage collection and treatment services.