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Bear Lake County, Idaho

Coordinates: 42°17′N 111°20′W / 42.29°N 111.33°W / 42.29; -111.33
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Bear Lake County
County
Bear Lake County Courthouse
Bear Lake County Courthouse
Official seal of Bear Lake County
Seal
Map of Idaho highlighting Bear Lake County
Location within the U.S. state of Idaho
Map of the United States highlighting Idaho
Idaho's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°17′N 111°20′W / 42.29°N 111.33°W / 42.29; -111.33
Country United States
State Idaho
FoundedJanuary 5, 1875
Named forBear Lake
SeatParis
Largest cityMontpelier
Area
 • Total1,049 sq mi (2,720 km2)
 • Land975 sq mi (2,530 km2)
 • Water75 sq mi (190 km2)  7.1%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total5,986
 • Density6.1/sq mi (2.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitebearlakecounty.info

Bear Lake County is a county in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2010 Census the county had a population of 5,986.[1] The county seat is Paris,[2] and Montpelier is the largest city.

The county is named after Bear Lake, a large alpine lake at an elevation of 5,924 feet (1,806 m) above sea level. The northern half of the 20-mile-long (32 km) lake is in Idaho, the southern half in Utah. The county was established in 1875 in the Idaho Territory, fifteen years before statehood.

History

Peg-Leg Smith established and operated a trading post on the Oregon Trail from 1848-1850 near Dingle.[3] The first settlement in the Bear Lake Valley was Paris, settled by Mormon pioneers led by Charles Rich on September 26, 1863. Thirty families comprised the original settlement. In the spring of 1864, Montpelier was settled on the other side of the valley on the Oregon Trail. Bear Lake County was established in 1875,[4] and the railroad was extended through Montpelier in 1892.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,049 square miles (2,720 km2), of which 975 square miles (2,530 km2) is land and 75 square miles (190 km2) (6.1%) is water.[5] The county is centered around Bear Lake Valley and includes the surrounding mountain ranges. The valley is high in the mountains, with its lowest elevation over 5,900 feet (1,800 m) above sea level. The highest point in the county is Meade Peak at 9,957 feet (3,035 m).

Adjacent counties

Major highways

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18803,235—
18906,05787.2%
19007,05116.4%
19107,7299.6%
19208,78313.6%
19307,872−10.4%
19407,9110.5%
19506,834−13.6%
19607,1484.6%
19705,801−18.8%
19806,93119.5%
19906,084−12.2%
20006,4115.4%
20105,986−6.6%
2014 (est.)5,957−0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2014[1]

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 6,411 people, 2,259 households, and 1,710 families residing in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile (3/km²). There were 3,268 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.66% White, 0.09% Black or African American, 0.53% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.08% from other races, and 0.51% from two or more races. 2.40% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 28.6% were of English, 16.1% American, 9.4% German, 7.1% Danish, 6.2% Swiss and 5.5% Swedish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 2,259 households out of which 38.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.90% were married couples living together, 6.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.30% were non-families. 22.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.33.

In the county the population was spread out with 33.00% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 22.40% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 15.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,162, and the median income for a family was $38,351. Males had a median income of $33,958 versus $17,829 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,592. About 7.10% of families and 9.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.30% of those under age 18 and 9.20% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ^ [1] THOMAS L. (PEG-LEG) SMITH'S HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY FUR TRADE OPERATIONS
  4. ^ "Bear Lake County". State of Idaho. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
  5. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  10. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.

42°17′N 111°20′W / 42.29°N 111.33°W / 42.29; -111.33

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