Clark County, Idaho

History

Establishment of stage coach stops along the route between Salt Lake City and the Montana mines were established at Beaver Canyon and Dry Creek (now Dubois) in 1864. Originally part of Alturas County, both locations were transferred to Oneida County in 1877. They became part of Bingham County at its creation in 1885. Clark County was also the site of the Battle of Camas Creek during the Nez Perce War which occurred at Camas Meadows near Kilgore on August 20, 1872. The Utah and Northern Railway reached Beaver Canyon in 1879. By the 1890 Census, Beaver Canyon had a population of 216. The settlement relocated to Spencer in 1897.

The majority of Clark County was transferred to Fremont County when it was created in 1893 with the remaining territory being transferred in 1896. By the 1900 Census, 1,199 residents lived in the five precincts of Birch Creek, Dubois, Kilgore, Medicine Lodge, and Spencer. At the 1910 census, the precincts contained 1,095 residents.

Dry Creek was renamed Dubois in 1892 and incorporated prior to 1920 while Spencer was incorporated in 1947.

The county was established 98 years ago in 1919, partitioned from Fremont County by the state legislature; the county division bill was signed by Governor D. W. Davis on February 1. It was named for state senator Sam K. Clark, an early pioneer on Medicine Lodge Creek in the upper Snake River valley.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,765 square miles (4,570 km²), of which 1,764 square miles (4,570 km²) is land and 1.0 square mile (2.6 km²) (0.1%) is water.

The northern border of the county is the Bitterroot Range of the Rocky Mountains, which forms the state line with Montana and is also the continental divide. It is crossed by Interstate 15 over Monida Pass at 6,820 feet (2,080 m) above sea level. Monida Pass also marks an east-west divide between Bitterroot subranges: the Beaverhead Mountains are to the west and the Centennial Mountains are to the east.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

National protected areas

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,022 people, 340 households, and 257 families residing in the county. The population density was 1 person per square mile (0/km²). There were 521 housing units at an average density of 0 per square mile (0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 74.17% White, 0.10% Black or African American, 0.98% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 23.48% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. 34.25% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 14.3% were of English, 8.1% German and 5.8% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 340 households out of which 45.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.80% were married couples living together, 7.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.40% were non-families. 20.00% 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 3.01 and the average family size was 3.52.

In the county, the population was spread out with 35.20% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 20.10% from 45 to 64, and 9.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 110.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,576, and the median income for a family was $31,534. Males had a median income of $23,854 versus $20,192 for females. The per capita income for the county was $11,141. About 18.70% of families and 19.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.10% of those under age 18 and 11.70% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 982 people, 345 households, and 243 families residing in the county. The population density was 0.6 inhabitants per square mile (0.23/km²). There were 531 housing units at an average density of 0.3 per square mile (0.12/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 72.4% white, 1.0% American Indian, 0.7% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 23.8% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 40.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 14.8% were English, 7.4% were German, and 6.5% were American.

Of the 345 households, 37.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.4% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.6% were non-families, and 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.41. The median age was 32.7 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,909 and the median income for a family was $37,656. Males had a median income of $32,895 versus $24,125 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,737. About 8.7% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.5% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The public schools in the county are operated by Clark County School District #161, headquartered in Dubois. Clark County High School competes in athletics in the Rocky Mountain Conference in IHSAA 1A Division II; the school colors are orange and black and its mascot is a bobcat.

Cities

Unincorporated communities