According to liuxers.com, Bonner County is located in the northern part of the state of Idaho, and is bordered by Kootenai County to the west, Boundary County to the east, and Shoshone County to the south. The county seat is Sandpoint, with a population of 8,417. Bonner County covers an area of 1,672 square miles and has a population of 40,906 according to the 2019 census.
The county’s economy is primarily driven by timber production and tourism. Bonner County is home to many scenic attractions including Schweitzer Mountain Resort and Lake Pend Oreille – a large lake that offers many recreational activities such as boating, fishing, swimming, camping and more. Additionally, there are several public parks in the area offering hiking trails and other outdoor activities for visitors to enjoy.
Bonner County features an abundance of wildlife including deer, elk, moose, black bear and bald eagles. The county also has several rivers including Priest River which runs through it from east to west. The river provides excellent opportunities for fishing as well as kayaking or rafting trips down its rapids.
Education in Bonner County is provided by two school districts – Lake Pend Oreille School District (LPOSD) which serves Sandpoint and Ponderay; and West Bonner School District (WBSD) which serves Priest River and Oldtown. There are seven elementary schools in LPOSD as well as two middle schools; one high school; three alternative learning centers; four charter schools; one technical college; one university center; one community college branch campus; one adult education center; three libraries; two fire academies; one police academy; six parks/recreation facilities/programs; five golf courses/clubs/facilities/programs; four museums/cultural centers/programs along with numerous other facilities offering services such as churches or health care organizations for residents of Bonner County.
History of Bonner County, Idaho
Bonner County, Idaho has a rich and varied history that dates back to the 1800s. The county was first established in 1864 as part of the Idaho Territory. It was originally named Pend Oreille County after the nearby lake, but this name was later changed to Bonner County in honor of Edwin Bonner, an early settler. The county seat is Sandpoint, which was founded in 1883 and incorporated in 1901.
The area around Sandpoint had long been home to Native American tribes, including the Coeur d’Alene tribe. There were also several fur trading posts operating in the region throughout the 1800s. After its establishment, Bonner County became a hub for logging and mining operations due to its abundance of natural resources. These industries brought many settlers to the area during this time period.
In 1912, Bonner County saw its first railroad line built through Sandpoint by Northern Pacific Railway Company. This helped bring more people and businesses to the area, which continued to grow throughout the 20th century with an influx of tourism as well as new industries such as agriculture and manufacturing.
Today, Bonner County is a popular destination for outdoor recreation including camping, fishing, hiking, skiing and more. It is also home to many historic buildings such as the old courthouse building which dates back to 1889; several museums; parks; golf courses; libraries and other cultural sites that provide visitors with plenty of opportunities for exploration and discovery.
Major cities and towns in Bonner County, Idaho
Bonner County, Idaho is home to a number of cities and towns. The county seat is Sandpoint, which was founded in 1883 and incorporated in 1901. It is the largest city in the county with a population of around 8,000 people. Sandpoint is known for its natural beauty and abundance of outdoor recreational activities such as camping, fishing, hiking, skiing and more.
Another major town in Bonner County is Ponderay. This small town was founded in 1907 and has a population of about 1,500 people. Ponderay is located near the Pend Oreille River and offers visitors plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation as well as access to nearby Lake Pend Oreille.
The city of Priest River was established in 1886 as an important timber center along the Priest River Railroad line. It has since grown into a small city with a population of 2,000 people who enjoy its rural atmosphere as well as access to nearby lakes and rivers.
Kootenai is another small town located in Bonner County with a population of about 750 people. This quaint town offers visitors plenty of outdoor recreational opportunities including hunting, fishing and camping along the Kootenai River or nearby lakes such as Lake Pend Oreille or Lake Coeur d’Alene.
Hope is another small town located on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille with a population of around 600 people. Here visitors can enjoy numerous outdoor activities such as boating, fishing and swimming on the lake or hiking through nearby national forests like Kaniksu National Forest or Cocolalla National Forest.
Bonner County also includes several unincorporated communities such as Sagle, Coolin, Clark Fork, Nordman and more that offer visitors plenty of opportunities for exploration and discovery.
Airports in Bonner County, Idaho
According to Countryaah, Bonner County, Idaho is home to a number of airports that provide travelers with easy access to the region. Sandpoint Airport is the largest airport in the county and serves both commercial and general aviation aircraft. It is located just outside of Sandpoint and provides travelers with convenient access to all parts of Bonner County as well as nearby cities like Spokane, Washington. The airport offers flights to a number of destinations including Seattle, Portland, Boise, and Denver.
Priest River Airport is another airport located in Priest River and serves only general aviation aircraft. This small airport offers visitors access to smaller towns throughout Bonner County as well as nearby lakes such as Lake Pend Oreille or Lake Coeur d’Alene for outdoor recreation activities like fishing and boating.
Hope Airport is located near Hope on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille and primarily serves general aviation aircraft. The airport provides travelers with convenient access to nearby towns such as Clark Fork or Oldtown in addition to outdoor recreational activities on the lake or in nearby national forests like Kaniksu National Forest or Cocolalla National Forest.
Additionally, there are several private airports located throughout Bonner County that provide pilots with easy access to the region for recreational flying or business travel. These airports include Coolin Airport near Coolin, Sagle Airport near Sagle, Nordman Airport near Nordman and more. All of these airports offer visitors plenty of opportunities for exploration and discovery.