Latah County, Idaho

Latah County, Idaho
Seal
Location in the U.S. state of Idaho
Idaho's location in the U.S.
Founded	May 14, 1888
Named for	Latah Creek
Seat	Moscow
Largest city	Moscow
Area
• Total	1,077 sq mi (2,789 km2)
• Land	1,077 sq mi (2,789 km2)
• Water	0.9 sq mi (2 km2), 0.09%
Population
• (2010)	37,244
• Density	35/sq mi (14/km²)
Congressional district	1st
Time zone	Pacific: UTC-8/-7
Website	latah.id.us

University of Idaho Administration Building (1909) in Moscow

Latah County (pron. /ˈleɪtɑː/ LAY-tah) is a county located in the north central region of the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2010 census, the population was 37,244. The county seat and largest city is Moscow, the home of the University of Idaho, the state's flagship and land-grant university.

The county was created 137 years ago in 1888 and named for Latah Creek in its northwest corner. The name is Nez Perce and means "the place of pine trees and pestle," because the tribe found stones here suitable for pulverizing camas roots and shade under the white pine trees in which to work.

Latah County comprises the Moscow, ID Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Pullman-Moscow, WA-ID Combined Statistical Area.

The county comprises the majority of the eastern portion of the Palouse, famous for its rolling hills and rich agriculture. Latah County is the only county in the U.S. established by an act of Congress; it was originally part of Nez Perce County, which was reluctant to lose its most populated area.

History

Latah County has the distinction of being the only county in the United States created by an Act of Congress. Latah and Kootenai County were first created by the act of December 22, 1864, and the two unorganized counties were attached to Nez Perce County until they were organized. The act provided that when fifty or more inhabitants petitioned the governor, he was authorized to appoint three commissioners, until an election could be held. Three separate efforts at county organization failed, due to the opposition of Lewiston, the county seat of Nez Perce County (and the former capital of the Idaho Territory).

In 1887, Fred T. Dubois, the Idaho Territory's sole delegate in Congress, was asked to introduce a bill which was passed and approved by President Grover Cleveland on May 14, 1888. The act confirmed the boundaries and named the first board of county commissioners.

Geography

view from Moscow Mountain

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,077 square miles (2,790 km²), of which 1,076 square miles (2,790 km²) is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) (0.09%) is water. It is part of the Palouse, a wide and rolling portion of the middle Columbia basin.

Adjacent counties

• Benewah County - north
• Shoshone County - northeast
• Clearwater County - east
• Nez Perce County - south
• Whitman County, Washington - west

Major highways

• US 95
• SH-3
• SH-6
• SH-8
• SH-9
• SH-99

National protected area

• St. Joe National Forest (part)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1890	9,173		—
1900	13,451		46.6%
1910	18,818		39.9%
1920	18,092		−3.9%
1930	17,798		−1.6%
1940	18,804		5.7%
1950	20,971		11.5%
1960	21,170		0.9%
1970	24,891		17.6%
1980	28,749		15.5%
1990	30,617		6.5%
2000	34,935		14.1%
2010	37,244		6.6%
Est. 2014	38,411		3.1%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 34,935 people, 13,059 households, and 7,770 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile (13/km²). There were 13,838 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.94% White, 0.59% Black or African American, 0.75% Native American, 2.10% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.77% from other races, and 1.76% from two or more races. 2.12% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 20.4% were of German, 13.5% English, 8.7% Irish, 7.8% American and 5.9% Norwegian ancestry.

There were 13,059 households out of which 27.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.50% were married couples living together, 6.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.50% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county the population was spread out with 20.30% under the age of 18, 24.50% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 18.90% from 45 to 64, and 9.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 107.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,524, and the median income for a family was $46,303. Males had a median income of $34,734 versus $24,886 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,690. About 7.90% of families and 16.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.20% of those under age 18 and 5.40% of those age 65 or over. Forty percent of all workers in Latah County work for the University of Idaho or Washington State University in nearby Pullman.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 37,244 people, 14,708 households, and 8,241 families residing in the county. The population density was 34.6 inhabitants per square mile (13.4/km²). There were 15,988 housing units at an average density of 14.9 per square mile (5.8/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.8% white, 2.1% Asian, 0.8% black or African American, 0.6% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 1.0% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.6% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 31.0% were German, 16.8% were English, 15.3% were Irish, 6.9% were Norwegian, 5.5% were Swedish, and 3.0% were American.

Of the 14,708 households, 25.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 44.0% were non-families, and 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.89. The median age was 28.3 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,974 and the median income for a family was $54,172. Males had a median income of $40,510 versus $31,223 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,218. About 10.4% of families and 21.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.7% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

Latah County has long been one of the most politically competitive counties in Idaho, while the state as a whole is strongly Republican.

Latah County residents voted in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections for the Republican candidate at a lower rate than the rest of the state. In 2000, George W. Bush carried Latah County with 53.3% of the vote; in 2004, this fell to 49.5% of the vote as the Democratic vote share increased from 37.0% to 48.0%. Ralph Nader, who received 6.5% of the vote in 2000, was not on the ballot in 2004. In 2008, Barack Obama carried the county over John McCain 51.9%-45.1%. In 2012 Obama carried the county with 49.6 percent, compared to Mitt Romney's 45.3 percent. In 2006, Latah County voted 55.05% against HJR 2, which amended the Idaho Constitution to outlaw same-sex marriage; the measure passed with 63.35% of the statewide vote. Blaine County, a very popular ski resort area and Idaho's one Democratic stronghold, was the one other county to reject HJR 2.

On the precinct level, Democrats generally carry the university city of Moscow by moderate margins, and the rural remainder of the county is strongly Republican.

Flora and fauna

There are numerous species of plants and animals within Latah County. There are a variety of tree species within the county including Western White Pine. Faunal species include the Clay-colored sparrow and Rough-Skinned Newt.

Communities

Cities

Bovill Deary Genesee

Juliaetta Kendrick Moscow

Onaway Potlatch Troy

Census-designated place

• Princeton

Unincorporated communities

Avon Harvard Helmer

Joel Princeton Viola

Ghost towns

Avon Blaine Brickaville Collins Cora

Cornwall Crescent Freeze Hampton

Lenville Linden Nora Park

Pine Creek Taney Thorn Creek Woodfell

Source:

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Latah County, Idaho

External links

• Official website
• State of Idaho - Latah County
• Latah County Historical Society
• Latah Trail Foundation
• National Register of Historic Places - Latah County