Bonners Ferry, named Idaho’s “Most Friendly Town” during the Idaho Governor’s Conference on Recreation and Tourism, offers its residents an outstanding quality of life in one of the most beautiful places in the nation. It is a wonderful place to live, work, raise a family and retire.
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Thriving Bonners Ferry has a population of 2,610, and is the county seat for Boundary County, population 10,808.
Aptly named, Boundary County borders Canada to the north, Washington to the west and Montana to the east, and Bonner County, Idaho to the south. Bonners Ferry’s location at the crossroads of Highway 95 and Highway 2 make it the gateway city for travelers entering Idaho from Canada, via two border crossings at Porthill and Eastport, as well as from Libby and Troy, Montana, to the east.
Bonners Ferry is nestled along the Kootenai River, which flows north up to Canada and forms the Kootenai Valley – one of the richest agricultural areas in the state. The heavily forested Selkirk, Cabinet and Purcell mountain ranges frame the valley and provide surpassing recreation as well as a significant, sustainable timber industry.
Demographic snapshot of Boundary County
From 2012 Census figures
- Population: 10,808
- Media age: 42.8 years
- Total households: 4,421
- Median household income: $36,300
- Education: 83.8% high school graduate or higher
- Employment: Total firms, 1,133; major employers are in health care and social services; retail trade; manufacturing; construction; agriculture and forestry.
Public Schools: Boundary County School District 101 has a total student population of a little over 1,500, who attend one high school, one middle school and three elementary schools. North Idaho College, based in Coeur d’Alene, maintains an outreach center with a variety of credit classes.
Media: The weekly Bonners Ferry Herald is the newspaper of record. News Bonners Ferry maintains an active online news portal. Local radio is provided by KBFI 1450AM.
Hospital & Health Care: Boundary Community Hospital is a 20-bed Critical Access Hospital with an attached 28-bed Extended Care Facility and Nursing Home accredited by DNV, certified by Medicare and Medicaid, licensed by the State of Idaho, Department of health and Welfare and an independent member of the Northwest Hospital Alliance. A primary care rural health clinic as well as specialist physician clinics in Cardiology, General Surgery, Women’s Health, Orthopedics and Surgery offer Boundary County residents local healthcare options in Bonners Ferry.
Kootenai Tribe: The Kootenai Tribe of Idaho has a small reservation in Bonners Ferry and is an important community partner. It operates the Kootenai River Inn, Casino and Spa and is active in restoration of traditional fisheries in the Kootenai River as well as social, economic and environmental programs.
Important links
- City of Bonners Ferry
- Boundary County government offices
- Boundary Economic Development Council
- International Selkirk Loop
- State of Idaho government offices
- Bonners Ferry Ranger District, U.S. Forest Service
- Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge
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