Craigmont, Idaho
Encyclopedia
Craigmont is a city in Lewis County
, Idaho
. The population was 501 at the 2010 census.
and Idaho's first permanent white settler in Lapwai
in 1838. A town named "Chicago", one mile west of the current Craigmont, was founded in 1898. In response to not getting their mail from the Post Office
, it was renamed "Ilo" four years later, in honor of a local merchant's daughter. A fire burnt the town in 1904 and shortly thereafter the Camas Prairie Railroad
bypassed the town and started a settlement of its own, a mile east and called "Vollmer", on the northeast side of the railroad tracks. Ilo responded and moved its community to the southwest side of the tracks, adjacent to Vollmer. After a decade-long feud and the consolidation of the school districts, the communities merged in 1920 to become Craigmont.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 556 people, 225 households, and 157 families residing in the city. The population density
was 743.8 people per square mile (286.2/km²). There were 248 housing units at an average density of 331.8 per square mile (127.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.12% White, 1.44% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.90% from other races
, and 0.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.54% of the population.
There were 225 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.9% were married couples
living together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 109.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,806, and the median income for a family was $36,719. Males had a median income of $36,250 versus $21,250 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,548. About 12.9% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.
s of the Camas Prairie Railroad
. The largest is the massive century-old steel
trestle, nearly 300 feet (91.4 m) above Lawyers Creek.
Northbound U.S. Route 95
was formerly routed westward through Craigmont as Main Street, then resumed westward toward Winchester
. The highway was re-routed in the 1990s and now bypasses Craigmont on its south side. Southbound, the new route between Craigmont and Ferdinand
stays out of the canyon, crossing it on a new bridge and then bypassing Ferdinand on its east side. Eastbound from Craigmont, State Highway 62 connects to Nezperce
, the county seat
.
, with 20-25 students per class year. The Huskies compete in athletics at the IHSAA
Class 1A level.
Lewis County, Idaho
Lewis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. Established in 1911, it was named after the explorer Meriwether Lewis. The population was 3,821 at the 2010 census. The county seat is Nezperce, and Kamiah is the county's largest city.-Geography:...
, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
. The population was 501 at the 2010 census.
History
The city is named for Colonel William Craig (1809–69), a mountain manMountain man
Mountain men were trappers and explorers who roamed the North American Rocky Mountains from about 1810 through the 1880s where they were instrumental in opening up the various Emigrant Trails allowing Americans in the east to settle the new territories of the far west by organized wagon trains...
and Idaho's first permanent white settler in Lapwai
Lapwai, Idaho
Lapwai is a city in Nez Perce County, Idaho, United States. The population was 1,137 at the 2010 census. It is the seat of government of the Nez Perce Indian Reservation.Lapwai is part of the Lewiston, ID-WA Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
in 1838. A town named "Chicago", one mile west of the current Craigmont, was founded in 1898. In response to not getting their mail from the Post Office
United States Post Office Department
The Post Office Department was the name of the United States Postal Service when it was a Cabinet department. It was headed by the Postmaster General....
, it was renamed "Ilo" four years later, in honor of a local merchant's daughter. A fire burnt the town in 1904 and shortly thereafter the Camas Prairie Railroad
Camas Prairie Railroad
Camas Prairie Railroad Company was a short line railroad in northern Idaho jointly owned and operated by Northern Pacific Railway and Union Pacific Railroad. The Camas Prairie Railroad was known as the "railroad on stilts" due to the many wooden trestles. In one five mile stretch, there were...
bypassed the town and started a settlement of its own, a mile east and called "Vollmer", on the northeast side of the railroad tracks. Ilo responded and moved its community to the southwest side of the tracks, adjacent to Vollmer. After a decade-long feud and the consolidation of the school districts, the communities merged in 1920 to become Craigmont.
Geography
Craigmont is located at 46°14′32"N 116°28′14"W (46.242240, -116.470545), on the Camas Prairie. Located within the Nez Perce Indian Reservation, it lies at an altitude of 3,740 feet (1,140 m).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 556 people, 225 households, and 157 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 743.8 people per square mile (286.2/km²). There were 248 housing units at an average density of 331.8 per square mile (127.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.12% White, 1.44% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.90% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.54% of the population.
There were 225 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 109.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,806, and the median income for a family was $36,719. Males had a median income of $36,250 versus $21,250 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $16,548. About 12.9% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
Four miles (7 km) south of the city is Lawyers Creek Canyon, with large railroad trestleTrestle
A trestle is a rigid frame used as a support, especially referring to a bridge composed of a number of short spans supported by such frames. In the context of trestle bridges, each supporting frame is generally referred to as a bent...
s of the Camas Prairie Railroad
Camas Prairie Railroad
Camas Prairie Railroad Company was a short line railroad in northern Idaho jointly owned and operated by Northern Pacific Railway and Union Pacific Railroad. The Camas Prairie Railroad was known as the "railroad on stilts" due to the many wooden trestles. In one five mile stretch, there were...
. The largest is the massive century-old steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
trestle, nearly 300 feet (91.4 m) above Lawyers Creek.
Northbound U.S. Route 95
U.S. Route 95 in Idaho
In the U.S. state of Idaho, U.S. Route 95 is a north–south highway near the western border of the state, stretching from Oregon to British Columbia for over .-Route description:...
was formerly routed westward through Craigmont as Main Street, then resumed westward toward Winchester
Winchester, Idaho
Winchester is a city in Lewis County, Idaho, United States. The population was 340 at the 2010 census.-History:The city was named in 1900 during a meeting to establish a school district. While considering the possibilities, an individual looked at the stack of Winchester rifles at the door and...
. The highway was re-routed in the 1990s and now bypasses Craigmont on its south side. Southbound, the new route between Craigmont and Ferdinand
Ferdinand, Idaho
Ferdinand is a city in Idaho County, Idaho, United States. The population was 159 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Ferdinand is located at , at an elevation of above sea level on the Camas Prairie...
stays out of the canyon, crossing it on a new bridge and then bypassing Ferdinand on its east side. Eastbound from Craigmont, State Highway 62 connects to Nezperce
Nezperce, Idaho
Nezperce is a city in and the county seat of Lewis County, Idaho, United States. The population was 523 at the 2000 census. Nezperce is named for the local Nez Perce tribe of Native Americans Indians. -Geography:Nezperce is located at...
, the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
.
Education
Craigmont is the home of Highland High SchoolHighland High School (Craigmont, Idaho)
Highland School is a high school and junior high school in Craigmont, Idaho. In Idaho it is occasionally referred to as Highland-Craigmont to distinguish it from Highland High School in Pocatello....
, with 20-25 students per class year. The Huskies compete in athletics at the IHSAA
Idaho High School Activities Association
The Idaho High School Activities Association oversees high school athletics in the state of Idaho. Idaho high schools are classified in five categories based on their enrollment...
Class 1A level.