Kamiah, Idaho
Encyclopedia
Kamiah is a city in Idaho
and Lewis
counties in the U.S. state
of Idaho
. The largest city in Lewis County, it extends only a small distance into Idaho County. The population was 1,160 at the 2000 census. The city lies in the narrow valley of the Clearwater River
; downstream are Orofino
and Lewiston
, at the confluence
with the Snake River
.
The Kamiah area has been inhabited by the Nez Perce tribe for centuries. The name "Kamiah" is Nez Perce
for "many rope litters," as Nez Perce manufactured "Kamia" ropes in the area to fish steelhead
. Also according to Nez Perce tradition, the Appaloosa
horse was first bred in the area.
On their return trip east, the Lewis and Clark Expedition
camped in the Kamiah area for several weeks during the spring of 1806, waiting for snows to melt.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), of which, 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (5.98%) is water. The elevation
is 1240 feet (378 m) above sea level.
of 2000, there were 1,160 people, 531 households, and 302 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,050.8 people per square mile (407.2/km²). There were 607 housing units at an average density of 549.8 per square mile (213.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.88% White, 0.26% African American, 8.02% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 1.47% from other races
, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.14% of the population.
There were 531 households out of which 22.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples
living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.1% were non-families. 38.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 23.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 20.9% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 23.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 88.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $21,793, and the median income for a family was $33,424. Males had a median income of $25,982 versus $19,688 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,111. About 12.5% of families and 18.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.6% of those under age 18 and 12.2% of those age 65 or over.
Idaho County, Idaho
Idaho County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2010 Census the county had a population of 16,267. The county seat is Grangeville...
and Lewis
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:...
counties in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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 largest city in Lewis County, it extends only a small distance into Idaho County. The population was 1,160 at the 2000 census. The city lies in the narrow valley of the Clearwater River
Clearwater River (Idaho)
The Clearwater River is a river in north central Idaho, which flows westward from the Bitterroot Mountains along the Idaho-Montana border, and joins the Snake River at Lewiston. In October 1805, the Lewis and Clark Expedition descended the Clearwater River in dugout canoes, putting in at "Canoe...
; downstream are Orofino
Orofino, Idaho
Orofino is a city in Clearwater County, Idaho, along Orofino Creek and the north bank of the Clearwater River. The population was 3,247 at the 2000 census, and the city is the county seat of Clearwater County...
and Lewiston
Lewiston, Idaho
Lewiston is a city in and also the county seat of Nez Perce County in the Pacific Northwest state of Idaho. It is the second-largest city in the northern Idaho region, behind Coeur d'Alene and ninth-largest in the state. Lewiston is the principal city of the Lewiston, ID - Clarkston, WA...
, at the confluence
Confluence
Confluence, in geography, describes the meeting of two or more bodies of water.Confluence may also refer to:* Confluence , a property of term rewriting systems...
with the Snake River
Snake River
The Snake is a major river of the greater Pacific Northwest in the United States. At long, it is the largest tributary of the Columbia River, the largest North American river that empties into the Pacific Ocean...
.
The Kamiah area has been inhabited by the Nez Perce tribe for centuries. The name "Kamiah" is Nez Perce
Nez Perce language
Nez Perce , also spelled Nez Percé, is a Sahaptian language related to the several dialects of Sahaptin . The Sahaptian sub-family is one of the branches of the Plateau Penutian family...
for "many rope litters," as Nez Perce manufactured "Kamia" ropes in the area to fish steelhead
Rainbow trout
The rainbow trout is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead is a sea run rainbow trout usually returning to freshwater to spawn after 2 to 3 years at sea. In other words, rainbow trout and steelhead trout are the same species....
. Also according to Nez Perce tradition, the Appaloosa
Appaloosa
The Appaloosa is a horse breed best known for its colorful leopard-spotted coat pattern. There is a wide range of body types within the breed, stemming from the influence of multiple breeds of horses throughout its history. Each horse's color pattern is genetically the result of various spotting...
horse was first bred in the area.
On their return trip east, the Lewis and Clark Expedition
Lewis and Clark Expedition
The Lewis and Clark Expedition, or ″Corps of Discovery Expedition" was the first transcontinental expedition to the Pacific Coast by the United States. Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson and led by two Virginia-born veterans of Indian wars in the Ohio Valley, Meriwether Lewis and William...
camped in the Kamiah area for several weeks during the spring of 1806, waiting for snows to melt.
Geography
Kamiah is located at 46°13′37"N 116°1′40"W (46.226811, -116.027728).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 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), of which, 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (5.98%) is water. The elevation
Elevation
The elevation of a geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface ....
is 1240 feet (378 m) above sea level.
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 1,160 people, 531 households, and 302 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 1,050.8 people per square mile (407.2/km²). There were 607 housing units at an average density of 549.8 per square mile (213.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.88% White, 0.26% African American, 8.02% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 1.47% 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 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.14% of the population.
There were 531 households out of which 22.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% 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, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.1% were non-families. 38.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 23.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 20.9% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 23.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 88.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $21,793, and the median income for a family was $33,424. Males had a median income of $25,982 versus $19,688 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 $14,111. About 12.5% of families and 18.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.6% of those under age 18 and 12.2% of those age 65 or over.