Pierce, Idaho
Encyclopedia
Pierce is a city in Clearwater County
, Idaho
. Elias D. Pierce
and Wilbur F. Bassett made the first discovery of gold
in Idaho (then Washington Territory
), on Orofino Creek (Canal Gulch) in 1860, a mile (1.6 km) north of Pierce. http://www.minersshanty.net/cedarhistory.htm. The population was 617 at the 2000 census.
Pierce was once the county seat for Shoshone County, Washington Territory
.
The Pierce Courthouse
, constructed in 1862, is Idaho's oldest public building.
The Bald Mountain Ski Area
is located 11 miles (17.7 km) northwest of Pierce.
of 3094 feet (943 m) above sea level. It is located on the Weippe Prairie
, north of the Clearwater River
canyon.
According to the U.S. Census
, the city has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 617 people, 251 households, and 189 families residing in the city. The population density
was 748.6 people per square mile (290.5/km²). There were 298 housing units at an average density of 361.6 per square mile (140.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.46% White, 1.30% Native American, 0.32% from other races
, and 2.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.30% of the population.
There were 251 households out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.5% were married couples
living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.7% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.79.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 28.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 104.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,318, and the median income for a family was $36,667. Males had a median income of $36,250 versus $24,375 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,980. About 14.7% of families and 18.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.4% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Clearwater County, Idaho
Clearwater County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. Established in 1911, the county was named after the Clearwater River. As of the 2000 Census the county had a population of 8,930 . The county seat is Orofino....
, 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....
. Elias D. Pierce
Elias D. Pierce
Elias Davidson Pierce was one of the key figures in the gold rush in 1860 to Idaho.Piece was a native of Ireland. He immigrated to the United States and lived in South Carolina and Indiana before going to California as part of the gold rush. In 1852 Pierce served in the California House of...
and Wilbur F. Bassett made the first discovery of gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
in Idaho (then Washington Territory
Washington Territory
The Territory of Washington was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 8, 1853, until November 11, 1889, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Washington....
), on Orofino Creek (Canal Gulch) in 1860, a mile (1.6 km) north of Pierce. http://www.minersshanty.net/cedarhistory.htm. The population was 617 at the 2000 census.
Pierce was once the county seat for Shoshone County, Washington Territory
Washington Territory
The Territory of Washington was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 8, 1853, until November 11, 1889, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Washington....
.
The Pierce Courthouse
Pierce Courthouse
Pierce Courthouse, also known as Pierce Historic Site, is a historic wooden building located in Pierce, Idaho. It was built in 1862 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972....
, constructed in 1862, is Idaho's oldest public building.
The Bald Mountain Ski Area
Bald Mountain Ski Area
Bald Mountain Ski Area is a modest ski area in north central Idaho, located northwest of Pierce in Clearwater County. First opened in 1959 for employees of the Potlatch Corporation in the village of Headquarters; it was opened to the public in the 1970s. The summit elevation is 4400 feet above...
is located 11 miles (17.7 km) northwest of Pierce.
Geography
Pierce is located at 46°29′33"N 115°47′58"W (46.492566, -115.799466), at an elevationElevation
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 ....
of 3094 feet (943 m) above sea level. It is located on the Weippe Prairie
Weippe Prairie
Weippe Prairie is a "beautiful upland prairie field of about nine by twenty miles of open farmland bordered by pine forests" at 3,000 feet elevation in Clearwater County, Idaho, at Weippe, Idaho. Camas flowers grow well there, and attracted native gatherers of the camas roots...
, north 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...
canyon.
According to the U.S. Census
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 617 people, 251 households, and 189 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 748.6 people per square mile (290.5/km²). There were 298 housing units at an average density of 361.6 per square mile (140.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.46% White, 1.30% Native American, 0.32% 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 2.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.30% of the population.
There were 251 households out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.5% 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, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.7% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.79.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 28.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 104.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,318, and the median income for a family was $36,667. Males had a median income of $36,250 versus $24,375 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 $13,980. About 14.7% of families and 18.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.4% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
External links
- Idaho History.net - Pierce profile