Why Boundary County
An honest look at the move before you make it.
Most people who call us about moving here have already driven through once. They came up Highway 95 on the way to somewhere else, crossed the river at Bonners Ferry, looked up at the Selkirks, and kept thinking about it. If that is you, this guide is the long version of the conversation we would have at the kitchen table.
Boundary County is the northernmost county in Idaho, home to about 14,000 people, with Bonners Ferry as the county seat and British Columbia along the northern line. People move here for land, for national forest next door, and for a small town that still works like one. The nearest major airport is two hours away, and winters vary from year to year, some snowy and some mild, with most milder than newcomers expect. We live here too, and we are glad to show you around.
The valley from the bench above town. The river, the farm ground and the Selkirks are all in this one view, which is most of why people come. Photo: CENTURY 21 Four Seasons Realty
Why people move here
Room. The county has everything from small rural lots to working farms and timber ground, and 96 percent of its 319 farms are family farms. Many buyers come for a few acres with a garden, a shop and some animals.
Public land next door. More than 400,000 acres of national forest, three rivers and some 60 lakes, most of it a short drive from home.
A real small town. A county seat with a hospital, schools, a farmers market, a county fair, the Georgia Mae Plaza, and a brick downtown where people know each other by name.
Four true seasons. Warm, dry summers on the river and the lakes, a short bright fall when the tamarack turn gold, a winter that is sometimes deep and sometimes mild, and a spring that greens up the valley and then goes yellow when the canola blooms.
Within reach. Sandpoint is 35 to 40 minutes, Spokane about two hours, and the Canadian border about 35 minutes, with Glacier National Park and the Silver Valley within a day trip.
What to know before you come
It is far from the city. The nearest commercial airport and big-box shopping are about two hours away in Spokane. Most households make a Sandpoint or Coeur d'Alene run a few times a month.
Winters vary. Some years bring deep snow and some are mild. Bonners Ferry averages about 54 inches in town and the hills get more. Plan on snow tires, a plow or a plowing arrangement for a rural driveway, and short days from November through February.
Health care is close to home. Boundary Community Hospital has a 24-hour emergency room, and the county has its own clinics, dentists, pharmacies and an ambulance service. Visiting specialists hold weekly clinics at the hospital, and for anything beyond that, Sandpoint, Coeur d'Alene and Spokane are down the road.
Rural living comes with homework. Outside town, most homes run on a private well, a septic system and propane, and the road to your door may be yours to maintain. The Buying Rural Property chapter walks through each piece.
The job market is small. Timber, farming, the hospital, the schools and the county are the big employers, and good tradesmen stay busy here. Many newcomers bring their work with them, so check internet service at the exact address before you commit.
Inventory is limited. This is a small market, and the right property does not come along every week. Patience and a clear list of must-haves go a long way here.
