KOOTENAI COUNTY
County Offices
451 Government Way
Coeur d’Alene 208-446-1600
https://www.kcgov.us/
Chamber of Commerce
105 N 1st Street
Coeur d’Alene 208-664-3194
https://cdachamber.com/
Kootenai County is located in northern Idaho, an area known as the Panhandle, surrounded by scenic mountains and more than twenty pristine lakes. The largest city and county seat is located in beautiful Coeur d’Alene and is on the shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene. The county is 1,310 square miles, including 70 square miles of water, 245,000 acres of national forest and 33,000 acres of state timberland. The county is home tom ore than 138,000 residents.
Lifestyle
The Coeur d’Alene area is surrounded by dozens of lakes. There are more than 55 lakes within easy driving distance of Coeur d’Alene, but none more scenic and full of activities than Lake Coeur d’Alene itself. The Coeur d’Alene Golf & Spa Resort, widely regarded as one of the best golf destinations in the world, is also home to the world-famous floating green. Kootenai County has many amenities that encourage healthy lifestyles. As a young county with a young population, residents are very active, and trails and bike paths are available for physical activity and community activities.
North Idaho offers its residents a high quality of life. Thanks to the region’s low population density, residents enjoy safe & quiet neighborhoods, very mild traffic, and clean air. The cost of living –housing, groceries, transportation, utilities, taxes—are all below national averages and significantly less than in larger cities. The county is a nature-lover’s paradise where both national and state parks abound, and scenic byways pass through stunning natural attractions. Trails are within city limits for walking, biking, ATV rides, cross-country skiing, and horseback riding, with the Centennial Trail extending from Spokane through Post Falls to Coeur d’Alene and beyond to the Silver Valley. Three ski resorts are within an hour’s drive, and a five-star lake resort with the world’s longest floating boardwalk and floating green for golfers, is centered in Coeur d’Alene. The region has some of the best lakes and rivers for boating, whitewater rafting, and other water-related activities, including legendary fly fishing and bass fishing. In addition to the numerous and outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities, the region also boasts a variety of art galleries, museums, cultural events, wineries, shops, world-class dining options and border proximity to tourist destinations in Canada, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.
SERVICES
Kootenai County offers a range of education options, including the CDA public school district, one of Idaho’s highest performing districts. Several magnet schools target interested students by offering in-depth study in areas such as the arts and humanities (Sorensen Elementary), science (Ramsey Elementary) and science, health and arts (Lakes Middle). Three colleges serve the greater Coeur d’Alene area: North Idaho College’s main campus is located downtown on the shore of Lake Coeur d’Alene. Five additional outreach centers are located throughout the region. The Coeur d’Alene branches of both Lewis-Clark State College and University of Idaho offer four-year degree programs as well as graduate programs at University of Idaho.
Coeur d’Alene is home to world-class healthcare providers. Kootenai Health, affiliated with the Mayo Clinic, provides the region with a comprehensive range of services at its main campus downtown and at several regional locations. Northwest Specialty Hospital is a physician-owned hospital, specializing in general surgery, orthopedics, urgent care, women’s care, nephrology, bariatrics, occupational medicine, and many others. Heritage Health, a community governed nonprofit, offers comprehensive health services at affordable rates. Panhandle Health District provides over 40 different public health programs to families, individuals and organizations in northern Idaho. From food and drinking water safety to health education and disease control, public health services are designed to ensure our community is a safe and healthy place to live, work and thrive. The region also has award-winning private hospitals that provide care in specialized fields. Northwest Specialty Hospital delivers state of the art service in various surgery procedures, as well as Family Medicine, Imaging, Oncology, Preventive Care and many others. The Northern Idaho Advanced Care Hospital focuses on long-term acute and critical care for patients recovering from serious illness or injuries.
Communities
Coeur D’Alene
710 E Mullan Ave
Coeur d’Alene 208-769-2300
https://www.cdaid.org/
Chamber of Commerce
105 N 1st Street
Coeur d’Alene 208-664-3194
https://cdachamber.com/
The city is home to more than 52,000 lucky residents. The city is a satellite city of Spokane, which is located about 30 miles (48 km) to the west, in the state of Washington. The two cities are the key components of the Spokane–Coeur d’Alene combined statistical area, of which Coeur d’Alene is the third-largest city (after Spokane and its largest suburb, Spokane Valley). Coeur d’Alene is the largest city in North Idaho. The city is situated on the north shore of Lake Coeur d’Alene, 25 miles in length. Locally, Coeur d’Alene is known as the “Lake City”, or simply called by its initials: “CDA”. The city is named after the Coeur d’Alene People, a federally recognized tribe of Native Americans who lived along the rivers and lakes of the region.
Traditionally a center for mining and logging activities, the city of Coeur d’Alene has grown significantly in recent years, in part because of a substantial increase in tourism, encouraged by several resorts in the area. The Coeur d’Alene Resort and a 165-acre natural area called Tubbs Hill take up a prominent portion of the city’s downtown. There are several ski areas nearby: Silver Mountain Resort to the east in Kellogg, Lookout Pass Ski and Recreation Area also to the east on Lookout Pass at the Montana border, and Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort to the north in Sandpoint. The largest theme and water park in the Northwest, Silverwood Theme Park, is located approximately 20 miles to the north. The city is a combination of small town living and big city feelings. The city offers a lot to do no matter the season. With plenty to do in the great outdoors and the second largest lake west of the Rockies. Within 20 minutes or less from downtown residents have access to hiking, biking, fishing, hunting, canoeing, kayaking, bird watching, skiing, snowshoeing, or snowmobiling. In its downtown, the city offers shops, restaurants, quaint boutiques, and locally owned businesses catering to every need. Housing choices run the entire selection. New residents can choose from quaint turn of the century bungalows close to downtown, or pick a quality-built, newly constructed family home in a subdivision complete with parks, bike-paths, walking trails and friendly neighbors. Coeur d’Alene offers its residents an enviable quality of life, surrounded by natural beauty.
Hayden/Hayden Lake
City Offices
8390 N Government Way
Hayden 208-772-4411
https://www.cityofhaydenid.us/
Chamber of Commerce
8254 N Government Way
Hayden 208-762-1185
https://www.haydenchamber.org/
The City of Hayden is a scenic community of over 13,000 residents, nestled among the timbered and sloping shores of Hayden Lake. The city has a rich history as an area steeped in Indian folklore, cattle ranching, lumber, and farming. This growing community still offers a quality of life that allows its citizens to enjoy some of the best outdoor recreation in Idaho coupled with all of the amenities of a larger city. Residents and visitors alike can stroll along the sandy shores of Honeysuckle Beach, a city-owned and operated park, or enjoy an afternoon of shopping in the City’s downtown business district where Hayden’s locally owned shops and stores share a sense of the “old Hayden Village.” Residents limitless access to recreational opportunities that include hiking, fishing, hunting, and camping throughout the area. Public access to area lakes afford residents and visitors alike with an opportunity to fish or just enjoy an afternoon of floating. Coupled with an unlimited inventory of natural recreational opportunities, the Hayden area also boasts some of the best man-made recreational features in the Country.
Post Falls
City Offices
408 N Spokane St
Post Falls 208-773-3511
https://www.postfallsidaho.org/
Chamber of Commerce
201 East Fourth Ave
Post Falls 208-773-5016
https://www.postfallschamber.com/
Post Falls is located between Coeur d’Alene and Spokane, Washington. It is a suburb of Coeur d’Alene, to the east, and a bedroom community to Spokane, to the west. It is home to more than 30,000 residents. Post Falls is located four miles east of the Washington-Idaho border along Interstate 90 in Kootenai County. Post Falls offers residents a high quality of life. From exceptional outdoor recreation to a wide choice of culinary adventures to local concerts in the park, the city offers residents and visitors a wide range of lifestyle opportunities. Due to the cities location near numerous lakes, rivers, and mountains, Post Falls offers some of the nation’s best fishing, hunting, skiing, and snowmobiling. Residents can enjoy a host of organized local activities with a robust parks and recreation department offering everything from organized youth sports to community wide activities. Annual events and festivals draw visitors to the area throughout the year. The community prides itself on its smalltown feel and easy pace of life. Residents enjoy everything that a community of its size offers, while having all the amenities of a larger city at home and close by.
Rathdrum
City Offices
8047 W Main St
Rathdrum 208-687-0261
https://www.rathdrum.org/
The city of Rathdrum is a small city that offers its more than 6500 residents a high quality of life. Rathdrum offers small town living at its best. Its natural beauty comes from it location on the edge of Rathdrum Prairie and surrounded by beautiful mountains. This small community has a neighborhood like atmosphere yet is only minutes from larger city amenities. Recreational opportunities in the city are numerous, with parks and play fields. Outdoor enthusiasts find will find everything they could want including golf, boating, hiking, fishing, skiing, snowmobile, and horseback riding. There are 13 lakes within an hour’s drive, Twin Lakes being the nearest, at just four miles north of Rathdrum. Major cultural centers are located close by offering theater, music and arts of every kind. Shopping and dining, an evening out is easy in Rathdrum with lots of parking available at all your favorite stores and restaurants and movie theaters. Rathdrum has a variety of businesses owned by local residents. Rathdrum Days and the Christmas Tree Lighting in the City Park are just two of the many community events that take place each year. Schools in the Rathdrum area are top rated in the state of Idaho. The Lakeland School District serves not only Rathdrum, but also nearby communities of Hauser Lake, Athol, and Spirit Lake. The district has a high school, middle school and four elementary schools. Whatever you are looking for in a place to live can be found in Rathdrum. Neighbors know each other here and everyone works together to keep the community feel that is so important to living here.
