Kootenai

Small town adjoining Ponderay and Sandpoint Idaho.

Kootenai, Idaho was established on December 22, 1864, and named after the Kootenai Native American Tribe whose name means “water people.” It is a small community adjoining Sandpoint and another little community of Ponderay.  The town has many features that has that homey feeling.   

By December 1908 Kootenai was emerging as the largest community in the area. Its business district included a drug store, two hotels, theatre, three restaurants, blacksmith shop, livery stable, pool hall, two barber shops, a dry goods store, bakery, roller rink, tea shop, two bars and an ice house filled in the winter with ice from Lake Pend Oreille. In 1909 F.S. Bonner, from Missoula, opened a general merchandise store in competition with the Humbird Company Store.

In June 1930 after weathering the first two of the depression years, Humbird ceased operation as a lumber firm. All its timber, holding, mill, machinery shops and miscellaneous items were sold to the Weyerhauser Lumber Company. The new firm owned sawmills in many places and had no further need for the Sandpoint-Kootenai mills. Mill workers scattered and stump ranches were sold for a pittance. Humbird Lumber Co. moved on into Canada.

The Kootenai Mill closed down on August 23rd, 1931 and did not operate further. All logging was closed down in August, 1931. The business district died out with the closing of the mill. Many buildings burned down in a fire in the 30’s.

In 1945 during a general election, 20 residents voted and they unanimously make the decision to deed the city park to the school district so the playground would be adequate. Most of the older maps show the NP Ying Yang symbol on this park. The original plans for the park were to have sidewalks in that design.

On June 30, 1910, Kootenai became an incorporated village. In 1967 it became and incorporated city to conform to the change in Idaho law. On Dec 12, 1968 Kootenai’s name was changed from Village of Kootenai to City of Kootenai by Ordinance number 58.

In 2010 the City of Kootenai was proud to celebrate its 100 year centennial, with many long-time residents in attendance.