North Idaho Facts
Idaho State Insect: Monarch Butterfly Idaho State Fish: Cutthroat trout Idaho State Bird: Mountain Bluebird Idaho State Horse: The Appaloosa Idaho State Tree: he Western White Pine Idaho State Gem Stone: The Idaho Star Garnet Idaho State Flower: The Syringa Idaho State Fossil: The Hagerman Horse Fossil Idaho State Fruit: The Huckleberry (species are native to Idaho) Idaho State Vegetable: The Potato Idaho State Raptor: The Peregrine Falcon
North Idaho History
For thousands of years, almost 5,000,000 acres of what is now North Idaho, eastern Washington and western Montana was the homeland of the Sahlish-speaking Schee–Chu–Umsh. In the early 19th century, when explorers and fur traders began to move into the Northwest, the Schee–Chu–Umsh acquired the French name Coeur d’Alene. Translated “heart of awl”, meaning hearts like the point of an awl, the name described their great skills in trading.
North Idaho Education
Those in North Idaho believe that quality of life begins with quality of education. North Idaho College, the University of Idaho, Lewis-Clark State College and Idaho State University all have centers in Kootenai County. The North Idaho Center for Higher Education, located on the Spokane River in Coeur d’Alene is a one-stop location for access to all of the higher education opportunities in North Idaho.
Health & Wellness
Expert medical care is one reason the North Idaho area is a premier relocation destination. In Coeur d’Alene, Kootenai Medical Center serves over 13,000 inpatients and 169,000 emergency and outpatients annually. KMC provides a full range of services including care at the North Idaho Cancer Center and the North Idaho Heart Center.
North Idaho Senior Services
A moderate climate, low crime rate and cost of living, as well as quality health care, make North Idaho a popular retirement center. Senior services are provided through the Area Agency on Aging, the Lake City Senior Center in Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls’ Senior Center, Sandpoint Senior Center and numerous life-care, retirement and Senior Center facilities throughout North Idaho.
North Idaho Lakes and Rivers
Lakes, rivers and streams dominate Idaho's five northern counties with 140 lakes and nearly 2,000 miles of rivers and streams. More than half of all the surface waters in Idaho are here in the panhandle, from foam-flecked river rapids to challenge the whitewater rafter and glassy, quiet lakes perfect for canoes. Within the miles of rivers and vast lakes are world-class sport fisheries, many the location of sport fishing records.