Pierce, Idaho

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Pierce, Idaho
Location of Pierce in Clearwater County, Idaho.
Location of Pierce in Clearwater County, Idaho.
Coordinates: 46°29′33″N 115°47′58″W / 46.49250°N 115.79944°W / 46.49250; -115.79944Coordinates: 46°29′33″N 115°47′58″W / 46.49250°N 115.79944°W / 46.49250; -115.79944
CountryUnited States
StateIdaho
CountyClearwater
Area
 • Total0.82 sq mi (2.14 km2)
 • Land0.82 sq mi (2.14 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
3,094 ft (943 m)
Population
 • Total508
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
590
 • Density715.15/sq mi (276.17/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
83546
Area code(s)208
FIPS code16-62740
GNIS feature ID0397030
Websitewww.cityofpierce.com

Pierce is a city in Clearwater County, Idaho. The population was 508 at the 2010 census, down from 617 in 2000.[4]

History[edit]

The first discovery of gold in Idaho (then Washington Territory) was made by Elias D. Pierce and Wilbur F. Bassett on Orofino Creek (Canal Gulch) in October 1860, a mile (1.6 km) north of Pierce.[5][6]

Pierce was the first county seat for Shoshone County, which was established in January 1861 in Washington Territory and for most of its first year included most of present-day Idaho and Wyoming.[7][8] The Pierce Courthouse, constructed in 1862, is Idaho's oldest public building.[9] Idaho Territory was established in 1863, and the county seat moved north to the Silver Valley in Murray in 1884 (and to Wallace in 1898). Present-day Clearwater County, formed in 1911, was part of Shoshone County until 1904, when it was annexed by Nez Perce County.

Geography[edit]

Pierce is located at 46°29′33″N 115°47′58″W / 46.49250°N 115.79944°W / 46.49250; -115.79944 (46.492566, -115.799466),[10] at an elevation of 3,094 feet (943 m) above sea level. It is located on the Weippe Prairie, north of the Clearwater River canyon.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.82 square miles (2.12 km2), all of it land.[11]

Climate[edit]

Pierce has a humid continental climate (Dfb) according to the Köppen climate classification system.

Climate data for Pierce (1963-2012)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 52
(11)
60
(16)
75
(24)
88
(31)
94
(34)
96
(36)
101
(38)
100
(38)
99
(37)
87
(31)
69
(21)
53
(12)
101
(38)
Average high °F (°C) 33.1
(0.6)
38.2
(3.4)
45.1
(7.3)
53
(12)
63.3
(17.4)
71
(22)
81.6
(27.6)
81.2
(27.3)
70.9
(21.6)
57.2
(14.0)
41
(5)
32.2
(0.1)
55.7
(13.2)
Average low °F (°C) 17
(−8)
18.7
(−7.4)
23.4
(−4.8)
28.7
(−1.8)
34.9
(1.6)
41.3
(5.2)
44.1
(6.7)
41.8
(5.4)
34.4
(1.3)
28.6
(−1.9)
24.5
(−4.2)
17.3
(−8.2)
29.6
(−1.3)
Record low °F (°C) −29
(−34)
−22
(−30)
−10
(−23)
12
(−11)
21
(−6)
28
(−2)
29
(−2)
25
(−4)
10
(−12)
1
(−17)
−18
(−28)
−33
(−36)
−33
(−36)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 5.65
(144)
3.86
(98)
4.22
(107)
3.57
(91)
3.65
(93)
3.07
(78)
1.3
(33)
1.36
(35)
1.83
(46)
3.04
(77)
4.6
(120)
5.43
(138)
41.56
(1,056)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 33.5
(85)
19.6
(50)
14.8
(38)
5.7
(14)
0.6
(1.5)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0.5
(1.3)
11.8
(30)
30.9
(78)
117.5
(298)
Average precipitation days 17 14 15 14 13 12 5 6 7 11 16 17 147
Source: WRCC[12]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
Census Pop.
1940381
195054442.8%
1960522−4.0%
19701,218133.3%
19801,060−13.0%
1990746−29.6%
2000617−17.3%
2010508−17.7%
2019 (est.)590[3]16.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]

As of 2000 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.

2010 census[edit]

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 508 people, 235 households, and 150 families residing in the city. The population density was 619.5 inhabitants per square mile (239.2/km2). There were 296 housing units at an average density of 361.0 per square mile (139.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.3% White, 1.8% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 1.8% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.1% of the population.

There were 235 households, of which 18.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.4% were married couples living together, 3.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.2% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.67.

The median age in the city was 51 years. 16.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 15.9% were from 25 to 44; 39.8% were from 45 to 64; and 22.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 54.7% male and 45.3% female.

Population history[edit]

Notable people[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
  3. ^ a b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  4. ^ Spokesman-Review Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine - 2010 census - Pierce, Idaho - accessed 2011-12-30
  5. ^ Miner Shanty.net - Pierce history - accessed 2011-12-30
  6. ^ "Pierce was location of first gold strike in Idaho in 1860". Lewiston Morning Tribune. October 6, 1955. p. 6-LCSE.
  7. ^ "Idaho for the Curious", by Cort Conley, ©1982, ISBN 0-9603566-3-0, p.62-69
  8. ^ Idaho History.net - Pierce
  9. ^ Idaho History.net - reference series - 0946
  10. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  11. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2011-02-20. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
  12. ^ "PIERCE, ID (107046)". Western Regional Climate Center. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  13. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  14. ^ 1863 territorial census Archived 2012-04-15 at WebCite, Idaho Territory via Idaho State Historical Society, 1863. Accessed 2009-04-23.
  15. ^ 1864 territorial census Archived 2012-04-15 at WebCite, Idaho Territory via Idaho State Historical Society, 1864. Accessed 2009-04-23.

External links[edit]