Historic Timeline
1808 David Thompson meets the Kutenai Indians near present day Bonners Ferry.
1864 Kootenai River ferry operation established by Edwin Bonner to accommodate traffic headed to gold fields in British Columbia.
1875 Richard Fry takes over the ferry and trading post.
1880 U.S. Federal Census Kootenai Co.
1883 First school established. Taught by Mrs. Martin Fry.
1890 Idaho admitted to the Union
1892 Great Northern Railroad line built through county.
1893 Fire destroys half of business district of Bonners Ferry.
1894 Major flood in Bonners Ferry.
1897 Community of Ocknook becomes known as Porthill. Population of 5000 in the early 1900's.
1898 Major flood in Bonners Ferry - 5' of water in Main Street.
1899 City of Bonners Ferry formed by combining Bonnerport (north side of Kootenai River) and Eatonville (south side of the river).
1900 U.S. Federal Census - Kootenai Co.
1907 Bonner County split off Kootenai County. New county seat - Sandpoint.
1910 U.S. Federal Census - Bonner Co.
1915 Boundary County established by dividing Bonner County. New county seat - Bonners Ferry.
1916 Major flood in Bonners Ferry.
1920 U.S. Federal Census - Boundary Co.
1920-39 Continental Mine at Porthill in full operation.
1948 Major flood in Bonners Ferry following severe winter.
1975 Libby Dam built at Libby, MT to control flooding in Boundary Co.
1996 Most severe winter of the century. Record snowfall of 94" by Jan 1, 1997.
