Timeline of Boundary County History


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.


<< Go back to the previous page