Lewiston

Lewiston is the county seat of Nez Perce County in northwestern Idaho, where two rivers converge and the border with Washington State runs. The town spreads across gentle hills at 227 meters (745 feet) elevation and overlooks the valley where residential and commercial districts have developed side by side.

Founded in 1861, the settlement became the first capital of the newly formed Idaho Territory. The connection to river navigation routes made it a trading hub for the region.

The settlement carries the name Lewis after Meriwether Lewis, one of the leaders of the early 19th-century expedition to the Pacific. Today, visitors can walk along the riverfront promenade and watch anglers and boaters gather at the docks where steamboats once moored.

Local administration offices are currently working on adding roundabouts to improve traffic safety at several main intersections. Visitors find parking near the main street downtown and can explore the riverfront promenade on foot.

The location at the confluence of two major waterways allows boat trips up into mountain gorges that were once accessible only to steamboats. The local library system operates three separate branches offering courses for professional development.

Location: Nez Perce County

Inception: 1861

Elevation above the sea: 227 m

Shares border with: Clarkston, West Clarkston-Highland, Clarkston Heights-Vineland

Website: http://cityoflewiston.org

GPS coordinates: 46.40024,-117.00103

Latest update: December 13, 2025 12:02