Boundary County

Boundary County spans across northern Idaho with the Selkirk Mountains running through it and borders with Canada, Montana, and Washington forming its edges. The landscape includes dense forests, river valleys, and scattered communities, with Bonners Ferry serving as the main administrative hub.

This county was created in 1915 when the Idaho Legislature separated it from Bonner County, establishing the state's northernmost administrative division. The split reflected the need for local governance in the remote border region.

The community here values outdoor traditions and the heritage tied to logging and frontier settlement, visible in how people use local gathering spaces and celebrate seasonal events. These practices reflect a way of life shaped by the region's mountain geography and remote location.

Visitors can find county services and local facilities centered in Bonners Ferry, the main community in the region. Travel during warmer months is recommended since mountain roads can be difficult in winter.

This is one of only three counties in the United States that borders two different states and an international boundary all at once. This unusual geographic position creates a distinctive setting found nowhere else in the country.

Location: Idaho

Inception: January 23, 1915

Capital city: Bonners Ferry

Shares border with: Lincoln County, Bonner County, Pend Oreille County, Regional District of Central Kootenay

Website: http://boundarycountyid.org

GPS coordinates: 48.79000,-116.45000

Latest update: December 20, 2025 12:02