Shoshone County

Shoshone County is an administrative division in northern Idaho that encompasses mountains and valleys across a broad terrain. Seven incorporated cities are positioned along the Interstate-90 corridor through the Silver Valley, forming the main population centers.

The county was established in January 1861 and originally extended from the Snake River north to Canada and between the Columbia River and Rocky Mountains. This vast initial territory was later reduced through boundary adjustments as new counties were created.

The county takes its name from the Shoshone Nation, and the region maintains strong ties to mining through local traditions and heritage sites throughout Silver Valley. Visitors can see how mining shaped the character of communities along the valley.

The county is governed by three commissioners who oversee services through various departments at the county office. Visitors seeking information about permits, emergency services, planning, or assessor resources can access these offices along the main corridor.

The region is predominantly forested, with roughly 87 percent covered by woodland that gives the landscape its rugged character. Despite this heavily forested nature, the handful of developed areas remain concentrated in the valley corridor, leaving vast stretches untouched.