Elk River Streetscape Idaho 9-15-2011, 2011
Elk River’s story
117 years in pictures
Census counts: 847 in 1920, 139 in 2020. The archive holds 18 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 3 maps from 1969 on.
- 1909Elk River is settled
Elk RiverID
Photo: A.Davey from Portland, Oregon, EE UU · CC BY 2.0
Population
144
2025 Census estimate · +2.1% since 2020
Median home value
$225K
Census ACS
Household income
$55K
median
Median age
59.8
years
Land area
0 sq mi
Is Elk River a good place to live?
Elk River’s median age is 59.8 years, above both Idaho’s towns (35.1 years) and U.S. towns (40.5 years). Only 1 of the 60 Idaho towns we compare have a higher share of households owning their home than Elk River. Elk River has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What makes Elk River stand out
Where Elk River beats most towns.
Small town
144 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Elk River: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Elk River, and how to reach them.
PowerAvista11.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Elk River water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
InternetProviders and speedsData pending · D4
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Elk River’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Idaho you can register online until 11 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (received 11 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereClearwater County ClerkClearwater County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2023
ZIP code8382783827 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Elk River.
Natural hazards
Elk River faces a very high natural-hazard risk, led by wildfire
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 92% of U.S. communities.
92risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
WildfireInland floodingAvalanches
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
In Elk River, expect snowy winters and pleasant summers
Elk River has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. At 83°F, Elk River’s July high is against 89°F in Idaho’s towns and 85°F across U.S. towns.
119″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter24–37°
Spring34–57°
Summer48–79°
Fall35–58°
Sep 23
typical first frost
May 16
typical last frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
Compared with most of Idaho and the rest of the country, fewer of Elk River’s adults feel lonely
24% of Elk River adults feel lonely. Among 60 Idaho towns, just 3 have a lower share of adults who report frequent mental distress than Elk River. 17% of Elk River adults report frequent physical distress.
| Elk River | Idaho towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 24% | 30% | 33% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 42% | 31% | 35% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 15% | 16% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 17% | 17% |
32 measures vs. Idaho
9 better14 too close to call9 worse
| What stands out | Elk River | ID |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 7.6% | 10.7% |
| Fewer adults without reliable transportation | 5.8% | 7.5% |
| More adults with COPD | 10.2% | 6.6% |
Clearwater Valley Hospital & Clinics
20.9 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
3.2%conserved
| Elk River | Idaho towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 1.0 miles per square mile | 0.8 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 3.2% | 2.1% | 4.3% |
3.2%
conserved · 3 of 92 acres
0.1 mi
of trails · 1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. City Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Elk River
17pages on Elk River
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Elk River; the nearest are
New Saint Andrews CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Moscow39 mi$16,800 tuitionUniversity of IdahoUniversity or college · Public · Moscow39.6 mi$9,084 in-state tuitionNorth Idaho CollegeCommunity college · Public · Coeur d'Alene68.2 mi$3,396 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 Elk River residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Idaho.
About Elk River
City in Idaho, United States
Elk River is a city in the northwestern United States in Clearwater County, Idaho. The population was 139 at the 2020 census, up from 125 in 2010. It is accessed from State Highway 8 from Bovill, to the west in adjacent Latah County. Formerly the site of a Potlatch sawmill, it was phased out after several decades during the 1930s.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.1 sq mi
- Elevation
- 2,854 ft
- ZIP code
- 83827
- Area code
- 208
Questions about Elk River
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Elk River, ID a good place to live?
Elk River has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.