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Bonners Ferry along Kootenai River thBonners Ferry, #1 on this list · Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain
Idaho rankings · History

Most historic towns in Idaho

Bonners Ferry ranks first on history among Idaho’s 59 towns of 2,500+; 3 of the 59 grade A− or better on history nationally.

The History grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the town’s founding era, homes built before 1940 (Census ACS) and its National Register places. How grades work

#1

Bonners Ferry

Boundary County · 2,797 people
A

History grade, better than 86% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #42 of 58 in ID

#2

Weiser

Washington County · 6,249 people
A−

History grade, better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #45 of 58 in ID

#3

Montpelier

Bear Lake County · 2,710 people
A−

History grade, better than 76% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #3 of 58 in ID

All 59 towns

History grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank (T = tied; 6 towns here); the overall grade and state rank are beside each.

59 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.

#TownGradeOverall
1Bonners FerryBoundary County · 2,797 peopleAbetter than 86% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #42 of 58
2WeiserWashington County · 6,249 peopleA−better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #45 of 58
3MontpelierBear Lake County · 2,710 peopleA−better than 76% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #3 of 58
4BlackfootBingham County · 13,361 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #44 of 58
5PocatelloBannock County · 58,771 peopleB+better than 71% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #33 of 58
6PrestonFranklin County · 6,177 peopleB+better than 69% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #11 of 58
7LewistonNez Perce County · 34,717 peopleB+better than 67% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #32 of 58
8OrofinoClearwater County · 3,259 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #58 of 58
9Coeur d'AleneKootenai County · 58,179 peopleB+better than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #21 of 58
10SandpointBonner County · 10,645 peopleB+better than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #26 of 58
11PayettePayette County · 8,813 peopleBbetter than 64% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #57 of 58
12MoscowLatah County · 26,721 peopleBbetter than 64% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #17 of 58
T13BellevueBlaine County · 2,597 peopleBbetter than 64% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #19 of 58
T13SalmonLemhi County · 3,286 peopleBbetter than 64% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #55 of 58
15American FallsPower County · 4,785 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #31 of 58
16Idaho FallsBonneville County · 71,785 peopleBbetter than 61% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #37 of 58
17McCallValley County · 4,133 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #41 of 58
18St. AnthonyFremont County · 3,990 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #23 of 58
19Boise CityAda County · 238,429 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #20 of 58
20EmmettGem County · 8,900 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #39 of 58
21CaldwellCanyon County · 76,629 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #47 of 58
22Twin FallsTwin Falls County · 56,216 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #50 of 58
23GrangevilleIdaho County · 3,621 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #22 of 58
24BuhlTwin Falls County · 4,801 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #43 of 58
25NampaCanyon County · 120,384 peopleB−better than 50% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #35 of 58
26Soda SpringsCaribou County · 3,165 peopleB−better than 49% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #16 of 58
27RupertMinidoka County · 6,460 peopleB−better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #56 of 58
28Fort Hallunincorporated, Bannock County · 2,654 peopleB−better than 46% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #51 of 58
29HaileyBlaine County · 10,053 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #4 of 58
30RigbyJefferson County · 5,757 peopleC+better than 41% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #18 of 58
31GoodingGooding County · 3,855 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #48 of 58
T32JeromeJerome County · 13,731 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #52 of 58
T32KetchumBlaine County · 3,643 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #5 of 58
34Mountain HomeElmore County · 16,779 peopleCbetter than 35% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #54 of 58
35ShelleyBingham County · 5,303 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #12 of 58
36IonaBonneville County · 3,179 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #9 of 58
37FilerTwin Falls County · 3,026 peopleCbetter than 33% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #34 of 58
38Hidden Springsunincorporated, Ada County · 3,378 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #30 of 58
39RathdrumKootenai County · 13,227 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #14 of 58
40BurleyCassia County · 12,409 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #40 of 58
41MeridianAda County · 142,988 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #1 of 58
42Post FallsKootenai County · 46,715 peopleCbetter than 27% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #24 of 58
43KunaAda County · 31,525 peopleCbetter than 26% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #25 of 58
44Rexburg College campusMadison County · 40,334 peopleCbetter than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall B
45VictorTeton County · 2,589 peopleC−better than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #27 of 58
46MiddletonCanyon County · 12,600 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #6 of 58
47EagleAda County · 34,658 peopleC−better than 23% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #2 of 58
48StarAda County · 20,874 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #29 of 58
49Garden CityAda County · 13,047 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #36 of 58
50KimberlyTwin Falls County · 5,798 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #13 of 58
51AmmonBonneville County · 20,119 peopleDbetter than 13% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #8 of 58
52HomedaleOwyhee County · 3,138 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #38 of 58
T53FruitlandPayette County · 7,213 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #10 of 58
T53WendellGooding County · 3,090 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #46 of 58
55HeyburnMinidoka County · 3,783 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #49 of 58
56Lincolnunincorporated, Bonneville County · 4,002 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #7 of 58
57HaydenKootenai County · 17,363 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall B+ · #15 of 58
58Mountain Home AFBunincorporated, Elmore County · 3,219 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall C− · #53 of 58
59ChubbuckBannock County · 16,823 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall B− · #28 of 58
Quick answers

Questions people ask

What is the most historic town in Idaho?

Bonners Ferry (Boundary County) ranks first on history among 59 towns, with an A; Weiser and Montpelier follow.

How are these towns ranked?

The History grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the town’s founding era, homes built before 1940 (Census ACS) and its National Register places. Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.

Why isn’t my town on this list?

The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a history grade (59 in Idaho). Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the Idaho page.

Go deeper

More Idaho lists

Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.

All Idaho rankings →
Best places to live58 towns · #1 MeridianBest small towns32 towns · #1 MontpelierMost affordable towns59 towns · #1 MontpelierSafest towns41 towns · #1 Soda SpringsTowns with the best schools59 towns · #1 McCallHealthiest towns59 towns · #1 KetchumBest towns for jobs & income59 towns · #1 EagleMost walkable towns59 towns · #1 KetchumTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk59 towns · #1 JeromeBest towns for the outdoors59 towns · #1 Soda SpringsTowns with the most civic life54 towns · #1 McCallTowns with the least snow50 towns · #1 EmmettDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns50 towns · #1 McCallDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters63 towns · #1 LewistonDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers63 towns · #1 Mountain Home and Mountain Home AFBDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers63 towns · #1 DriggsDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes59 towns · #1 Hidden SpringsDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes58 towns · #1 GrangevilleDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns55 towns · #1 StarDescribed, no letters
Other states

Most historic towns in other states

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