Orofino, Idaho

Orofino ("fine gold" [ore] in Spanish) is a city in and the county seat of Clearwater County,[4] Idaho, United States, along Orofino Creek and the north bank of the Clearwater River. It is the major city within the Nez Perce Indian Reservation. The population was 3,142 at the time of the 2010 census.

Orofino, Idaho
City
Clearwater River near Orofino
Clearwater River near Orofino
Location of Orofino in Clearwater County, Idaho.
Location of Orofino in Clearwater County, Idaho.
Orofino, Idaho is located in the United States
Orofino, Idaho
Orofino, Idaho
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 46°29′8″N 116°15′32″W
CountryUnited States
StateIdaho
CountyClearwater
Area
[1]
 • Total2.61 sq mi (6.76 km2)
 • Land2.46 sq mi (6.38 km2)
 • Water0.15 sq mi (0.38 km2)
Elevation
1,030 ft (310 m)
Population
 (2010)[2]
 • Total3,142
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
3,099
 • Density1,257.71/sq mi (485.63/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
83544
Area code208
FIPS code16-59320
GNIS feature ID0396986
Websitewww.cityoforofino.org

Nearby is the historical "Canoe Camp," where the Lewis and Clark expedition built five new dugout canoes and embarked on October 7, 1805, downstream to the Pacific Ocean. Some four miles (6 km) north is the Dworshak Dam, third-highest dam in the United States, completed in the early 1970s. Nearby is the Dworshak National Fish Hatchery, started to try to compensate for the loss of migratory fish upstream after the dam was constructed.

Originally the name was two words, Oro Fino, applied to a gold mining camp established in 1861 two miles (3 km) south of Pierce. When the United States government opened up the Nez Percé reservation to non-tribal settlers in 1895,[5][6][7][8] thousands of European Americans rushed to lay claims to land. Clifford Fuller set up a trading post on his new homestead. The town (Orofino-on-the-Clearwater) was established the next year.[9] The railroad, later part of the Camas Prairie Railroad, was constructed from Lewiston in 1899.[10]

Orofino is home to state institutions: Idaho State Hospital North and the Idaho Correctional Institution–Orofino. These two facilities are located adjacent to Orofino High School, which includes the junior high or middle school grades, and whose mascot is the Maniac.

Orofino hosts an annual July 4 celebration, as well as the Clearwater County Fair and Lumberjack Days in late summer.[11] Each spring, Boomershoot, an annual precision rifle event, is held nearby.

Geography

Orofino is located at 46°29′8″N 116°15′32″W (46.485485, -116.258847).[12]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.47 square miles (6.40 km2), of which 2.33 square miles (6.03 km2) is land and 0.14 square miles (0.36 km2) is water.[13]

Climate

The city has a climate typical of low-elevation areas in Idaho and eastern Washington. Orofino has a dry-summer continental climate (Köppen Dsb). Due to the warm summers, it nearly qualifies as a continental Mediterranean climate (Dsa). Idaho’s all-time highest temperature of 118 °F or 47.8 °C was recorded at Orofino on July 28, 1934.

Climate data for Orofino, Idaho (1971-2000)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 62
(17)		 68
(20)		 82
(28)		 98
(37)		 105
(41)		 115
(46)		 118
(48)		 116
(47)		 107
(42)		 92
(33)		 71
(22)		 62
(17)		 118
(48)
Average high °F (°C) 37.7
(3.2)		 45.8
(7.7)		 55.4
(13.0)		 64.0
(17.8)		 72.0
(22.2)		 79.7
(26.5)		 88.9
(31.6)		 90.2
(32.3)		 78.8
(26.0)		 63.2
(17.3)		 46.1
(7.8)		 37.3
(2.9)		 63.3
(17.4)
Average low °F (°C) 25.2
(−3.8)		 28.0
(−2.2)		 32.0
(0.0)		 37.8
(3.2)		 44.1
(6.7)		 50.3
(10.2)		 53.7
(12.1)		 52.9
(11.6)		 45.3
(7.4)		 36.4
(2.4)		 31.1
(−0.5)		 26.2
(−3.2)		 38.6
(3.7)
Record low °F (°C) −11
(−24)		 −9
(−23)		 12
(−11)		 27
(−3)		 28
(−2)		 35
(2)		 41
(5)		 39
(4)		 28
(−2)		 15
(−9)		 1
(−17)		 −15
(−26)		 −15
(−26)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.91
(74)		 2.66
(68)		 2.53
(64)		 2.40
(61)		 2.59
(66)		 1.67
(42)		 1.06
(27)		 0.88
(22)		 1.24
(31)		 1.98
(50)		 3.38
(86)		 3.29
(84)		 26.59
(675)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 12.0
(30)		 3.9
(9.9)		 1.3
(3.3)		 0.1
(0.25)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 1.3
(3.3)		 7.9
(20)		 26.5
(66.75)
Source 1: NOAA (normals, 1971-2000) [14]
Source 2: Western Regional Climate Centre (snowfall, 1948-1981) [15]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1910384—
192053739.8%
19301,078100.7%
19401,60248.6%
19501,6563.4%
19602,47149.2%
19703,88357.1%
19803,711−4.4%
19902,868−22.7%
20003,24713.2%
20103,142−3.2%
2019 (est.)3,099[3]−1.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[16]

2010 census

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 3,142 people, 1,167 households, and 698 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,348.5 inhabitants per square mile (520.7/km2). There were 1,285 housing units at an average density of 551.5 per square mile (212.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 91.7% White, 0.5% African American, 2.5% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 1.2% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.3% of the population.

There were 1,167 households, of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.2% were non-families. 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.77.

The median age in the city was 43.7 years. 17% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.3% were from 25 to 44; 28.3% were from 45 to 64; and 20.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 58.3% male and 41.7% female.

2000 census

As of the census[17] of 2000, there were 3,247 people, 1,137 households, and 767 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,349.0 inhabitants per square mile (520.9/km2). There were 1,279 housing units at an average density of 531.4 per square mile (205.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.93% White, 0.37% African American, 2.13% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.99% from other races, and 1.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.25% of the population.

There were 1,137 households, out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 20.1% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 132.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 143.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,580, and the median income for a family was $36,908. Males had a median income of $30,386 versus $20,968 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,563. About 7.6% of families and 12.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.3% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

The city government is small due to the limited number of residents.

Major facilities are run by the state, which operates the Idaho State Hospital North here. In addition, the Idaho Department of Correction operates the Idaho Correctional Institution-Orofino here.[18][19]

The United States Postal Service operates the Orofino Post Office.[20]

Transportation

The city is served by US 12, a two-lane undivided highway on the south bank of the Clearwater River, connected to Orofino by a bridge. The highway connects to Lewiston to the west and Missoula, Montana (over Lolo Pass) to the east. The route is known as the "Northwest Passage Scenic Byway," a National Scenic Byway.[21] The population is dependent on cars. Most areas have few or no sidewalks. Orofino Municipal Airport (KS68) is available for those traveling by small aircraft.

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. Hamilton, Ladd (June 25, 1961). "Heads were popping up all over the place". Lewiston Morning Tribune. p. 14.
  6. Brammer, Rhonda (July 24, 1977). "Unruly mobs dashed to grab land when reservation opened". Lewiston Morning Tribune. p. 6E.
  7. "3,000 took part in "sneak" when Nez Perce Reservation was opened". Lewiston Morning Tribune. November 19, 1931. p. 3.
  8. "Nez Perce Reservation". Spokesman-Review. December 11, 1921. p. 5.
  9. "Why they call it Orofino". Lewiston Morning Tribune. February 26, 1933. p. 4.
  10. Idaho for the Curious, by Cort Conley, ©1982, ISBN 0-9603566-3-0, p.95-97
  11. "Three loggers share all-around Lumberjack Days championship". Lewiston Morning Tribune. September 17, 1962. p. 12.
  12. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  13. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  14. "Climatography of the United States NO.81" (PDF). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  15. "Idaho wrcc". Western Regional Climate Center. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  16. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  17. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  18. "Locations." Idaho Department of Correction. Retrieved on June 4, 2011. "Idaho Correctional Institution-Orofino (ICIO), 381 West Hospital Drive, Orofino, ID 83544 "
  19. "Orofino city, Idaho Archived 2011-11-24 at the Wayback Machine." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on June 4, 2011.
  20. "Post Office™ Location - OROFINO Archived 2012-08-30 at the Wayback Machine." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on June 4, 2011.
  21. Idaho Byways - Northwest Passage Scenic Byway Archived 2013-06-25 at the Wayback Machine
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