Demographics

Population	1990	2000	% Change 1990-2000	2003	% Change 2000-2003
Coeur d'Alene	24,561	34,527	40.5%	37,262	8.0%
Hayden	4,888	9,167	87.4%	10,421	14.7%
Post Falls	7,349	17,333	135%	19,984	15.7%

Kootenai County	69,795	108,685	55.7%	117,481	8.1%
State of Idaho	1,006,749	1,293,953	28.5%	1,366,332	5.6%
United States	248,765,170	273,643,273	13.1%	290,809,777	3.3%
Idaho was the fifth fastest growing state in the 1990s, and Kootenai County was the third fastest growing county in Idaho. Rapid growth has continued from 2000 to present. Source: U.S. Census Bureau

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Percent of Population in Age Groups	Kootenai 1990	United States 1990	Kootenai 2000	United States 2003
Persons under age 15	23.1%	21.7%	22.4%	21.4%
Persons age 15-34	27.1%	32.1%	26.0%	28.1%
Persons age 35-54	27.6%	25.2%	30.0%	29.4%
Persons age 55-64	8.9%	8.5%	9.4%	8.6%
Persons age 65 and over	13.4%	12.5%	12.3%	12.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Real Estate & Property Taxes

Waterfront to mountain top locations, acreage to high rise condominium living, retirement centers to the historic Fort Grounds district provide individuals and real estate investors with ample opportunity to own a piece of beautiful Coeur d’Alene. Visit the Coeur d’Alene Association of Realtor’s at www.cdarealtors.com for a broad selection of properties in the area.

Median Sales Price Single Family Home	2004 3rd Quarter	2003	2002	2001
Coeur d'Alene, ID	136,000	126,700	124,887	124,439
Boise, ID	140,100	135,600	123,200	130,000
Los Angeles, CA	452,400	365,300	286,000	241,400
Portland, OR	215,100	196,200	180,400	172,300
Seattle, WA	303,900	276,100	254,000	245,400
Spokane, WA	132,400	121,800	108,700	108,000
Sun Valley/Ketchum, ID	968,750	365,000	*	*
Source: National Association of Realtors, Coeur d'Alene Association of Realtors, Sun Valley Ketchum Chamber & Visitor Bureau

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Total Valuation of New Construction
Kootenai County:	2003*	2002	2001
Commercial	11,746,934	14,827,552	20,118,138
Residential	84,462,190	58,157,481	54,604,525
City of Coeur d'Alene:	2003*	2002	2001
Commercial	7,550,496	6,784,607	6,816,880
Residential	35,048,748	36,815,883	40,044,966
Source: City of Coeur d'Alene & Kootenai County Planning & Building *Most recent full year available.

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Coeur d’Alene’s economy has enjoyed strong growth in the last 20 years. The traditional base of Coeur d'Alene's economy was the natural resources sector. Surrounding forests provide timber for mills to convert to boards and plywood. The Silver Valley to the east was at one time the richest mining district in the world. These industries provided high-paying jobs, but they also were subject to cyclical economic downturns. While these enterprises continue today, Coeur d'Alene's economic base has expanded to include many new industries.

Tourism has had a long history in the area and currently is the largest industry in the Coeur d'Alene area. People visit here to enjoy the natural beauty of Lake Coeur d'Alene. Since the late 1980s, the development of the Coeur d'Alene Resort, Silverwood Theme Park, the Coeur d'Alene Tribal Casino, and the Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course have made Coeur d'Alene a world-class destination. Tourism-related businesses provide 7,200 jobs in Kootenai County with wages and salaries totaling more than $96 million in 2004.

In the 1990s, the Coeur d'Alene region businesses began developing a mixture of manufacturing firms and high-end customer service centers. Flexcel, the largest manufacturing firm in Kootenai County, provides employment for more than 400 people. In January 2005, Buck Knives will move a plant from the San Diego area to Post Falls, employing 250 people. After Buck's move, Kootenai County will be home to 250 manufacturing businesses with 4,500 employees and a payroll exceeding $150 million. Advances in telecommunications operations have also attracted large customer service centers to the area including three Verizon Communications order-processing centers, two Center Partners call centers providing customer service for telecommunications companies, and a Coldwater Creek center taking catalog orders. In the first quarter of 2005, U.S. Bank will open a call center serving its credit-card customers in Coeur d’Alene. After the U.S. Bank Center opens, call centers in Kootenai County will employ more than 2,100 people.

The continual creation of new jobs by a growing variety of businesses strengthens, diversifies, and stabilizes the economic base. To serve potential manufacturers or commercial businesses, the area has more than 12 industrial parks.

Major Employers in Kootenai County 2003
Company	Employees	Type
Kootenai Medical Center	1,600	Hospital
Coeur d'Alene School District	1,280	Public Schools
Hagadone Corporation	1,200	Tourism & Newspapers
North Idaho College	960	Community College
State of Idaho	860	State Government
Center Partners	700	Call Centers
Kootenai County Government	670	County Government
Post Falls School District	650	Public Schools
Coeur d'Alene Tribal Casino	640	Amusement
US Government	620	Federal Government
Verizon	600	Telephone Service/Call Centers
Lakeland School District	510	Public Schools
Flexcel	400	Furniture Manufacturer
Wal-Mart	400	Retail Store
City of Coeur d'Alene	370	City Government
Silverwood	370	Theme Park
Coldwater Creek	360	Catalog Company Call Center
Advanced Input Devices	300	Control Panel/Keyboard Mfg.
Source: Idaho Commerce & Labor

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Employment and Wages by Industry (Kootenai County)

	Number of Jobs	Total Wages & Salaries
Agriculture	53	$771,790
Mining	127	11,885,520
Construction	3,323	96,709,379
Lumber & Wood Products Manufacturing	1,581	56,410,782
Other Manufacturing	3,405	100,574,248
Transportation, Communications and Utilities	1,510	50,974,400
Wholesale Trade	1,635	55,580,093
Retail Trade	9,911	163,578,055
Finance, Insurance & Real Estate	1,868	62,455,870
Services	12,135	256,378,763
Federal Government	693	27,251,005
State Government	829	26,026,158
Local Government	6,798	182,165,152
TOTAL	43,867	1,090,761,215
Source: Idaho Department of Labor

Median Family Income

Labor Force

	Total Employment	Total Unemployment	Rate
City of Coeur d'Alene (2001)	18,417	1,239	6.3%
Kootenai County (2001)	51,216	4,575	8.2%
City of Coeur d'Alene (1991)	11,512	767	6.2%
Kootenai County (1991)	33,377	2,873	7.9%
Source: Idaho Department of Labor

Economic Development Efforts

There are several local organizations actively promoting economic development in Northern Idaho. The missions, goals, and services provided by these organizations complement the services offered by the Coeur d’Alene Area Chamber of Commerce. These include Jobs Plus, Inc, Panhandle Area Council Inc. and the Idaho Small Business Development Center.

Jobs Plus, Inc., is a non-profit economic development corporation, formed in 1987 to expand the diversification of the economic and employment base for out-of-state companies considering relocation or expansion to Kootenai County. By 1999, more than 61 companies had relocated to Northern Idaho, now employing 2,660 workers and paying more than $62 million annually in wages. These companies have invested more than $140 million in capital projects in the community.

The Panhandle Area Council Inc. (PAC) is a non-profit, certified Economic Development Corporation organized to aid in diversifying and stabilizing the area’s economy. The council serves the five northern counties of Idaho and assists small businesses in their start-up or expansion.

The Idaho Small Business Development Center (ISBDC) is a small business assistance program serving small business owners and managers in starting or expanding businesses. It also assists in business plans, cash flow projections, organizational development, marketing/advertising plans, loan assistance information and new venture analysis. The center is funded by a grant from the Federal Government, funds from the State, and money from North Idaho College.

Crime Statistics

	Kootenai County per 100,000	State of Idaho per 100,000	US per 100,000
Murder	3.8	2.9	6.3
Rape	38.4	31.0	34.4
Robbery	27.8	21.3	165.2
Aggravated Assault	289.8	225.8	360.5
Burglary	834.9	667.0	862
Larceny	2,037.4	2,567.8	2,728.1
Motor Vehicle Theft	205.4	184.6	459
Arson	22.1	24.7	24.6
Source: Uniform Crime Reports, Idaho Department of Law Enforcement, FBI

Utilities

The Coeur d'Alene area has excellent utility service for its residents with adequate capacity for future expansion. Avista Utilities and Kootenai Electric Cooperative provide electric service for residential, commercial and industrial users. Natural gas also is provided by Avista Utilities.

Kootenai County telephone service is provided by Avista, XO Communications, and Verizon's advanced digital network, which includes the best in leading technology and fiber deployment. Diverse route capability connects Coeur d'Alene to surrounding areas and separate fiber rings provide local access to interexchange POPS such as MCI, AT&T, and Sprint. Cable television is provided by Adelphia.

City & County Government

The City of Coeur d’Alene has a mayor-council form of government. Sandi Bloem is the current mayor and there are six members of the city council. Hayden City government is led by Mayor Ron McIntire and four council members. Both entities are fully staffed to provide a full array of city services. The communities are zoned and have planning departments.

Three elected commissioners govern Kootenai County. Other elected officials include a Prosecuting Attorney, Sheriff, Auditor, Assessor, Treasurer, and Coroner. A complete professional staff oversees the provision of services. The Board of Commissioners serves as the governing body for the County.

Taxes

Idaho State tax revenues come from a mix of individual and corporate income, sales, and property taxes. This “three legged stool” approach provides a stable base with which to fund public services without burdening any sector.

Property taxes provide the majority of tax revenues used to fund local government services. The average property tax levy rate in Kootenai County is 1.4% of the taxable value of property. A homeowner’s exemption is available on a primary residence; this exemption reduces the taxable value of a house by 50 percent up to a maximum of $50,000.

Businesses are required to collect and remit a 5% tax on retail sales, and on the use, consumption or storage of tangible personal property in the state.

Corporate income tax applies at the rate of 7.6% on Idaho taxable income. Personal state income tax is based on the taxable income of individuals. With limited exceptions, taxable net income is as defined in the Internal Revenue Code. Tax rates for individuals vary from 1.6 to 7.8 %, based on their taxable net income.

Motor Vehicle Registration

For cars and pick-up trucks, depending on the year and make of the vehicle, the fee is generally between $30 and $60. For more information, contact the Department of Motor Vehicles - Auto Licensing at: 208.769.4448. For drivers license information, contact Drivers Licensing at: 208.769.4466.

Education

The Coeur d'Alene area is very proud of its local and regional educational system. The area's network of public schools, private schools, community colleges and universities provide a multitude of options for lifelong learning. Within a 60 mile radius of Coeur d'Alene there are several educational facilities offering undergraduate and graduate programs including North Idaho College, Lewis-Clark State College, University of Idaho-Coeur d'Alene Center, Gonzaga University, Eastern Washington University, Washington State University and Whitworth College.

The Coeur d'Alene School District serves 9,185 students with its 2 high schools, 3 middle schools, 1 alternative high/middle school, and 10 elementary schools. The district has a dedicated staff of 536 teachers, 31 administrators and 304 support personnel to provide quality education for the Coeur d'Alene, Hayden and Dalton communities. All schools are accredited and two high schools have merit status.

A Skyway Elementary teacher, Patti Perry, was recently named 2003 Idaho Teacher of the Year, the third such honor for the district in five years. Past recipients are Hayden Meadows teacher Judy Bieze (1999) and Ramsey teacher Nancy Larsen (2000).

Other awards received by district staff this year include Elementary Environmental Educator of the Year, Teri Burch of Fernan Elementary, and Idaho Secondary Physical Education Teacher of the Year, Harry Selby of Project CDA. In August, Linda Turner was named Outstanding Food Service Director of the Year for Idaho and, in October, School Bus Fleet magazine named the district's transportation operation as one of 50 Great Fleets Across America. SchoolMatch, a nationwide corporate relocation service, has given a "What Parents Want" designation to the district for seven consecutive years.

The District works hard to provide numerous learning and enrichment opportunities and to help all students meet Idaho's new Performance Standards. In addition to numerous Honors and Advanced Placement courses, high school students who qualify may enter a dual enrollment program with North Idaho College or take advanced technical and specialized courses at Riverbend Professional Technical Academy, a collaborative effort with Post Falls and Lakeland districts.

The District appreciates the strong support of the business community and governmental agencies. Partnerships with the City of Coeur d'Alene Police Department and Kootenai Medical Center provide five school resource officers and four school nurses.

North Idaho College (N.I.C.)

Founded in 1933, North Idaho College is a comprehensive community college offering a wide array of academic, professional-technical, and workforce training programs. NIC enrolls over 4,200 students in its academic courses and an additional 8,000 in various non-credit programs through its Workforce Training Center in nearby Post Falls. The college's beautiful 44-acre campus is located on the shores of Lake Coeur d'Alene and the Spokane River making it a perfect setting for it's excellent outdoor recreation program. A new state-of-the-art residence hall is the new home for 200 on-campus residents and a newly remodeled student union is the center for numerous student activities and services. The college is well-known for its excellent nursing program and nationally acclaimed, awarding-winning student newspaper.

North Idaho College serves as a center for the performing arts, is home to an outstanding intercollegiate athletic program, and is the site for many community sponsored events. NIC's 1,148-seat auditorium houses performances by the college choir, jazz and symphonic bands, madrigal singers, and theatre groups. Complementing the arts, is a full array of athletic teams including the Cardinal wrestling program that has won a total of 12 national championships.

North Idaho College instructors are dedicated teachers, committed to student success which is enhanced with an average class size of 20 students. Credits earned for an associate of arts or associate of science degree transfer automatically to any Idaho public college or university. As an accredited college, NIC's credits transfer to most institutions across the country. For information, call the NIC Admissions Office at (208) 769-3311.

Lewis-Clark State College - Coeur d'Alene Center

Located on the North Idaho College campus, Lewis-Clark State College-Cd'A provides baccalaureate degree completion programs to the residents of northern Idaho. The Center offers the final two years of baccalaureate degrees in Business Administration, Communication Arts, General Studies, Justice Studies, Nursing (BSN), and Social Work (BSW). Courses are offered in intensive formats mainly in the evenings, and weekends to meet the needs of working students. Eligible students may earn college credit for work, military and vocational/technical experiences to apply to certain degrees

University of Idaho-Coeur d'Alene Center (UI-CDA)

University of Idaho-Coeur d'Alene center was established in 1981 to provide continued growth in a wide range of quality educational opportunities for Coeur d'Alene residents. Current programs draw from the Colleges of Education and Letters and Science. Programs include degrees in elementary education, K-12 physical education, K-12 special education, environmental science; graduate degrees in education, educational administration, counseling and human services, vocational teacher and adult education; and two specialist degrees.

The UI-CDA collaborates with other educational institutions and community groups and has assumed an active roll in educational and research projects. The Thomas O. Bell New Century Classroom provides the most current technological advances for public school teachers and students. The UI Research and Development Park links economic development strategies with University research and technologies. The Northern Idaho Center for Higher Education (NICHE) is a coalition of UI, North Idaho College, Lewis-Clark State College and Idaho State University to combine services for expanded educational opportunities. The directors of the UI-CDA, Washington State University-Spokane, and Gonzaga University are developing a collaborative agreement to combine programs to assist the communities and patrons of eastern Washington and Northern Idaho.

The University of Idaho Research Park is the Inland Northwest's campus focus for research and technology companies wanting to create or continue working relationships with the University. At its completion, the park will be home to approximately 25 large companies and many smaller, technology-based companies, which will interact with the University and each other.

Cd'A School District Resources
311 N. 10th Street
208.664.8241; fax 208.664.1748
www.sd271.k12.id.us
Find out about Coeur d'Alene and surrounding area School Districts. Learn where to contact these schools and find out more about our school systems. Consists of 29 valuable resource sites for Districts 271 (Cd'A), 273 (Post Falls), and 272 (Lakeland)

Lewis-Clark State College
715 River Avenue
208.666.6707; fax 208.666.6712
www.lcsc.edu

North Idaho College
1000 W. Garden
208.769.3300; fax 208.769.7760
www.nic.edu

University of Idaho
1000 W. Hubbard, Ste. 242
208.667.2588; fax 208.664.1272
www.uicda.edu

Idaho Career Information System
www.sde.state.id.us/cis/
Provides info on occupations, schooling, financial aid, and the world of work. You can also sort colleges and universities based on your own needs and preferences.

Transportation

Coeur d'Alene is located on I-90 and US Highway 95, and is easily accessed by travelers and residents. The city is just 32 miles east of Spokane, Washington. The Spokane International Airport has daily non-stop flights to all major hubs with scheduled flights from Horizon, Alaska, United, Northwest, Southwest, Delta Airlines, Air Canada, Big Sky Airlines, and America West.

The Coeur d'Alene Airport which serves the General Aviation community is located seven miles north of Coeur d'Alene. It is the home to over 135 corporate and private aircraft and provides access for aviation education, emergency medical transport and is the home base for the U.S Forest Service Fire-Fighter Bomber. The airport has two runways, the longest being 7,400 feet with an instrument landing system (ILS) for all weather operations. The airport is capable of operating as a certified weather alternate for Spokane to accommodate commercial traffic such as DC 9's and Boeing 727's.

Bus transportation is available through North Idaho Community Express (NICE) which offers door-to-door bus service around North Idaho, as well as OmniBus and Payless Airport Shuttle.

Retirement

Coeur d'Alene is a very popular retirement destination due to the high quality of life the community offers. The area provides a variety of housing, recreation and social opportunities that fulfill the needs for today's retirement living.

There are several premium assisted living opportunities throughout the Coeur d'Alene and Hayden communities. Coeur d'Alene Homes, Lakewood Inn, Legends Park, Bee Hive Homes, Guardian Angel Home, and Sylvan House provide specialized health care programs. The La Crosse Health & Rehabilitation Center, Ivy Court, Life Care Centers of Coeur d'Alene and Pinewood Care Center are assisted living centers that offer nursing assistance.

The community also features the Lake City Senior Center with a full calendar of monthly events. The center provides educational programs, exercise programs, and a great billiards room.

Aging & Adult Services offers a support network of services to maintain independence and promote home living, 208/667-3179.

Healthcare

Quality health care is critical to a strong community, and Coeur d'Alene is well served. Kootenai Medical Center, an award-winning regional health care facility, has a long history of providing modern, high-quality health care services in an environment where caring and compassion are the rule.

The 225 bed state-of-the-art facility features a specialized emergency room center, critical care units, and excellent pediatrics, obstetrics, oncology, and rehabilitation departments. KMC is also dedicated to providing the community with information about the latest health-related issues and hosts several public and medical professional forums. Health screenings are routinely held at the hospital and in the community. The KMC volunteer program is one of the finest in Idaho.

The area also offers many other outstanding health and medical facilities. The North Idaho Immediate Care Centers recently opened its third office building in the Coeur d'Alene area to provide emergency care for those in need. The North Idaho Cancer Center is known throughout the Northwest for its Oncology/Hematology Diagnostic treatment and research.

North Idaho Behavioral Health, is a division of KMC, provides separate units for children, adolescents and adult care for mental health and chemical dependency services. It offers dual diagnosis programs for chemical dependency and psychiatric care, a 24-hour crisis line, crisis assessment, and a mental health referral system. The counseling center offers individual and group therapy, couple and family therapy, and AA meetings held on location. Coeur d'Alene is home to a large number of professional doctor and dentist offices, day surgery, alternative health care offices, massage facilities and pharmacies to address your health care needs.

Facts

Arts & Entertainment

Recreation

Idaho Fish n' Hunt
www.idfishnhunt.com
Handy guide to fishing and hunting in Idaho has information broken down by region. Features reports and weather conditions.

Idaho Dept of Fish & Game
www.state.id.us/fishgame/fishgame.html
Useful resource for those interested in Idaho hunting, fishing and wildlife offers permit information, area hot spots and safety tips

Idaho Department of Parks & Recreation
www.idahoparks.org/
Official page offers a list of services, info on annual passes, volunteer opportunities, and park descriptions and reservations

Order a Relocation Package

The Coeur d'Alene Area Chamber of Commerce sends out relocation packets for $20.00. If you would like a phone book, the cost is an additional $6.00. These packets are mailed 2-day priority mail, US Postal Service. You may order your packet by calling the Coeur d'Alene Area Chamber of Commerce at (208) 664-3194. You may pay by credit card, or send a check or money order.