Shoshone County

County Offices
700 Bank St
Wallace 208-752-3331
https://shoshonecounty.id.gov/

Chamber of Commerce
10 E Station Ave
Kellogg 208-784-0821
https://www.silvervalleychamber.com/

Shoshone County is commonly referred to as the Silver Valley due to its century-old mining history. The Silver Valley is famous for the vast amounts of silver, lead, and zinc mined from it. Nestled between the Coeur d’Alene Mountains and the Bitterroot Range, the Silver Valley region is over 80% forest-owned land managed by State and federal entities. Shoshone County stretches over a large land area. It covers 2,636 square miles of mountains and valleys. Eighty-seven percent of its land area (or 1,888,941 acres) is classified as “forest uplands.” Less than one percent (only 6,027 acres) is “urban or developed.” Shoshone County lies on the eastern side of Idaho’s northern panhandle. The county’s seven incorporated rural cities are stretched along the Interstate 90 corridor, from Pinehurst on the western side to the Montana border to the east. This corridor is also known as the Silver Valley. Shoshone County is also forest country. For most of the county’s existence, timber has also been a mainstay of the county’s natural resources economy. The population of Shoshone County is just over 12,700.

Lifestyle
The Silver Valley is a four-season mountain recreation destination featuring alpine and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, fishing, mountain biking and climbing, river rafting, canoeing and kayaking, golf, hiking, backpacking, four-wheeling, and hunting.  With over 2,000 miles of rivers, streams, and a high concentration of lakes, the area is very popular with fisherman. Cyclists love the area because of the large selection of trails. There is the Silver Mountain Bike Park for the adventurous. The beauty on the winding Route of the Hiawatha rail trail that winds through nine tunnels and over seven old railroad  trestle bridges. For bikers who prefer the pavement, there is the 73-mile long paved Trail of the Coeur d’Alene’s that runs through the area and is perfect for a family walk, bike ride, or run. Hikers can enjoy the Idaho Panhandle National Forest which has plenty of trail options, local favorites include the Pulaski Tunnel Trail and Settler’s Grove. Golfers have a lot to look forward to in the county as well with three local courses all set in stunning natural surroundings. And of course being in a mountainous area means that skiers are not forgotten, local skiers can enjoy Lookout Ski Pass and Silver Mountain Resort, both offering everything a skier could want.  Whether it’s the historic culture, the year-round recreational opportunities or the friendly people, Shoshone County is a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

Services
Quality educational opportunities are available in and near Latah County, underlined by excellent public-school districts and options for select private and parochial schools. The county is served by several small school districts that use nationally recognized programs and detailed planning to ensure the highest education possible for students. Students in county school districts enjoy very low student to teacher ratios, giving students the opportunity for exceptional learning. For those seeking higher education, there are a number of online opportunities available from state and regional colleges and universities for students of all ages. North Idaho College has a Silver Valley Satellite campus. The mission of the Center is to provide student-centered services that provide community members access to quality educational opportunities without leaving the surrounding area. NIC also has a computer lab that is available to the public and NIC students. The Center offers classes for degree-seeking students and those looking to broaden their education.

The county is served by one hospital, many health care professionals, dentists, medical clinics, skilled nursing facilities and pharmacies. Shoshone Medical Center is located in a state-of-the-art hospital. The hospital is a 25- bed Critical Access Hospital, offering Acute and 24-Hour Emergency Room Care, Orthopedic & General Surgery, up-to-date radiology, and laboratory diagnostic equipment. Shoshone Medical Center is committed to providing excellence in health care and meeting the health care needs of the Silver Valley communities. Kootenai Health in nearby Coeur d’Alene provides comprehensive medical services and the more specialized care that might not be available to find in the county. They provide heart, cancer, birth, orthopedic, and surgical services, and its main campus also has a 330-bed hospital.

Communities

Kellogg/Osburn
City Offices
1007 McKinley Ave
Kellogg 208-786-9131
http://kellogg.id.gov/

Kellogg is a city in the Silver Valley of Shoshone County. The city lies near the Coeur d’Alene National Forest and about 36 miles east-southeast of Coeur d’Alene along Interstate 90. The community is home to more than 2,500 residents and is the biggest city in the county.  Located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, in the heart of Idaho’s Panhandle National Forest, the city covers a three-mile square section of a valley on the South Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River. It is surrounded by steep hillsides rising several thousand feet from the valley floor. This mountain community touts alpine recreational activities available in the area. One of the city’s claims to fame is the world’s longest single-state gondola, that goes to the top of Silver Mountain Ski Resort, a year-round treat for residents and visitors alike. Kellogg features several historical sites, such as Kellogg’s Staff House Museum, the hidden city of Wardner, the Wardner Museum and the founding site of the Bunker Hill Mine. Facilities and community services in Kellogg include a library, senior and youth centers, several organizations, a bowling alley, miniature golf, an outdoor heated swimming pool situated in the park along with a bike trail to the park. A very popular skate park, 3-on3 basketball court, greenbelt, several shopping areas, food stores. Silver Mountain Resort is home to an indoor waterpark at the resort’s Gondola Village. The facility features several waterslides, a surf wave, an indoor/outdoor swimming pool and other major aquatic attractions. Residents of this small city enjoy a high quality of life in a more peaceful setting. For those wanting a bit more action Coeur d’Alene is a short 40-minute drive away.

Osburn
City office
921 East Mullan Ave
Osburn 208-752-001

The city of Osburn is a rural bedroom community that sits between Kellogg and Wallace. It has about 1,500 residents. Osburn has many things to offer for its residents. Its downtown is home to several family-owned local businesses. Businesses include a gas station, grocery store, auto repair shop, coffee stand, restaurant, drug store, an RV park, and taverns. From Osburn, its easy access the Trail of the Coeur d’Alene’s. Enjoy biking or walking the trail. There is also easy access for ATVers, hunter, or those seeking mountain adventures. On the 1st Saturday of May, the town celebrates its annual Loyalty Day Parade in honor of its veterans. During the first weekend in August, a mining competition is held, and this event is a local favorite. Residents have easy access to all the activities in Kellogg or the other surrounding communities.

Wallace

Chamber of Commerce
10 River Street
Wallace 208-753-7151
http://www.wallaceidahochamber.com/

Wallace is one of the few cities in the U.S. to be totally included on the National Historic Register. This small city of just over 700 residents is surrounded by towering mountains, thick with pine forest and covered in trails. The city is home to unique museums and historical sites that tell the stories of the railroaders, miners, and settlers who formed this town. The town is also famous for its time in the movies. Movies such as “Tornado”, “Heaven’s Gate”, and “Dante’s Peak” have all been filmed against the beautiful backdrop of downtown Wallace and the surrounding forests. Today, Wallace is a tourist driven city. People come to the area for the outdoor recreation in the mountains, beautiful forests, sparkling streams, and world class natural attractions. Just east of town is the Lookout Pass recreation area which averages over 400 inches of light fluffy powder on the ski runs every year. South and East of Wallace is the world-famous Route of the Hiawatha. This 15-mile section of former railway is widely recognized as the most scenic hiking and biking trail in the USA. Silver Mountain Resort with a waterpark and gondolas to the ski mountain lies only 20 minutes to the west.  Wallace residents are proud of their architectural legacy and of their colorful heritage as a bawdy mining camp. The Wallace District Mining Museum provides exhibits and displays. The Sierra Silver Mine tour offers a firsthand encounter with an actual mine and The Northern Pacific Railroad Museum occupies a picturesque turn of the century train station. The Sixth Street Theatre and Melodrama is a unique year-round theatre housed in the oldest wood frame structure, in downtown Wallace, offering summer melodramas, musicals and comedies. Wallace boasts a Carnegie Library, senior and youth centers, several civic organizations, tennis courts, an outdoor heated swimming pool, a downtown city park and the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes. An array of specialty shops line these quaint downtown historic streets. Residents do enjoy a very relaxed pace of life.