Idaho is no stranger to small towns, especially those of the “blink and you’ll miss it” variety. In fact, many of the smallest towns in Idaho contain so few permanent residents that they are best described as “extended families with a fondness for seclusion.” But we love it. Here in Idaho, we enjoy our personal space, large stretches of farmland, beautiful winding roads, and miniature towns that are a throwback to our awesome history — regardless of their population size.
Since Idaho is fortunate enough to still hold true to its frontier roots and open skylines, our quaint rural communities are similarly full of charm and simplicity. In fact, many of Idaho’s teeniest populations and unincorporated towns aren’t even thoroughly recorded by census data, although we managed to snag a few numbers from the most recent count. Here are just a few the smallest towns in Idaho:
- Castleford (Pop. 226)
Terry Robinson/Flickr Since Castleford is so well known due to its incredible natural landmark, Balanced Rock, you might not even realize that this hidden gem is also a bustling town away from its namesake rock formations. In fact, the quaint town of Castleford has been repeatedly ranked as having one of the best school districts in the state.
- Bloomington (Pop. 206)
S.J. & Jessie Quinney/Flickr Bloomington sits in the southeast corner of Idaho and has a settlement history that dates back to 1864.
- Malta (Pop. 193)
mele avery/Flickr Named after the Mediterranean island between Tunisia and Sicily, Malta is a middleground between Idaho and Utah.
- Moore (Pop. 189)
Google Maps The city of Moore was originally named Verbeck, which was a name chosen by the local railroad company. Legend has it that a local man by the name of Moore painted his name on a piece of wood and nailed it the exterior of his home in order to more consistently receive his mail.
- Elk River (Pop. 125)
Jasper Nance/Flickr An old logging town about fifty miles east of Moscow, Elk River was built by the Potlatch Timber Company and at one time boasted a population of close to 1300 residents.
- Leadore (Pop. 105)
Forest Service Northern Region/Flickr While now a ghost town itself, Leadore was once a thriving town that ironically flourished due to the failing of a nearby town. This nearby town, Junction, was bypassed by the railroad in favor of Leadore and quickly faded into ghost town status as a result.
- Huetter (Pop. 100)
huxglyph/Flickr In terms of recent history, Huetter is one of the few cities in Idaho to have gone a significant length of time without a mayor. It is also a rarity in terms national economic status: numbers of middle-class residents actually rose between 2010 and 2013.
- White Bird (Pop. 91)
J. Stephen Conn/Flickr While the scenic White Bird Grade is well-visited by Idahoans heading out on summer road trips, the town itself is itty-bitty. As the location of the 1877 Battle of White Bird Canyon, White Bird has a unique role in Idaho’s Native American history.
- Hope (Pop. 86)
Donna S./Flickr Between Clark Fork and Sandpoint sits what is quite possibly one of Idaho’s most beautiful and artistic communities. Hope’s picturesque setting on Lake Pend Orielle has long drawn visitors seeking inspiration from scenery, but the city’s permanent population has stayed consistent over the years.
- Placerville (Pop. 52)
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr One of Idaho’s many ghost towns, Placerville was once a bustling mining and supply town with thousands of residents, as well as visitors from all across the Boise basin.
- Spencer (Pop. 37)
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr The “Opal Capital of the World” began as a humble stop on the Pony Express.
- Clayton (Pop. 26)
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr In 1926, the Ford Motor Company expanded their mining holdings and moved directly into Clayton, where the company built houses for employees of the Redbird Mine. Prior to this, Clayton’s population was seasonal, rising and falling with summer smelting.
- Drummond (Pop. 16)
Realtor.com Believe it or not, there is still some confusion and debate as to whether Drummond is in Idaho or Montana. No joke.
- Warm River (Pop. 3)
David Anthony/Googlle Maps Original settlers in Warm River struggled to develop the community, despite its proximity to fresh water. In fact, the first roads out of the canyon were impossible to maintain - the water-saturated clay soil would simply crumble and slide.
- Dixie
Rcschlieper/Google Maps Often called the “end of the line,” Dixie is one tiny Idaho town that no two sources can seem to agree on a population for. If you happen to know, or if you’re the one person who lives here, be sure to let us know!
Full of character and history, small town living is where it’s at! Where are your favorite towns in Idaho? Here are some of the prettiest waterfront towns in the state.
Terry Robinson/Flickr
Since Castleford is so well known due to its incredible natural landmark, Balanced Rock, you might not even realize that this hidden gem is also a bustling town away from its namesake rock formations. In fact, the quaint town of Castleford has been repeatedly ranked as having one of the best school districts in the state.
S.J. & Jessie Quinney/Flickr
Bloomington sits in the southeast corner of Idaho and has a settlement history that dates back to 1864.
mele avery/Flickr
Named after the Mediterranean island between Tunisia and Sicily, Malta is a middleground between Idaho and Utah.
Google Maps
The city of Moore was originally named Verbeck, which was a name chosen by the local railroad company. Legend has it that a local man by the name of Moore painted his name on a piece of wood and nailed it the exterior of his home in order to more consistently receive his mail.
Jasper Nance/Flickr
An old logging town about fifty miles east of Moscow, Elk River was built by the Potlatch Timber Company and at one time boasted a population of close to 1300 residents.
Forest Service Northern Region/Flickr
While now a ghost town itself, Leadore was once a thriving town that ironically flourished due to the failing of a nearby town. This nearby town, Junction, was bypassed by the railroad in favor of Leadore and quickly faded into ghost town status as a result.
huxglyph/Flickr
In terms of recent history, Huetter is one of the few cities in Idaho to have gone a significant length of time without a mayor. It is also a rarity in terms national economic status: numbers of middle-class residents actually rose between 2010 and 2013.
J. Stephen Conn/Flickr
While the scenic White Bird Grade is well-visited by Idahoans heading out on summer road trips, the town itself is itty-bitty. As the location of the 1877 Battle of White Bird Canyon, White Bird has a unique role in Idaho’s Native American history.
Donna S./Flickr
Between Clark Fork and Sandpoint sits what is quite possibly one of Idaho’s most beautiful and artistic communities. Hope’s picturesque setting on Lake Pend Orielle has long drawn visitors seeking inspiration from scenery, but the city’s permanent population has stayed consistent over the years.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
One of Idaho’s many ghost towns, Placerville was once a bustling mining and supply town with thousands of residents, as well as visitors from all across the Boise basin.
The “Opal Capital of the World” began as a humble stop on the Pony Express.
In 1926, the Ford Motor Company expanded their mining holdings and moved directly into Clayton, where the company built houses for employees of the Redbird Mine. Prior to this, Clayton’s population was seasonal, rising and falling with summer smelting.
Realtor.com
Believe it or not, there is still some confusion and debate as to whether Drummond is in Idaho or Montana. No joke.
David Anthony/Googlle Maps
Original settlers in Warm River struggled to develop the community, despite its proximity to fresh water. In fact, the first roads out of the canyon were impossible to maintain - the water-saturated clay soil would simply crumble and slide.
Rcschlieper/Google Maps
Often called the “end of the line,” Dixie is one tiny Idaho town that no two sources can seem to agree on a population for. If you happen to know, or if you’re the one person who lives here, be sure to let us know!
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
Address: Castleford, ID 83321, USAAddress: Bloomington, ID 83223, USAAddress: Malta, ID 83342, USAAddress: Moore, ID 83255, USAAddress: Elk River, ID 83827, USAAddress: Leadore, ID 83464, USAAddress: Huetter, ID 83814, USAAddress: White Bird, ID 83554, USAAddress: Hope, ID 83836, USAAddress: Placerville, ID, USAAddress: Spencer, ID 83446, USAAddress: Clayton, ID 83227, USAAddress: Drummond, ID 83420, USAAddress: Warm River, ID 83420, USAAddress: Dixie, ID 83525, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Smallest Towns In Idaho January 29, 2021 Leah What are the most charming small towns in Idaho? Looking for some small towns to visit in Idaho? You can’t go wrong with checking out one that’s been voted one of America’s top 50 small towns. Haily, Idaho took its place on that list thanks to its rustic, rural charm. The scenery is absolutely stunning, too, and it hosts multiple annual festivals. It’s perfect for a day trip. Stanley, Idaho is also located in a beautiful spot. Nestled in the mountains, this remote town is a hidden gem. You can find a whole list of wonderful, charming small towns to visit by following this link. What is the oldest town in Idaho? With so many rural towns in Idaho that have been around for decades, you might be wondering which one has been around the longest. Many mining towns cropped up in the late 1800s, but the earliest one was Franklin, Idaho. However, for a while, it was thought that Franklin was part of Utah. A survey would later prove it was a mile over the border in Idaho. Franklin was founded in 1860 and has a population of under 1,000 residents. You can learn more about the oldest towns in Idaho here. What are the best road trips through Idaho? Visiting small towns is just one of many potential Idaho road trips you can take. We’ve put together quite a few drives that will take you to everything from the state’s prettiest waterfalls to its most haunted locations. Other drives include scenic cruises through Idaho’s tunnel of trees in McCroskey State Park, historic drives along the Magruder Corridor, and remote trips out to the middle of nowhere. You’ll find an entire list of all of these road trips and so much more by giving this article a read. This list is great to plan future trips within the state!
The OIYS Visitor Center
Smallest Towns In Idaho
January 29, 2021
Leah
What are the most charming small towns in Idaho? Looking for some small towns to visit in Idaho? You can’t go wrong with checking out one that’s been voted one of America’s top 50 small towns. Haily, Idaho took its place on that list thanks to its rustic, rural charm. The scenery is absolutely stunning, too, and it hosts multiple annual festivals. It’s perfect for a day trip. Stanley, Idaho is also located in a beautiful spot. Nestled in the mountains, this remote town is a hidden gem. You can find a whole list of wonderful, charming small towns to visit by following this link. What is the oldest town in Idaho? With so many rural towns in Idaho that have been around for decades, you might be wondering which one has been around the longest. Many mining towns cropped up in the late 1800s, but the earliest one was Franklin, Idaho. However, for a while, it was thought that Franklin was part of Utah. A survey would later prove it was a mile over the border in Idaho. Franklin was founded in 1860 and has a population of under 1,000 residents. You can learn more about the oldest towns in Idaho here. What are the best road trips through Idaho? Visiting small towns is just one of many potential Idaho road trips you can take. We’ve put together quite a few drives that will take you to everything from the state’s prettiest waterfalls to its most haunted locations. Other drives include scenic cruises through Idaho’s tunnel of trees in McCroskey State Park, historic drives along the Magruder Corridor, and remote trips out to the middle of nowhere. You’ll find an entire list of all of these road trips and so much more by giving this article a read. This list is great to plan future trips within the state!
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Looking for some small towns to visit in Idaho? You can’t go wrong with checking out one that’s been voted one of America’s top 50 small towns. Haily, Idaho took its place on that list thanks to its rustic, rural charm. The scenery is absolutely stunning, too, and it hosts multiple annual festivals. It’s perfect for a day trip. Stanley, Idaho is also located in a beautiful spot. Nestled in the mountains, this remote town is a hidden gem. You can find a whole list of wonderful, charming small towns to visit by following this link.
What is the oldest town in Idaho?
With so many rural towns in Idaho that have been around for decades, you might be wondering which one has been around the longest. Many mining towns cropped up in the late 1800s, but the earliest one was Franklin, Idaho. However, for a while, it was thought that Franklin was part of Utah. A survey would later prove it was a mile over the border in Idaho. Franklin was founded in 1860 and has a population of under 1,000 residents. You can learn more about the oldest towns in Idaho here.
What are the best road trips through Idaho?
Visiting small towns is just one of many potential Idaho road trips you can take. We’ve put together quite a few drives that will take you to everything from the state’s prettiest waterfalls to its most haunted locations. Other drives include scenic cruises through Idaho’s tunnel of trees in McCroskey State Park, historic drives along the Magruder Corridor, and remote trips out to the middle of nowhere. You’ll find an entire list of all of these road trips and so much more by giving this article a read. This list is great to plan future trips within the state!
