Idaho

Bear Lake

6,372
2020 population
1880
first census record
15
census records

About Bear Lake

Bear Lake, Idaho, first appears in the United States federal census in 1880, when it recorded a population of 3,235. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 6,372.

Its recorded population peaked at 8,783 in 1920, and has since declined by roughly 27 percent.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Wild Bunch — Montpelier Bank Robbery Idaho 1896, and 92 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20206,372
20105,986
20006,411
19906,084
19806,931
19705,801
19607,148
19506,834
19407,911
19307,872
19208,783
19107,729
19007,051
18906,057
18803,235
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Bear Lake

Military engagements that took place in Bear Lake, Idaho.

Wild Bunch — Montpelier Bank Robbery Idaho 1896
1896

Historic places in Bear Lake

National Register of Historic Places listings in Bear Lake, Idaho.

Ashley, Dr. George, House
Paris
Price, Fred, Bungalow
Paris
Innes, Kate, House
Paris
Bear Lake Market
Paris
Wallentine Farmstead
Paris
Smedley, Thomas, House
Paris
Shepherd, J. R., House
Paris
Scofield, Anna Nielsen, House
Fish Haven
Budge Cottage
Paris
Collings, James, Jr., House
Paris
Budge, Julia, House
Paris
Budge, Alfred, House
Paris
Allred, Ezra, Bungalow
Paris
Budge, Taft, Bungalow
Paris
Paris Cemetery
Paris
Bear Lake County Courthouse
Paris
Browning Block
Paris
Bear Lake Stake Tabernacle
Paris
Wives of Charles C. Rich Historic District
Paris
Hotel Paris
Paris
Sutton, John, House
Paris
Bishop West Barn
Paris
Shepherd, Ted, Cottage
Paris
Weilermann, Gus, House
Paris
Browse all Idahohistoric sites ›

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Everything a full report reveals about Bear Lake County, Idaho

This page charts the census history of Bear Lake County, Idaho. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Bear Lake

When does Bear Lake first appear in the US census?
Bear Lake, Idaho first appears in the federal census in 1880, with a recorded population of 3,235.
What is the population of Bear Lake?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Bear Lake had a recorded population of 6,372.
When did Bear Lake's population peak?
Bear Lake's recorded population peaked at 8,783 in 1920.
Were any battles fought in Bear Lake?
1 documented military engagement took place in Bear Lake, including Wild Bunch — Montpelier Bank Robbery Idaho 1896.
How many historic places are in Bear Lake?
92 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Bear Lake, Idaho.
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