Idaho

Clearwater

8,734
2020 population
1920
first census record
11
census records

About Clearwater

Clearwater, Idaho, first appears in the United States federal census in 1920, when it recorded a population of 4,993. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 8,734.

Its recorded population peaked at 10,871 in 1970, and has since declined by roughly 20 percent.

On the ground today, 5 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of the Lolo Trail (Fort Fizzle), Nez Perce War — Battle at Weippe Prairie, Looking Glass Village Destruction (July 1, 1877), and 8 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20208,734
20108,761
20008,930
19908,505
198010,390
197010,871
19608,548
19508,217
19408,243
19306,599
19204,993
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Clearwater

Military engagements that took place in Clearwater, Idaho.

Battle of the Lolo Trail (Fort Fizzle)
1877
Nez Perce War — Battle at Weippe Prairie
1877
Looking Glass Village Destruction (July 1, 1877)
1877
Nez Perce War – Weippe Prairie Council
1877
Nez Perce War — Misery Hill / Clearwater North Fork
1877

Historic places in Clearwater

National Register of Historic Places listings in Clearwater, Idaho.

Nez Perce National Historical Park
Spalding
Orofino Historic District
Orofino
Pierce Courthouse
Pierce
Weippe Prairie
Weippe
Moore Gulch Chinese Mining Site (10-CW-159)
Pierce
Browse all Idahohistoric sites ›

Other counties in Idaho

Explore census history and historic records for more Idaho counties.

GoodingIdahoJeffersonJeromeKootenaiLatahLemhiLewisLincolnLoganMadisonMinidokaNez PerceOneidaOwyheePayettePowerShoshoneTetonTwin Falls
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Everything a full report reveals about Clearwater County, Idaho

This page charts the census history of Clearwater 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 Clearwater

When does Clearwater first appear in the US census?
Clearwater, Idaho first appears in the federal census in 1920, with a recorded population of 4,993.
What is the population of Clearwater?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Clearwater had a recorded population of 8,734.
When did Clearwater's population peak?
Clearwater's recorded population peaked at 10,871 in 1970.
Were any battles fought in Clearwater?
5 documented military engagements took place in Clearwater, including Battle of the Lolo Trail (Fort Fizzle), Nez Perce War — Battle at Weippe Prairie, Looking Glass Village Destruction (July 1, 1877).
How many historic places are in Clearwater?
8 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Clearwater, Idaho.
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