Post Falls, Idaho

Post Falls, Idaho
—  City  —
Downtown Post Falls along the Spokane River.
Location in Kootenai County and the state of Idaho
Coordinates: 47°42′56″N 116°56′17″W / 47.71556°N 116.93806°W / 47.71556; -116.93806
Country	United States
State	Idaho
County	Kootenai
Founded	1871
Incorporated	1890
Government
– Type	Six member City Council and Mayor elected to four year terms elections held every two years with three seats up for election
– Mayor	Clay Larkin
Area
– City	9.7 sq mi (25.1 km2)
– Land	9.7 sq mi (25.0 km2)
– Water	0.0 sq mi (0.1 km2)
Elevation	2,182 ft (6,151.47 m)
Population (2000)
– City	17,247
– Density	1,786.1/sq mi (689.6/km2)
– Metro	42,568
Time zone	Pacific (PST) (UTC-8)
– Summer (DST)	PDT (UTC-7)
ZIP codes	83854, 83877
Area code(s)	208
FIPS code	16-64810
GNIS feature ID	0397061
Website	http://www.postfallsidaho.org

Post Falls is a city in Kootenai County, Idaho, United States near the Idaho state line between Spokane, Washington, and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. The population was 17,247 at the 2000 census, and grew to 27,574 people by the 2010 census, making it Idaho's tenth largest city.

History

Post Falls is named for Frederick Post, a German immigrant who constructed a lumber mill along the Spokane River in 1871 on land he purchased from Andrew Seltice, Chief of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe. The purchase of the land is preserved in a pictograph on a granite cliff in Treaty Rock park.

Geography

47°42′56″N 116°56′17″W / 47.71556°N 116.93806°W / 47.71556; -116.93806 (47.715552, -116.937926).^[1]

Post Falls is located four miles (6 km) east of the Washington-Idaho border along Interstate 90 in Kootenai County and is bounded by Coeur d’Alene, Idaho to the east, the State of Washington to the west, the Spokane River to the south and the Rathdrum prairie to the north. Post Falls is 20 miles (32 km) east of Spokane, Washington and approximately 100 miles (160 km) south of the Canadian border.

Climate

Post Falls has four distinct seasons, with temperatures ranging in the 80's mid-summer and low teens during the winter. The annual average amount of sunshine ranges from about 30% in the winter, but in July and August the average rises to the 80's, as crystal clear days may linger well in fall for perfect golf and boating weather. The annual average relative humidity is 46%; average amount of rain is 29", and an average of 49" of snow.

Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 17,247 people, 6,369 households, and 4,668 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,786.1 people per square mile (689.3/km²). There were 6,697 housing units at an average density of 693.5 per square mile (267.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.13% White, 0.18% African American, 0.87% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.60% from other races, and 1.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.55% of the population.

There were 6,369 households out of which 40.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.7% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.7% were non-families. 20.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city the population was spread out with 30.6% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 9.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $39,061, and the median income for a family was $42,758. Males had a median income of $32,284 versus $22,798 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,692. About 7.1% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.4% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.

As of 2009 the per capita income for the city was $32,696

Population history

• 2010 - 27,574
• 2009 - 26,053 - estimate^[3]
• 2007 - 25,358 - estimate^[4]
• 2000 - 17,247
• 1990 - 7,389^[5]
• 1980 - 5,736
• 1970 - 2,371
• 1960 - 1,983
• 1950 - 1,069
• 1940 - 843
• 1930 - 509
• 1920 - 576
• 1910 - 658
• 1900 - 287
• 1890 - 400
• 1790 - 0

Economy

^[6] Due to the proximity of numerous lakes, rivers and mountains, Post Falls has developed tourism and retirement communities. There is an increasing number of retail, dining and entertainment businesses locating in the City.

Kootenai County traditionally has had a timber-based economy. That is changing gradually, as the manufacturing base has become more diverse. Jobs Plus, Inc., the local economic development organization has recruited several small to medium sized firms to the county. Manufacturing jobs are found primarily in electronics, lumber and furniture at the present. Post Falls was the chosen location for Flexcel, Inc., a major furniture manufacturer that relocated to North Idaho nearly fifteen years ago and employs a workforce of 350. This was done with the help of Jobs Plus, Inc. and by creating an Urban Renewal District to help build infrastructure. This District closed out at the end of December 2001. Jobs Plus, Inc. has also just recently helped bring Center Partners, a call center business (employing a workforce of 300), and Buck Knives brought their manufacturing headquarters (workforce of 250) to the City. Also, Wal-Mart opened its new store in January 2002, employing a workforce of 300.

Construction of a private surgical hospital was completed in 2004. Sysco foods opened their distribution plant during 2005. This project was made possible by Jobs Plus, Urban Renewal, and the City working together. Also, a community development block grant for $500,000 was used to help fund a water tower (approximately $1,500,000 total cost) that was needed on the west side of town for development in that area. In 2007, Cabela’s opened its doors to a beautiful 130,000-square-foot (12,000 m²) retail store. Considerable economic development activity transpired in Post Falls in 2009 including the opening of ALK Source Materials/Biopol which is a Danish pharmaceutical company, a second Super Wal-Mart store that will be located near the new Cabelas store began its construction and is slated to open in early summer 2010, and Lowe’s Home Improvement finalized the purchase of land adjacent to the new Wal-Mart at the Pointe at Post Falls. Ground Force Manufacturing, a large construction equipment manufacturer, completed an addition that increased their production space by 20,000 square feet (1,900 m²) in 2009 in order to meet the heavy demands for their mining construction products around the globe. In 2010, additional commercial real estate activity is anticipated including the construction of the Lowe’s Home Improvement store mentioned earlier; a new 30,000 professional office building to house a high tech network-based solutions company named Ednetics; a 30,000 LEED certified industrial building to be the home of a subsidiary of Berg Integrated Systems will begin construction in early 2010; the State of Idaho Department of Labor will construct their new regional office here in Post Falls that will provide services to the northern five counties of Idaho; Love's travel Centers will be constructing a new fuel center along Interstate 90 that will have a convenience store and new Carl’s Jr. restaurant; Blue Dog RV is planning on constructing a new recreational vehicle showroom and maintenance facility; several restaurants are also anticipated to locate within the Pointe at Post Falls regional power center to take advantage of the retail traffic of Cabela’s and Wal-Mart; the City’s downtown area is expected to see a major mixed use project also take off with infrastructure and the first phase including a hospitality component begin construction; and finally the community anticipates that construction on the Beck Road Interchange with Interstate 90 will begin this fall ultimately providing service to the Pointe at Post Falls and EXPO on the north side of the freeway and the Riverbend Commerce Park and Greyhound Event Center on the south side of the Interstate 90.

Employers

As of 2009 the major employers^[7] in Post Falls were as follows

Employer	Type of business	Employees
Center Partners	Customer service center	700
Post Falls School District	Education	690
Wal-Mart Stores	Retail department store/grocery	450
Kimball Furniture Group, Inc.	Manufacturer of furniture	350
The City	Government	300
Buck's Knives	Manufacturer of knives	220
Cabela's	Retail	200
Sysco	Food services distributor	185
Accurate Molded Plastics	Manufacturer of molds	160
Red Lion Templin's Hotel	Lodging	150

Transportation

Post Falls is served by I-90, which extends east and west of the panhandle of Idaho through Post Falls. Post Falls is located approximately two miles west of the junction of State Highway 41, which extends approximately 8 miles (13 km) to Rathdrum, Idaho. Post Falls is approximately 7 miles (11 km) west of State Highway 95 which extends the length of Idaho to Canada. Amtrak passenger service is available in Spokane, Washington and Sandpoint, Idaho. Bus service and taxi service are available within the immediate area. Air passenger service is available with Spokane International Airport.

Education

Schools within Post Falls include:
Kindercenter
Mullan Trail Elementary
Ponderosa Elementary
Prairie View Elementary
Seltice Elementary
West Side Elementary
West Ridge Elementary
Post Falls Middle School
Immaculate Conception Academy
River City Middle School
Post Falls High School
New Visions Alternative High School
Riverbend Professional Technical Academy
Calvary Chapel Bible College Northwest
North Idaho College Workforce Training Center St. Dominic School

References

1. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
2. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
3. ^ "Demographic and Economic Statistics Last 10 Years" (PDF). Post Falls, Idaho. 2010-04. http://www.postfallsidaho.org/CAFRweb/eCAFR/09eCAFR/DataFiles/Table%2018%20-%20Demographic%20and%20Economic%20Statistics.pdf. Retrieved 2010-05-11. ^{[dead link]}
4. ^ "Subcounty population estimates: Idaho 2000-2007" (CSV). United States Census Bureau, Population Division. 2009-03-18. http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/files/SUB-EST2007-16.csv. Retrieved 2009-04-25. 
5. ^ Moffatt, Riley. Population History of Western U.S. Cities & Towns, 1850-1990. Lanham: Scarecrow, 1996, 97.
6. ^ "Comprehensive Plan Website" (html). http://www.postfallsidaho.org/Comp%20Plan%20Web/compplanweb.html. Retrieved 2010-05-11. ^{[dead link]}
7. ^ "Principal Employers" (pdf). [Post Falls, Idaho]. http://www.postfallsidaho.org/CAFRweb/eCAFR/09eCAFR/DataFiles/Table%2019%20-%20Principal%20Employers.pdf. Retrieved 2010-05-11. ^{[dead link]}

External links

• Official City of Post Falls Website
• Post Falls Chamber of Commerce
• Post Falls School District #273

Coordinates: 47°42′56″N 116°56′17″W / 47.715552°N 116.937926°W / 47.715552; -116.937926