The 2020 United States Census confirmed what residents already suspected — Kootenai County had experienced explosive growth over the previous decade. The official count of 171,362 residents made it the third-most populous and third-fastest growing county in Idaho.
The county added 32,868 new residents since 2010, a figure that, if isolated, would be larger than 33 entire Idaho counties. The growth rate tracked closely with projections from the Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization, which forecasts the county could reach 300,000 residents by 2040.
County officials described the growth as both an opportunity and a challenge. Transportation infrastructure, affordable housing, and preserving the area’s character emerged as the most pressing issues facing local government in the years ahead.