Lewiston

Lewiston, Idaho
—  City  —
Lewiston from the north
Coordinates: 46°25′00″N 117°01′04″W / 46.4166667°N 117.01778°W / 46.4166667; -117.01778
Country	United States
State	Idaho
County	Nez Perce
Founded	1861
Incorporated	1861
Government
- Mayor	Doug Havens
Area
- City	17.2 sq mi (44.5 km2)
- Land	16.5 sq mi (42.7 km2)
- Water	0.7 sq mi (1.8 km2)
Elevation	745 ft (227 m)
Population (2006)
- City	31,293
- Density	1,873.0/sq mi (695.2/km2)
- Metro	57,961
Time zone	PST (UTC-8)
- Summer (DST)	PDT (UTC-7)
ZIP code	83501
Area code(s)	208
FIPS code	16-46540
GNIS feature ID	0396788
Website	www.cityoflewiston.org

Lewiston is the county seat of and largest city in Nez Perce County, Idaho, United States. It is the second largest city in the northern Idaho region, behind Coeur d'Alene. Lewiston is the principal city of the Lewiston, ID - Clarkston, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Nez Perce County and Asotin County, Washington. As of the 2000 census the population of Lewiston was 30,904 (2006 estimate: 31,293)^[1]. The lowest point in the state of Idaho is located on the Snake River in Lewiston, where it flows out of Idaho and into Washington.

General

Lewiston is located at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater Rivers. Its main industry is paper and timber products production at the mill owned and operated by the Clearwater Paper Corporation (until December 2008, a part of the Potlatch Corporation). Immediately west of Lewiston is the smaller twin city of Clarkston, Washington.

Thirty miles (48 km) northwest of the city is the Lower Granite Dam, the last and upper-most of the four dams on the lower Snake River. It was completed in 1972 and raised the river level back to Lewiston, effectively making it the eastern end of the new reservoir, Lower Granite Lake.

Because of these dams (and their locks), Lewiston is navigable by some ocean-going vessels. The Port of Lewiston has the distinction of being the western United States' farthest inland seaport, and the only one in the state. Barges of timber products, grain, and other goods are shipped via the Snake-Columbia system to the Pacific Ocean.

Along much of the Snake River is a system of levees to protect against flooding. Most of the levees are maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Downtown Lewiston is at the same elevation as the rivers, about 740 ft (230 m). Away from downtown the terrain gains elevation quickly. The southern half of the city is referred to as "The Orchards." This area is much higher in elevation than downtown (one of the higher areas in town at about 1,350 ft (410 m) and is named for the fruit orchards that previously covered the area. There is little sign of any orchards today, although there is a wide proliferation of fruit trees in the backyards of many residences in this area of town. The Lewiston-Nez Perce County Airport is located on this southern plateau.

History

The first people of European ancestry to visit the Lewiston area were members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition in October, 1805. At the future townsite they encountered settlements of the native Nez Perce tribe.

Named after Meriwether Lewis and after Victor Trivetts hometown of Lewiston, Maine; but people don't know that was the reason Vic Trivett shouted the idea out. The town was founded in 1861 in the wake of a gold rush which began the previous year near Pierce, northeast of Lewiston. The first newspaper in present-day Idaho, The Lewiston Tribune, began publication in the city in 1862. In 1863 Lewiston became the capital of the newly-created Idaho Territory.Thomas J Beall one of the first three white settlers in Lewiston Thomas J Beall wrote many of the Lewiston Tribunes first articles, and continued to up until his death at age 89.

Lewiston's stint as a seat of the new territory's government was short-lived. As the gold rush quieted in northern Idaho, it heated up in southern Idaho, centered in Idaho City, which would become the largest city in the Northwest in the mid-1860s. A resolution to have the capital moved from Lewiston to Boise was passed by the Idaho Territorial Legislature on December 7, 1864, and the move was made in 1865. According to legend the move was very unpopular in northern Idaho, so government officials secretly took the territorial seal from Lewiston and immediately departed for Boise to avoid the public outrage that was sure to erupt. Alternately, they hired river pirates to steal it for them. North Idahoans were somewhat placated in 1889 when the University of Idaho was awarded to nearby Moscow.

Lewiston had a popular Northwest League professional baseball franchise from 1952-74. The Lewiston Broncos were affiliated with various major league parent clubs, including the Philadelphia Phillies, Kansas City Athletics, St. Louis Cardinals, Baltimore Orioles, and Oakland Athletics. Reggie Jackson was perhaps the most famous Lewiston Bronc of all-time; Mr. October played for Lewiston in 1966.

The Presto Log was invented in Lewiston in 1930.

Geography & Weather

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 17.2 sq mi (45 km²), of which 16.5 sq mi (43 km²) is land and .7 sq mi (1.8 km²) (4.01%) is water.

The north-flowing Snake River departs Hells Canyon and forms the state boundary with Washington, while west-flowing Clearwater River defines the northern border of the city. At their confluence at the city's northwest corner, the lower Snake River turns west into Washington, and after passing four dams, empties into the Columbia River at Wallula.

Link to local weather information from the NWS Spokane Office (National Weather Service) – http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/otx/

Highways

• - US 12
• - US 95
• - SH-128

On the city's north end, the old highway that climbs the 2000 vertical feet (610 m) of the Lewiston grade to the Palouse is mostly out of use, except for the truly adventurous traveler. Called the "Spiral Highway," the very twisty road (64 curves) was opened in 1917 and was the primary route north for 62 years. At the top it joins with US 95-US 195. The newer multi-lane grade of US 95, constructed from 1975-79, yields a straighter and steeper sweeping descent to the east, then back to the southwest, and is approximately 7 miles (11 km) in length. Both grades provide excellent views of Lewiston-Clarkston and the surrounding landscape.

Demographics

As of the census^[4] of 2000, there were 30,905 people, 12,795 households, and 8,278 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,873.0 people per square mile (723.2/km²). There were 13,394 housing units at an average density of 811.8/sq mi (313.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.14% White, 0.30% African American, 1.59% Native American, 0.76% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from other races, and 1.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.91% of the population.

There were 12,795 households out of which 28.7% included children under the age of 18, 51.3% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% were a single person living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,606, and the median income for a family was $45,410. Males had a median income of $35,121 versus $22,805 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,091. About 8.4% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.2% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those aged 65 or over.

Population history

• 1864 - 359 ^[5]
• 1863 - 414 ^[6]

Education

Lewiston is home to Lewis-Clark State College. The public secondary schools include Lewiston High School, Jenifer Junior High, and Sacajawea Junior High. The seven elementary schools are Whitman, Webster, Centennial, Orchards, Camelot, McGhee, and McSorely. Lewiston High School is a 5A school in Idaho, which is the largest (1A being the lowest). Their mascot is the Bengal.

Civic festivals

View of Lewiston and Clarkston, Washington

In springtime Lewiston hosts the Dogwood Festival. This celebration is named for the abundant dogwood trees that are in fragrant bloom during the festival. During and shortly after the festival these pink blossoms blow through yards and streets like drifts of snow.

During late summer, "Hot August Nights" takes place. This celebration includes concerts by classic 1950s to 1980s musicians, such as .38 Special, Eddie Money, and Loverboy. There's also a show and shine for classic cars, followed by a night parade along Main Street. During the fall, a number of cottonwood trees release cotton-like clouds of seeds that blow through the air and streets, blanketing them with a snow-like cover.

The town has a large Christmas festival that includes a number of lighted displays in the downtown area. At Locomotive Park, so named because of the retired locomotive Steam Engine 92 and Camas Prairie RR Caboose on display in the middle, large trees and pathways are decorated with lights from Thanksgiving to New Year's. These events are sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, and the displays involved are typically quite impressive and often attract many visitors.

Each year, the city hosts the Avista NAIA World Series in May, and the Lewiston Round Up in September. The Lewiston Round Up is a member of the Big 4 and a top 50 PRCA rodeo.

Famous Lewiston borns

• Sean Lockhart (Brent Corrigan) Professional gay porn star
• Jake Scott (guard) Professional Football Player NFL
• Jason Schmidt MLB pitcher

References

Valentino Leyva (former AMA motocrosser)

Further reading

• Northern Pacific railway company. (1911), Lewiston-Clarkston and the Clearwater country, Idaho--Washington, General Passenger Department

Northern Pacific Railway, http://www.archive.org/details/lewistonclarksto00nort 

External links

• Lewiston, Idaho is at coordinates 46°24′01″N 117°00′04″W / 46.400245°N 117.00103°W / 46.400245; -117.00103 (Lewiston, Idaho)Coordinates: 46°24′01″N 117°00′04″W / 46.400245°N 117.00103°W / 46.400245; -117.00103 (Lewiston, Idaho)
• City of Lewiston website
• Lewiston Chambere of Commerce
• Idaho Home Price Statistics for Lewiston and surrounding cities
• Lewiston Hot August Nights
• The Lewiston Tribune Online
• Nez Perce County Historical Society

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