Shoshone County is located in northern Idaho’s Silver Valley along the Interstate 90 corridor, bordering Montana to the east and extending north toward the Coeur d’Alene Mountains and parts of the Idaho Panhandle. Established in 1864 during regional mining booms, the county developed around hard-rock mining and railroad transportation, with the Coeur d’Alene mining district playing a central role in its history. Shoshone County is small in population (about 13,000 residents) and is characterized by a largely rural settlement pattern concentrated in valley towns. The landscape is mountainous and heavily forested, with major river valleys and public lands supporting outdoor-oriented land uses. Historically dependent on mining and related industries, the local economy also includes government services, manufacturing, forestry, and tourism tied to recreation and heritage. The county seat is Wallace, noted for its preserved historic downtown and association with mining-era architecture.

Shoshone County Local Demographic Profile

Shoshone County is located in northern Idaho’s Silver Valley along the Interstate 90 corridor, with communities such as Wallace, Kellogg, and Osburn. The county borders Montana to the east and sits within the Idaho Panhandle region.

Population Size

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Shoshone County, Idaho, Shoshone County had:

  • Population (2020): 12,117
  • Population (2023 estimate): 12,314

For local government information and planning resources, visit the Shoshone County official website.

Age & Gender

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (Shoshone County):

Age distribution (percent of population)

  • Under 5 years: 4.5%
  • Under 18 years: 19.1%
  • Age 65 years and over: 26.9%

Gender ratio

  • Female persons: 49.5%
  • Male persons: 50.5%

Racial & Ethnic Composition

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (Shoshone County) (race alone, except where noted):

  • White: 89.9%
  • Black or African American: 0.5%
  • American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.6%
  • Asian: 1.0%
  • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: 0.1%
  • Two or more races: 6.8%
  • Hispanic or Latino (of any race): 3.2%

Household & Housing Data

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (Shoshone County):

Households

  • Households (2018–2022): 5,224
  • Persons per household (2018–2022): 2.18

Housing

  • Housing units (2022): 6,359
  • Owner-occupied housing unit rate (2018–2022): 71.4%
  • Median value of owner-occupied housing units (2018–2022, in 2022 dollars): $221,700
  • Median gross rent (2018–2022, in 2022 dollars): $852

Email Usage

Shoshone County’s mountainous terrain and dispersed settlements along the I‑90 corridor can constrain last‑mile broadband buildout, shaping how residents access email and other digital services. Direct county-level email usage statistics are generally not published; email access trends are inferred from proxy indicators such as broadband subscription, device availability, and demographics.

Digital access indicators from the U.S. Census Bureau data portal (American Community Survey tables on internet subscriptions and computer ownership) provide county estimates for broadband subscription and household computer access, which are closely associated with routine email use. Areas lacking fixed broadband often rely on mobile connectivity, affecting reliability for account setup, authentication, and attachments.

Age composition from ACS demographic profiles is relevant because older populations typically show lower adoption of online account management and email-intensive services compared with working-age groups. Gender distribution is available in the same profiles but is not a primary driver of email access relative to broadband and age.

Connectivity limitations are commonly reflected in FCC National Broadband Map coverage and provider availability patterns, where terrain and low density can reduce service options and speeds.

Mobile Phone Usage

Shoshone County is in north-central Idaho along the I‑90 corridor, with major communities including Wallace, Kellogg, and Osburn. The county is mountainous (Bitterroot Range and narrow river valleys), heavily forested, and largely rural outside a few small towns. These terrain and settlement patterns tend to concentrate stronger cellular coverage along highways and valley floors while creating higher risk of signal shadowing and coverage gaps in steep canyons and remote areas. Basic county geography and population figures are available through the Census Bureau’s QuickFacts for Shoshone County.

Key terms used in this overview (availability vs. adoption)

  • Network availability (coverage): Whether mobile broadband service is reported as available in a location (typically from carrier-reported or modeled coverage datasets).
  • Household adoption (use/subscription): Whether households or individuals actually subscribe to and use mobile service, which is influenced by price, devices, and demographics and is typically measured via surveys (often not published at county resolution for mobile).

Mobile penetration or access indicators (county-level availability and adoption)

Network availability indicators (reported coverage)

  • FCC mobile broadband coverage (4G/5G): The most widely cited national source for reported cellular broadband availability is the FCC’s Broadband Data Collection (BDC), accessible via the FCC National Broadband Map. This map can be used to view provider-reported 4G LTE and 5G coverage patterns in Shoshone County and to separate coverage by technology and provider.
  • Limitations of FCC availability data: FCC availability reflects reported/model-based coverage rather than measured user experience; performance can vary substantially by terrain, network load, and device. These limitations are documented in the FCC’s BDC materials linked from the map interface.

Adoption indicators (household subscription/usage)

  • County-level mobile adoption is limited in standard public tables. The U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) does not publish a county measure of “mobile broadband subscription” comparable to fixed broadband subscription in a way that is consistently interpretable as mobile-only or mobile-inclusive across tables. ACS does provide county-level indicators related to computer ownership and any internet subscription (not technology-specific) through data.census.gov.
  • Practical implication: Shoshone County-specific statements about “mobile penetration” (share of residents with a mobile subscription) generally require proprietary carrier metrics or specialized surveys not routinely published at county scale. Public reporting more often supports availability (coverage) than adoption (subscriptions and device ownership) at the county level.

Mobile internet usage patterns (4G and 5G availability vs. use)

Availability (4G LTE and 5G)

  • 4G LTE: Reported 4G LTE coverage is typically most continuous along I‑90 and around incorporated communities, reflecting where towers are most economically and logistically sited. The precise pattern and responsible providers are best taken from the FCC National Broadband Map coverage layers.
  • 5G: 5G availability in rural, mountainous counties often includes a mix of:
    • Low-band 5G (broader coverage, similar propagation advantages to LTE in rural areas).
    • Mid-band 5G (higher capacity, more limited range; often concentrated near towns and traffic corridors).
    • High-band/mmWave (very limited range; typically concentrated in dense urban areas and unlikely to be widespread in rural mountain terrain). County-specific verification of where 5G is reported available should be taken from FCC BDC layers and provider-specific coverage maps, noting that provider maps frequently depict outdoor coverage and may not reflect indoor performance.

Actual use patterns (mobile data reliance)

  • County-level mobile data consumption patterns are generally not published in open datasets. Public sources commonly provide availability and broadband subscription indicators, but not mobile network usage intensity (GB/user) at the county level. Statewide planning documents sometimes summarize rural/mobile reliance qualitatively; Idaho’s statewide broadband planning resources are accessible through the Idaho broadband office.
  • Mobile as a substitute for fixed service: In rural areas, some households rely on cellular data or fixed wireless. Quantifying this specifically for Shoshone County requires survey or provider data not typically available in public county tables. ACS “internet subscription” can indicate overall connectivity but does not isolate mobile-only households in a standard county product.

Common device types (smartphones vs. other devices)

  • County-level device type splits are not commonly published for smartphones vs. basic phones. Public U.S. datasets at county scale more commonly report:
    • Computer ownership and device categories (desktop/laptop/tablet) and internet subscription status via ACS on data.census.gov.
    • Telephone service indicators (such as cellular-only vs. landline) are typically measured by the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and released at national/regional levels rather than county level through the CDC/NCHS NHIS program.
  • Implication for Shoshone County: Definitive smartphone-vs-feature-phone shares are not available from standard public county datasets. Device environment can be partially inferred from broader indicators like age distribution and income (which are available for the county from the Census QuickFacts profile), but those are not direct device-type measurements.

Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage and connectivity

Terrain, settlement pattern, and transportation corridors (connectivity constraints)

  • Mountainous terrain and narrow valleys: These increase the likelihood of localized dead zones and reduce the practical reach of towers, especially away from valley floors. Coverage tends to be more reliable near population centers and along major road corridors (notably I‑90), and less consistent in higher elevations and backcountry areas.
  • Land cover and land ownership: Extensive forest and public lands can limit tower siting options and increase backhaul costs, influencing where providers build. This affects availability rather than demonstrating adoption.
  • Weather and seasonal access: Mountain weather can affect maintenance and reliability during storms, influencing service continuity in remote areas.

Population density and economics (adoption constraints)

  • Low population density: Rural density reduces the economic incentive for dense cell-site deployment, influencing availability and capacity.
  • Income and age structure: Lower median household income and older age distributions are commonly associated with lower broadband adoption and lower smartphone upgrade rates in many rural contexts; county-specific demographic distributions are available from Census QuickFacts. These are correlates rather than direct measures of mobile adoption.
  • Housing and indoor coverage: Older housing stock and building materials can reduce indoor signal strength, affecting user experience even where outdoor coverage is reported available.

Sources and data limitations (what is measurable at county scale)

  • Best public source for mobile availability: FCC National Broadband Map (BDC) provides the most direct county-area view of 4G/5G reported availability by provider and technology.
  • Best public sources for adoption-related context: data.census.gov (ACS) and Census QuickFacts provide county demographics and general internet subscription/computer ownership indicators, but not a definitive county measure of mobile subscription penetration or smartphone share.
  • State planning context: The Idaho broadband office is a central repository for statewide broadband planning documents that may reference mobile coverage challenges in rural and mountainous regions; these materials typically complement, rather than replace, FCC coverage layers.

Summary distinction (availability vs. adoption in Shoshone County)

  • Network availability: Documented primarily through FCC BDC coverage layers, with expected concentration of stronger coverage along I‑90 and in incorporated towns, and more variable coverage in mountainous and remote areas.
  • Household adoption: Not directly quantifiable for mobile penetration and smartphone share at county level from standard public datasets; related indicators (overall internet subscription and demographics) are available via the Census but do not isolate mobile-specific adoption.

Social Media Trends

Shoshone County is in northern Idaho’s Silver Valley along the Interstate 90 corridor, with principal communities including Kellogg, Wallace (the county seat), and Osburn. Its history and identity are closely tied to hard‑rock mining and outdoor recreation in the Coeur d’Alene Mountains, and its relatively rural, small‑town settlement pattern tends to align local social media behavior more closely with rural U.S. usage patterns than with large metro areas.

User statistics (penetration and active use)

  • County-specific social media penetration is not published as a standard statistic by major federal datasets; most reputable measurements are national or state-level. Shoshone County’s usage is therefore best described using rural U.S. benchmarks and Idaho’s overall connectivity context.
  • U.S. adult social media use: about 7 in 10 U.S. adults (≈70%) report using social media. Source: Pew Research Center’s Social Media Fact Sheet.
  • Rural vs. urban pattern: rural adults are consistently less likely than urban/suburban adults to use major platforms (especially Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat), while Facebook remains comparatively strong in rural areas. Source: Pew Research Center report on U.S. social media use.
  • Practical local estimate: applying the national adult benchmark (≈70%) to a rural county context typically implies moderate-to-high adoption overall, with platform mix skewing toward Facebook/YouTube over short‑form video apps. This reflects national rural patterns rather than a directly measured county penetration rate.

Age group trends (who uses social media most)

Nationally, usage is strongly age‑graded, and rural counties tend to mirror this gradient:

  • Highest overall use: 18–29 and 30–49 age groups (broadly the highest shares using multiple platforms). Source: Pew Research Center social media demographics.
  • Middle use: 50–64 (high Facebook/YouTube use; lower adoption for TikTok/Snapchat).
  • Lowest overall use: 65+, though Facebook and YouTube remain common relative to other platforms. Source: Pew Research Center social media use report.
  • Platform-specific age skew (U.S. pattern):
    • TikTok/Snapchat/Instagram: concentrated among younger adults.
    • Facebook: broadest age spread; strongest among older adults relative to other platforms.
    • YouTube: widely used across ages.

Gender breakdown

Most-used platforms (percentages where available)

County-level platform shares are not typically published; the most reliable percentages are U.S.-level, which serve as the best available proxy for rural areas in Idaho:

Rural-county platform mix implication: Facebook and YouTube typically represent the highest reach in rural areas, with Instagram and TikTok more concentrated in younger cohorts; LinkedIn reach is often constrained by occupational mix and commuting patterns compared with large metros.

Behavioral trends (engagement patterns and preferences)

  • Community information role: In rural and small-town contexts, Facebook groups and local pages often function as high-frequency channels for community updates, local events, school and sports content, buy/sell activity, and public-safety notices, reflecting Facebook’s broad reach and older-skewing user base in rural areas. Pattern consistent with Pew’s rural platform findings: Pew Research Center social media use report.
  • Video-first consumption: YouTube’s high penetration supports widespread video consumption (how‑to content, news clips, outdoor recreation content), with engagement often characterized by search-driven viewing rather than feed-only browsing. Source: Pew Research Center platform usage.
  • Short-form video concentration: TikTok and Snapchat engagement tends to be highest among younger adults, with heavier daily use patterns concentrated in younger cohorts compared with older residents. Source: Pew Research Center social media use report.
  • Messaging and private sharing: Across platforms, sharing and coordination often shifts toward private messages and small groups (Facebook Messenger, Instagram DMs, WhatsApp), reflecting national trends toward more private or semi-private interaction modes. Source: Pew Research Center Internet & Technology research.

Family & Associates Records

Shoshone County residents typically encounter family and associate-related public records through county, state, and court systems. Idaho’s Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics maintains statewide vital records such as birth and death certificates; these are not generally public and are issued under statutory eligibility and identification requirements. Marriage and divorce matters are reflected in court records maintained by the Shoshone County Clerk of the District Court, and some case information is available through Idaho’s statewide court portal, Idaho iCourt Portal. Adoption records are handled through the courts and are generally sealed, with access restricted by law.

Local access to recorded documents connected to family relationships (for example, marriage-related filings, property records shared by spouses, and some name-change orders when filed/recorded) is commonly provided by the county recorder function. Recorded-document searching is typically available online through the county’s land records system, Shoshone County Recorder, and in person at the recorder’s office during business hours. Court filings and copies are accessed through the clerk’s office: Shoshone County Clerk of the District Court.

Privacy limits apply: vital records have statutory access controls; juvenile and adoption records are commonly confidential; and some court records may be restricted or redacted under Idaho court rules.

Marriage & Divorce Records

Types of records available

  • Marriage licenses (and marriage certificates/returns): Issued by the Shoshone County Recorder for marriages intended to be performed within Idaho. After the ceremony, the officiant completes the license/return and it is recorded by the Recorder, creating the county’s recorded marriage record.
  • Divorce records (court case files and divorce decrees): Divorce actions are civil court matters handled by the Shoshone County District Court. The divorce decree (final judgment) is part of the court record.
  • Annulments (court orders/decrees): Annulments are handled through the District Court as civil cases. The order/decree of annulment is part of the court record.

Where records are filed and how they can be accessed

  • Marriage records

    • Filed/recorded by: Shoshone County Recorder (county-level recorded marriage documents).
    • Access: Recorded marriage documents are maintained by the Recorder’s office and are typically available as certified copies or informational copies through the county. Many Idaho counties also provide recorded-document search tools for indexes; availability and search coverage vary by county and time period.

  • Divorce and annulment records

    • Filed/maintained by: Shoshone County District Court (court case files, including decrees and orders).
    • Access: Court records are accessed through the Clerk of the District Court and, where available, through Idaho’s court records systems for registers of actions and document access. Access to the full case file depends on whether any portion has been sealed or otherwise restricted by court rule or order.

  • State-level vital records

    • Maintained by: Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics (statewide vital records program).
    • Marriage: The state maintains marriage records as vital records in addition to the county’s recorded documents.
    • Divorce: Idaho maintains divorce certificates (a vital record summary) through the state vital records program; the decree remains a court record held by the District Court.

Typical information included in these records

  • Marriage license/record (county recorded document)

    • Names of both parties (and sometimes prior names)
    • Date and place of marriage (ceremony location)
    • Date the license was issued and the county of issuance
    • Officiant name and authority, and certification/return information
    • Witness information may appear depending on the form used
    • Signatures of the parties, officiant, and/or clerk/recorder
    • Recording details (instrument number/book-page or document number; recording date)

  • Divorce decree (court judgment)

    • Court name, county, and case number
    • Names of parties and date of decree
    • Findings and orders ending the marriage
    • Terms addressing property/debt division, restoration of name, and other relief ordered by the court
    • Provisions on child custody, parenting time, and child support when applicable
    • Spousal maintenance (alimony) provisions when applicable

  • Annulment order/decree

    • Court name, county, and case number
    • Names of parties and date of order
    • Determination that the marriage is annulled/void/voidable under applicable law
    • Any related orders (property, support, custody) when applicable

Privacy or legal restrictions

  • Marriage records

    • Recorded marriage documents are generally treated as public records under Idaho’s public records framework, subject to statutory exemptions (for example, protection of specific sensitive information that may be present on a document). Agencies may redact exempt information when providing copies.

  • Divorce and annulment records

    • Court case files are generally public, but access can be limited by:
      • Sealing orders entered by the court
      • Idaho court rules on confidentiality for certain categories of information and records
      • Required redaction of protected personal identifiers and sensitive data in filed documents
    • Even when a case is public, some documents or data elements may be restricted or redacted to comply with court rules and privacy protections.

  • State vital records (marriage and divorce vital records)

    • Certified copies and certain state-issued vital record products are subject to Idaho vital records laws and administrative rules that limit eligibility and require identity verification. The state’s divorce product is typically a certificate (summary), distinct from the court’s decree.

Education, Employment and Housing

Shoshone County is in northern Idaho’s Silver Valley and along the I‑90 corridor, bordered by Montana to the east. The county seat is Wallace, with the largest population center in Kellogg; other communities include Osburn, Smelterville, and Mullan. The area’s community context is shaped by a legacy of mining and timber, a dispersed small‑town settlement pattern, and regional service centers tied to I‑90 access.

Education Indicators

Public schools (count and names)

Public K–12 education is provided primarily through local districts serving the Silver Valley communities. A current, authoritative list of public schools and district enrollment is maintained by the Idaho State Department of Education and district websites; school inventories can be verified through the state’s directory and district pages (for example, the Idaho State Department of Education and locally maintained district directories).
Note: A single consolidated “countywide” count is not consistently published as a standalone statistic; school counts are typically reported by district.

Student–teacher ratios and graduation rates

  • The most comparable, regularly updated ratios and outcomes for the county are published through federal and state education profiles. Countywide student–teacher ratios and on‑time graduation rates are typically reported at the district level and may differ between the Wallace, Kellogg, and surrounding attendance areas.
  • For the most recent official graduation rates and enrollment/teacher staffing, the state’s annual accountability reporting is the definitive source (see Idaho’s reporting via the Idaho State Department of Education).
    Proxy note: Where a district-level graduation rate is not available in a single county summary, state and district accountability reports are used as the standard proxy because they are the official measures.

Adult educational attainment

Adult education levels are most consistently available from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS). In Shoshone County, adult attainment generally reflects:

  • A majority share with a high school diploma (or equivalent) as the most common benchmark credential.
  • A smaller share with a bachelor’s degree or higher relative to Idaho’s more urban counties.
    The most recent county estimates are available via the Census Bureau’s county profiles (for example, data.census.gov).
    Note: Percentages vary year to year due to sampling in smaller counties; ACS 5‑year estimates are the standard for stability.

Notable programs (STEM, career/technical, AP)

  • Career/technical education (CTE) is a statewide delivery model in Idaho and is commonly present in North Idaho districts through pathways such as business, health, skilled trades, and industrial technology; offerings are typically organized by district and regional CTE support.
  • Advanced coursework (including Advanced Placement and dual credit) is commonly offered in Idaho high schools, with availability varying by school size and staffing.
    Program rosters are most reliably confirmed through district course catalogs and the state education department’s program pages (see Idaho SDE program information).

School safety measures and counseling resources

Across Idaho public schools, safety measures commonly include controlled entry procedures, visitor sign‑in requirements, emergency drills (fire/earthquake/lockdown), and coordination with local law enforcement. Student support services commonly include school counselors, social‑emotional learning supports, and referrals to regional behavioral health providers, with staffing levels varying by school and district. Formal safety plans and counseling/service descriptions are typically published in district handbooks and board policies rather than in a countywide statistical release.

Employment and Economic Conditions

Unemployment rate (most recent available)

The most recent official unemployment rate for Shoshone County is published monthly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program and reproduced by the Idaho Department of Labor. The county’s unemployment is typically above Idaho’s statewide average due to its smaller labor market and higher seasonal variation. The definitive current value is available through the BLS LAUS program and the Idaho Department of Labor.
Proxy note: When a single “most recent year” value is required, annual averages derived from LAUS monthly data are the standard.

Major industries and employment sectors

Employment in Shoshone County is commonly concentrated in:

  • Health care and social assistance (regional clinics, elder care, and support services)
  • Retail trade and accommodation/food services (local and I‑90 travel-related activity)
  • Public administration and education services (county/municipal services and school employment)
  • Construction and building trades (maintenance, residential and small commercial projects)
  • Manufacturing and resource-linked activity (historically mining; today more limited but still present in related services and specialized operations)
  • Arts/entertainment/recreation and tourism-linked services (including the Silver Mountain area and outdoor recreation economy)

Sector mix and payroll employment detail are tracked by the Census and state labor agencies (see the County Business Patterns program for establishment/industry counts and the Idaho Department of Labor for local labor market information).

Common occupations and workforce breakdown

Occupational structure in the county tends to emphasize:

  • Service occupations (food service, personal care, protective services)
  • Sales and office occupations (retail, clerical, administrative support)
  • Construction, extraction, and maintenance occupations (skilled trades and field maintenance)
  • Transportation and material moving (I‑90 corridor logistics and local distribution)
  • Education, health care, and community services (teachers, aides, nursing and care roles)

County-level occupational estimates are commonly accessed through federal workforce datasets (including BLS occupational data) and ACS occupational distributions (see ACS tables on occupation for resident workforce composition).

Commuting patterns and mean commute time

Commuting is shaped by the linear I‑90 valley geography and a mix of local employment plus out‑commuting to larger job centers in Kootenai County (Coeur d’Alene/Post Falls area) and, to a lesser extent, to adjacent counties. The most consistent measure of mean travel time to work comes from the ACS (mean commute time; county estimate available on data.census.gov).
Typical patterns include:

  • A meaningful share commuting within the county (Kellogg–Smelterville–Osburn–Wallace corridor)
  • Regular out‑of‑county commuting westward along I‑90 for higher-wage or higher-volume job markets
  • Limited transit availability relative to urban counties; commuting is predominantly by personal vehicle

Local employment versus out‑of‑county work

The ACS “place of work” and “county-to-county commuting” products are standard sources for measuring resident workers employed in-county versus out-of-county. In smaller, corridor-based counties like Shoshone, out‑commuting is a notable feature due to proximity to the Coeur d’Alene labor market and regional wage differentials (ACS commuting flows accessible via Census commuting tables).

Housing and Real Estate

Homeownership rate and rental share

Shoshone County’s housing tenure is primarily owner‑occupied with a substantial renter share typical of smaller regional service towns and older housing stock. The official owner‑occupied and renter‑occupied percentages are published in the ACS housing tables (see ACS tenure data).
Proxy note: In the absence of a single up-to-date county narrative metric, the ACS 5‑year tenure estimate is the standard reference.

Median property values and recent trends

Median home value is available from ACS (median value of owner‑occupied housing units). Recent trend direction in North Idaho has generally been upward since 2020, with cooling/normalization in some submarkets after peak pandemic-era acceleration; county-specific trend confirmation is best measured through multi-year ACS comparisons and local assessor/MLS summaries rather than a single federal series (see ACS median value).
Proxy note: “Recent trends” in smaller counties are often described using regional market reporting; county medians can fluctuate due to fewer transactions.

Typical rent prices

Median gross rent is published by ACS and is the most consistent countywide measure. Market rent listings can vary significantly by unit condition and proximity to I‑90 towns, with limited inventory influencing pricing volatility (see ACS median gross rent).

Types of housing

The county’s housing stock commonly includes:

  • Older single‑family homes in historic mining and railroad towns (Wallace, Mullan, parts of Kellogg)
  • Mixed single‑family and small multifamily (duplexes, small apartment buildings) in Kellogg/Smelterville/Osburn
  • Rural lots and scattered homes in unincorporated areas and along tributary valleys
  • Manufactured housing in some pockets consistent with rural Idaho patterns

Housing type shares (single-unit detached, attached, 2–4 unit, 5+ unit, manufactured) are reported in ACS structure-type tables (see ACS housing structure data).

Neighborhood characteristics (proximity to schools or amenities)

Neighborhood access is defined by the valley’s town nodes:

  • In Kellogg/Smelterville/Osburn, proximity to schools, grocery, and basic services is generally higher, with shorter in-town travel times and closer access to I‑90.
  • Wallace and Mullan provide walkable historic cores and civic services, with fewer large retail options locally and more reliance on corridor travel.
  • Rural areas feature larger parcels and recreational access but greater distance to schools, clinics, and year-round amenities.

Property tax overview (rate and typical cost)

Property taxes in Idaho are driven by taxing districts (county, city, highway, schools, and other local districts) and applied to assessed value. Rates and typical bills vary substantially by location (incorporated vs. unincorporated areas) and levy structure. The most authoritative, current information is published by the county assessor and treasurer (see Shoshone County government for assessor/treasurer links).
Proxy note: Idaho does not use a single statewide “property tax rate” in the way some states do; effective rates are best represented as an estimated effective tax rate (tax paid divided by market value) from ACS, supplemented by local levy documentation for parcel-level accuracy.

Table of Contents

Other Counties in Idaho