Custer County, Idaho

Custer County
Mill used to process gold and silver ore at Yankee Fork mining operations.
Mill used to process gold and silver ore at Yankee Fork mining operations.
Official seal of Custer County
Map of Idaho highlighting Custer County
Location within the U.S. state of Idaho
Map of the United States highlighting Idaho
Idaho's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°14′N 114°17′W / 44.23°N 114.29°W / 44.23; -114.29
Country United States
State Idaho
FoundedJanuary 8, 1881
Named forGeneral Custer gold mine
SeatChallis
Largest cityChallis
Area
 • Total
4,937 sq mi (12,790 km2)
 • Land4,921 sq mi (12,750 km2)
 • Water16 sq mi (40 km2)  0.3%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
4,249 Decrease
 • Density0.88/sq mi (0.34/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.co.custer.id.us
Leatherman Peak, 12,228 feet (3,727 m), second highest in Idaho, in the Lost River Range in eastern Custer County

Custer County is a rural mountain county in the center of the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,275,[1] making it the fifth-least populous county in Idaho. The county seat is Challis.[2] Established in 1881, the county was named for the General Custer Mine, where gold was discovered five years earlier. Custer County relies on ranching, mining, and tourism as its main resources.[3]

  1. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Custer County, Idaho". custercountyidaho.org. Retrieved September 17, 2022.