Latah County, Idaho

Latah County
County
Moscow Post Office and Courthouse
Moscow Post Office and Courthouse
Official seal of Latah County
Seal
Map of Idaho highlighting Latah County
Location within the U.S. state of Idaho
Map of the United States highlighting Idaho
Idaho's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 46°50′24″N 116°40′36″W / 46.84°N 116.6767°W / 46.84; -116.6767
Country United States
State Idaho
FoundedMay 14, 1888
Named forLatah Creek
SeatMoscow
Largest cityMoscow
Area
 • Total
1,077 sq mi (2,790 km2)
 • Land1,077 sq mi (2,790 km2)
 • Water0.9 sq mi (2 km2)  0.09%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
39,517
 • Density37/sq mi (14/km2)
Time zoneUTC−8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitelatah.id.us
University of Idaho Administration Building (1909) in Moscow

Latah County (/ˈleɪtə/ LAY-tə) is a county located in the north central region of the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2020 census, the population was 39,517.[1] The county seat and largest city is Moscow,[2] the home of the University of Idaho, the state's flagship university.

The county was created in 1888 and named for Latah Creek in its northwest corner. The name was derived from two words in the Nez Perce language to evoke the sense of "the place of pine trees and sestle." The tribe found shade under the white pine trees for doing their work and stones suitable for use in pulverizing camas roots to process as one of their food staples.[3][4]

Latah County comprises the Moscow, ID Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Pullman-Moscow, WA-ID Combined Statistical Area.

The county comprises the majority of the eastern portion of the Palouse, famous for its rolling hills and rich agriculture.[5] Latah County is the only county in the U.S. established by an act of Congress;[6][7][8] it was originally part of Nez Perce County, which was reluctant to lose its most populated area.[9][10][11]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference 2020 Census was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Latah County". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). February 25, 1990. p. 15–centennial.
  4. ^ Idaho.gov – Latah County Archived August 16, 2004, at the Wayback Machine – accessed June 6, 2009
  5. ^ Nessly, J.E. (November 28, 1918). "Latah County is prosperous". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). (Moscow (Idaho) Star-Mirror). p. 6.
  6. ^ Arney, C.E. (April 4, 1937). "Latah County only one in nation created by an act of Congress; bitter Lewiston protests futile". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. p. 1–sec.2.
  7. ^ "Latah only county in nation created by act of Congress". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. October 6, 1955. p. 7–LCSE.
  8. ^ "Latah County established by Congress 70 years ago today". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. May 14, 1958. p. 10.
  9. ^ Department, Latah County, Idaho - Information Technology Services. "History - Latah County, Idaho". www.latah.id.us. Retrieved April 4, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ Swank, Gladys Rae (November 11, 1962). "Latah County created by Congress". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. Idaho Writers League. p. 8.
  11. ^ Harriman, Peter (May 13, 1988). "Latah County has 100th birthday". Idahonian. Moscow. p. 1A.