Bonners Ferry Info Please! (Coeur d'Alene, Sandpoint: crime, homes, school district)

[Huny]

We are looking into a move to Bonners Ferry and need any and all information anyone has. Including but not limited to schools, average temps extreme temps (How cold does it really get?) average snowfall, crime and travel to larger cities. Thanks!

[brokencrayola]

I don't live in Bonners Ferry but live close and have been there many times. I don't know much about the schools. I know there is some farming in the area. We bought great alfalfa for our llamas there and they grow hops as well as other things. The area has a Mennonite community as well. It is a little colder and snowier generally than Sandpoint, which is about an hour away. Usually the first snow can arrive anywhere from around Halloween to into Dec. and usually winter is over around March or April. Then we usually get a fair amount of rain from March or April until early July. Summer is from July, maybe June into Sept. Fall from Sept until late Oct. There is a tribal casino there and some shopping but people generally go to Sandpoint for shopping. Sandpoint has a Super Wal-Mart, Safeway, and Yokes as far as groceries. Beyond Sandpoint another hour is Coeur d' Alene which has much more shopping including many restaurants, Costco, Target, Shopko, KMart, and much more. There is very very little crime in Bonners.

[YOU-CANT-EAT-SCENERY]

CLICK HERE for info on my trip to northern ID in July. There are links to lots of pics. Not sure if the info will be of any help to you, but at least you can see what the area looks like.

[TFG]

A nice area to retire to. Not much work there and like all of Idaho, the pay is very low.

[Xa'at]

Bonners Ferry school district has an interesting system, at least at the high school. They stay in school late and don't go to school on Fridays.
A lot of the income for the city comes from the casino. There is a Safeway and a locally owned grocery store called "Boundary County Trading Co". It is close to the border and a lot of people in the little towns in Canada will come over to do their shopping.
I'd say you could do the drive from Sandpoint in 35 minutes on a really good day. Give yourself at least an hour and a half in the depths of winter. The section of Highway 95 that stretches from CDA to Bonners Ferry (via Sandpoint) is actually the best-kept section of that highway.
Crime is fairly low, but it is very rural and there is a lot of drug usage. I have heard from Sandpoint law enforcement officers that the police up there can be... how do I say this? A bit like a militia at times. Also, they can be overzealous.
That being said, it's a beautiful city. Come check it out for yourself!

[Morgaine]

I have lived in Bonners Ferry for 5 years now, and every year is different...different weather, different issues, different people, different stores. I won't allow my opinions of the schools to be voiced here because there are pros and cons. My 13 year old daughter loves the middle school, and thrives with all A's. I think if you are within driving distance, I would suggest taking a long weekend here...visit our new Million Dollar Visitors center. They have a ton of info. Don't let the locals scare you, they just don't like outsiders...especially Californians. I know all the law enforcement officers, and they are wonderful, as long as you are a decent, lawbiding, citizen. But they do have their hands full with the drug problem up here. It's a very beautiful, ever-changing place, and a wonderful place to retire. If you like the outdoors, this is the place for you...I have 9 whitetail deer in my yard right now, and an owl on my porch. Not many places have such commodities. I definitely would do some extensive research on the schools here, and job prospects as well, if you have kids and aren't retired though. Good luck.

[MattM111]

Hahahaha, Californians....I moved up to this little dump from San Diego and Ive recieved all sorts of crap from the people here. I hate it, Im movinig back within 2010. I know Im a little late...Almost three years late on this thread, but be warned, this place is awful! Dont move up here!!!!! Infact, Im writing this from my beloved Oceanside, California on vacation. Of course...I am young, so if youre old and getting ready to kick the bucket, this place is a wonderful area to relocate to. There is quite an active graveyard, plenty of retirement homes. And enough hunting to fill your primal bloodlust...If you have one. This place is dead, and the city council, in their infinite wisdom, has kept all business out! STAY FAR AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you are planing on moving up to the northern reaches of Idaho, go to Sandpoint or Coeur d'Alene. I actually like Coeur d'Alene, there is allot happening there. And Sandpoint has a nice little hippie community.

[flatlander dave]

matt, i'm sure the people of bonner's won't miss you and you will be welcomed back to cali with open arms. the reason there is decent from many locals is because people come from other areas because they are tired of rules, crime, crowds, etc. and want a slower more relaxed life but when they get to there new place want to change it to a place like they just left. good luck in cali or where ever you end up. bonners has really done some improvements in the last couple of years and is turning into a better community. as far as drugs, they are everywhere. here in the rural midwest meth is a big problem too. its an evil in our society from sea to shining sea.

[YOU-CANT-EAT-SCENERY]

Matt, I can see where you are coming from. As a young, and I'm sure active person that you are, Bonners Ferry is likely not a good fit for you. It is a good fit for people who are into outdoorsy stuff. My wife for instance is into horses and I'm into camping (not hunting though) and four wheeling, and just plain ole sittin around on the lake doing nothing all day type activities. I really just enjoy looking at the scenery, and taking in the beauty of the land.
I have finally landed a job with the railroad, that will hopefully pan out and allow me to move to the Northwest in about 4 years. I may not be able to make it to Bonners Ferry, but at least I will be close (North Spokane WA or Montana).
Good luck back in California, you can have the crowds, illegals, traffic, and all those things that go with living here.

[Dizzydog]

Is Sandpoint anything like Bonners Ferry?