Region's communities see populations stabilize

SANDPOINT — The cities of Bonner and Boundary counties were largely held in stasis over the year, either gaining or losing very small numbers of residents.

According to new data from the Idaho Department of Labor, almost all cities in the Panhandle stayed within less than a percentage point of population growth or decline. Sandpoint, which had 7,373 people in 2010, shrunk to 7,354, a 0.3-percent decline. Ponderay and Priest River fell at the same percentage rate to 1,135 and 1,747 people, respectively. Clark Fork stayed exactly the same at 536 people.

The biggest losses centralized in Boundary County. Bonners Ferry dropped from 2,554 to 2,507, a 1.8-percent reduction, while Moyie Springs lost 1.9 percent by tumbling from 724 to 710 people.

The very small amounts of change is likely because homeowners feel trapped by their property and can’t move in or out, according to Idaho Department of Labor spokesman Bob Fick.

“This data shows how stable the population is, and that’s built on the fact that the housing market is very depressed,” he said.

Because home values are so low right now, people can’t move away to pursue better opportunities elsewhere in the nation. Likewise, individuals in other areas with depressed home values can’t move to North Idaho even if they have retirement or business opportunities in the area.

“What can they do?” Fick said. “They can’t unload their house, or at least not for what they think it’s worth.”

One dynamic that may be impacting the area is the availability of oil jobs in the Dakotas. These positions often feature a low technical threshold to meet qualifications, comparatively high pay and a low cost of living. Fick suspects that a number of people throughout the counties may be heading east for short-term employment while maintaining residence in Idaho. Since those individuals have no plans to leave the area permanently, Fick said their out-of-state employment is generally good news for the region.

“You’ve got to assume these people are sending money back to North Idaho for their families,” he said. “The more money you can inject into the local economy, the better off everyone is.”