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Idaho County
Idaho County, Idaho
The Frank Church Wilderness - the largest wilderness in the lower 48 states - from the Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness (the 2.3-million-acre wilderness in central Idaho is the largest contiguous wilderness area in the contiguous United States - larger than the state of Delaware - its roadless expanse of the Salmon River Mountains, the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, and the Selway-Bitterroot mountains preserves the most intact wilderness ecosystem in the Rocky Mountains) to Idaho County's position as the largest county by area in Idaho and one of the largest in the lower 48 states (nearly 8,500 square miles of some of the most rugged and remote terrain in America).
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Office: Idaho County Sheriff’s Office – 320 West Main Street, Grangeville, ID 83530 | Emergency 911 | Non-emergency (208) 983-1100 | Fax (208) 983-1359; Sheriff Doug Ulmer, elected 2021, Chief Deputy Brian Hewson. Additional service lines: Kooskia and surrounding areas (208) 926-4221; Riggins, White Bird, and Elk City areas (800) 922-9141.
Notes: For an active emergency, call 911.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: US-95 serves Grangeville, the county seat and largest city, in north-central Idaho.
Notes: Idaho County was established by the Washington Territorial Legislature on December 20, 1861 (some sources cite the 1862 organization of its first district court), making it older than the Idaho Territory itself, which President Abraham Lincoln signed into law on March 4, 1863. Idaho County is genuinely the largest county in Idaho by land area (8,503 square miles, larger than the state of New Jersey) yet one of the least densely populated, with 6,925 square miles of National Forest land within its borders – and it is one of only seven counties in the United States that share their name with their state (alongside Arkansas, Hawaii, Iowa, New York, Oklahoma, and Utah Counties). Because of its vast size, Idaho County is the only county in the state that touches both Oregon and Montana.
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Idaho County Courthouse – 320 West Main Street, Grangeville, ID.
Notes: Gold discoveries in rapid succession at Elk City, Newsome, and Florence during 1861 drove the county’s earliest settlement; Florence briefly boomed into a tent-and-lean-to town before becoming the first county seat. The county seat later moved to Washington (1868-1875), then Mount Idaho (1875-1902), before settling permanently in Grangeville. In 1877, the Nez Perce War’s Battle of White Bird Canyon took place near the town of White Bird, following federal efforts to forcibly relocate the Nez Perce people to a reservation. Idaho County’s boundaries have shifted more often than any other Idaho county’s – adjusted 20 times in its first 57 years.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Idaho County Veterans Services – confirm current contact via idahocounty.org.
Libraries
LIBRARIES
Grangeville Centennial Library (Grangeville) – confirm current address/phone via the county library system.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: The Nez Perce National Historical Park sites (including the White Bird Battlefield), the Salmon River (whitewater rafting), and the vast Clearwater Mountains and National Forest lands are the county’s premier heritage and recreational attractions.
Notes: The genuine, unique distinction of Idaho County as one of only seven U.S. counties sharing its state’s name, combined with its status as Idaho’s largest county by far, is among the standout local facts covered in this project.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
Appraisal/Parcel Search: Idaho County Assessor’s Office – 320 West Main Street, Room 1, Grangeville, ID | (208) 983-2742.
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Confirm current dedicated shelter contact via idahocounty.org; Idaho County Sheriff’s Office for animal control arrangements.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Office: Idaho County Solid Waste / Planning & Zoning – confirm current contact via idahocounty.org.
NOTES: Idaho County is the twenty-fifth county completed in Idaho’s Round 3 v2 redo, under the A+ sourced standard established for this project. The genuine, unique distinction of Idaho County as one of only seven U.S. counties sharing its state’s name is among the standout local facts covered in this project. All contact information above was sourced via web search as of early August 2026 and should be reconfirmed directly with the relevant office before a visit, deadline-sensitive filing, or emergency-adjacent decision.
About Idaho County
Idaho County is the largest county in Idaho and contains the largest wilderness in the lower 48 – the Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness’s 2.3 million acres of roadless Salmon River mountain country is the most intact wilderness ecosystem in the Rocky Mountains, larger than the entire state of Delaware.
Grangeville (the county seat, population ~3,200) is the gateway to the wilderness – outfitters, pack stations, and river guides serve the hunting, fishing, and rafting economy of one of the West’s most remote counties.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Idaho County Assessor at 320 W. Main Street, Suite 5, Grangeville, ID 83530, phone 208-983-2742. ID homeowner’s exemption up to $125,000.
Courts & Legal
Idaho County District Court at 320 W. Main Street, Grangeville, ID 83530, phone 208-983-2776, handles probate.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK / ADMINISTRATOR
320 W. Main St., Grangeville, ID 83530
(208) 983-2751
CLERK OF COURT (Records, Marriage Licenses)
320 W. Main St., Grangeville, ID 83530
(208) 983-1900
ELECTIONS / CLERK
320 W. Main St., Grangeville, ID 83530
(208) 983-2751
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Idaho County Magistrate Court (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
Previous county seats of Idaho County included Florence before Grangeville became the seat.
Local societies
No dedicated Idaho County genealogical society was confirmed in available directories.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Idaho County Magistrate Court 320 West Main Street, Grangeville, ID 83530
Idaho County is the largest county by area in the state (over 8,500 square miles), established December 20, 1861, and named for the state itself. Because it straddles the Salmon River, the county actually spans two time zones – Pacific north of the river, Mountain south of it.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
Idaho has adopted the Uniform Probate Code (Idaho Code Title 15). Idaho is also a community property state. Idaho recognizes four main paths:
Small Estate Affidavit – a non-court process for estates with a total value of $100,000 or less (excluding liens and encumbrances) and no real property. Available 30 days after death. No court filing required (Idaho Code § 15-3-1201).
Summary Administration – available when the value of all the decedent’s property is less than the homestead allowance, exempt property, and last-illness medical expenses combined, or when a surviving spouse is sole beneficiary (Idaho Code §§ 15-3-1203, 15-3-1205).
Informal Probate – the most common track for uncontested estates, handled through the court registrar.
Formal Probate – court-supervised proceedings required when disputes arise or the will is contested.
Step 2: filing
For informal probate with a will, file an Application for Informal Probate and Appointment of Personal Representative (Form CAO Pb 01) with the Magistrate Division.
For formal probate, file a petition with the Idaho County District Court.
Idaho does not have a statutory fee schedule for attorneys or personal representatives – fees must be reasonable given the services rendered and complexity.
If formal or informal probate is needed
Determine whether small estate affidavit, summary administration, or full probate applies.
File the appropriate application or petition with the Idaho County Magistrate Court.
Under informal proceedings, the registrar reviews the application without a hearing. Under formal proceedings, a judge holds a hearing.
The personal representative accepts the appointment and may need to post a bond.
Once appointed, the court issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration. Obtain several certified copies.
Publish notice to creditors as required.
Mail notice to all heirs, beneficiaries, and interested parties.
Marshal assets, obtain an EIN, open an estate account, pay valid debts and expenses, and prepare any required inventory.
Distribute remaining assets per the will or Idaho’s intestacy statutes, then close the estate.
What it costs
Idaho does not impose its own state estate or inheritance tax.
Idaho does not have a statutory fee schedule for attorneys or personal representatives.
Court filing fees and publication costs are separate – confirm current amounts with the Idaho County Magistrate Court.
Idaho courts utilize the iCourt system for case management.
Probate in Idaho typically takes 6-12 months for uncontested estates.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
320 W. Main St., Grangeville, ID 83530
(208) 983-1100
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
ELECTIONS / CLERK
320 W. Main St., Grangeville, ID 83530
(208) 983-2751
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Idaho Dept of Health & Welfare — North Central
(208) 799-4400
Idaho Medicaid
(800) 926-2588
Syringa Hospital and Clinics
syringahospital.org (Grangeville)
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: North Central Public Health District (serving Idaho County) – confirm current contact via nicetho.idaho.gov / phd2.idaho.gov.
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Grangeville
Population: 16,000
Area: 8,485 sq mi (largest county in Idaho and larger than several U.S. states)
