Welcome toAthol

The City of Athol is located in Northern Kootenai County, about 25 miles north of Coeur d’Alene. Offering rural living, the population has only risen to approximately 700 since it was first incorporated as a village in 1909 and then as a city in 1967. Homes for sale in Athol, Idaho provide opportunities for solitude and small town living.

Until the early 1800’s, the area was used exclusively by the Coeur d’Alene and SpokaneTribes as they migrated through the region on route to their encampments near the area’s many lakes and streams. Still a western frontier with only Native Americans, trappers and explorers inhabiting the area, all this changed when the Northern Pacific Railway station was built, and homesteaders began arriving with dreams of an agricultural paradise.

First known as Colton, the town was renamed by a settler who came from Athol, Massachusetts. That town in Massachusetts was named after a town in Scotland named after the Duke of Atholl. No one knows for certain if the settler who named Athol, Idaho was a descendant of the Scottish Atholl, or if the name was just brought west during the 19th century.

Lying a few miles to the east and south of the Coeur d’Alene National Forest, Athol is surrounded by forest and farmland. The town is small with the largest employers being the Lakeland School District, Idaho Forest Group, and Super 1 Foods. Most residents commute to the larger cities to work and shop.

Perhaps Athol is best known in the area for its proximity to Farragut State Park, a 4,000 acre park 4 miles to the east. Located on the southern tip of Lake Pend Oreille, the park offers camping, RV campsites, hiking, fishing, boating and many other activities that draw many visitors each year. Also in the park in the Museum at the Brig, which offers a fascinating in depth history and memorabilia of the Park’s namesake, The Farragut Naval Training Station. Named after David Farragut (1801-1870) the first Admiral in the US Navy. Today, the US Navy has maintained a presence with the Acoustics Research Detachment, conducting experiments in the 1,150 feet deep and isolated waters of Lake Pend Orielles.

Also nearby is the popular Silverwood Theme Park, with rides, waterpark, RV park and more.

In general, if you like small town living with reasonably priced real estate, surrounded by natural beauty and unlimited outdoor activities, check out homes for sale in Athol, Idaho. Athol could be the place for you.