From Village to City—Same Heart, New Name

By the time the 1960s rolled around, things were changing across Idaho, and Kootenai was no exception. On December 12, 1968, the town passed Ordinance No. 58, and just like that, the “Village of Kootenai” became the “City of Kootenai.” It wasn’t about chasing big-city dreams—it was about keeping up with new state rules and making sure the town kept control of its own future. Same people, same quiet streets, same view of the mountains—just with a little more paperwork.