Northern region

The increasingly diverse economic base and lifestyle of the northern Idaho region have attracted thousands of new residents in recent years, making it Idaho’s second most populous region. The largest city, Coeur d’Alene, is just 33 miles from Spokane, Wash., where many Panhandle residents work.

Industries playing major economic roles include lumber, a variety of manufacturing, mining, tourism, retail, agriculture, call centers and the Coeur d’Alene and Kootenai tribes. North Idaho College and the satellite campuses including the University of Idaho, Lewis-Clark State College and Boise State University are a key component of providing a highly skilled and trained workforce.