Naples, Idaho — Italy's Name, North Idaho's Weather

Naples, Idaho, has very little in common with its Mediterranean namesake, a point January usually settles without argument.

The community sits north of Sandpoint between the Selkirk and Cabinet mountains. Its name dates to the railroad era, when stations could acquire labels with little obligation to resemble the geography around them.

Rail connections opened surrounding timber and homestead country to outside markets. U.S. 95 later inherited much of the transportation role, while forest, wildlife and mountain country continued to define the setting.

The Italian Naples has Vesuvius and the Mediterranean. Idaho's version has snow, timber and two mountain ranges. The name survived the discrepancy.