Pinehurst, Idaho — Mountains Finally Leave Some Room

Pinehurst sits near the western end of the Silver Valley where the mountains loosen enough to provide a broader valley floor.

That extra space matters.

Mining towns farther east squeezed houses, tracks and industry into narrow canyons.

Pinehurst had room for neighborhoods, businesses and even a golf course while remaining tied to the same mining and timber economy.

As regional mining employment contracted, the city's residential role became more important.

Interstate 90 still connects Pinehurst closely with Kellogg and the rest of the valley.

The industrial history is shared.

The geometry is not.

In the Silver Valley, a little flat ground can change the entire personality of a town.