Coeur d'Alene nestles against the Bitterroot Mountains in northern Idaho at an elevation of more than 2000 feet. It is situated on the shore of Lake Coeur d'Alene, which has made the town a popular outdoor recreational area. The economy of the city used to be mainly mining and timber, but with the closure of many mines and mills tourism became the focus and the new economy for Coeur d'Alene. In its quest to attract visitors Coeur d'Alene has developed a world-class resort, golf course, and a ski area nearby.
Population in the area has grown rapidly in the last 15 years. The population of the city is over 36,000, while the surrounding area in Kootenai County—most of which is served by the Coeur d'Alene School District—has grown to more than 112,000.
The name "Coeur d'Alene" (pronounced core-da-lane locally) came from the French traders and trappers who first encountered the Indians living here. "Coeur d'Alene translates literally as "heart of an awl." It is thought that the Indians were such shrewd traders that the French thought them hard hearted and thus named them "heart of an awl."
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