Lapwai, Nez Perce County, Idaho Genealogy

United States > Idaho > Nez Perce County > Lapwai, Idaho

City Hall
Lapwai City Hall 315 South Main Street Lapwai, Id 83540 Phone: 208-843-2212

Methodist
Lapwai Methodist Church‎ U.S. 95 Lapwai, ID 83540

(208) 843-2092

Roman Catholic
Sacred Heart Church‎ 205 Birch Avenue East Lapwai, ID 83540

(208) 843-2562

Other
Name Outreach‎ 219 Locust Avenue Lapwai, ID 83540

(208) 843-2154

Lapwai Assembly of God Church‎ 400 U.S. 95 Lapwai, ID 83540

(208) 843-2231

Lapwai Church of God‎ 117 Main Street South Lapwai, ID 83540-9735

(208) 843-2860

Directories
The Idaho State Archives in Boise has a collection of city, county, state and regional directories.

History
The Nez Perce owned the land in the Lapwai Valley. Lewis and Clark Expedition first encountered the Nez Perce Indians in 1805. The Nez Perce Indiana name is from the French, "pierced nose." This is an inaccurate description of the tribe. They did not wear ornaments or do nose piercing. The Nez Perce relied heavily upon salmon and shared fishing and trading sites. In 1805 the Nez Perce Indians, population was 6,000 making then the largest tribes on the Columbia River Plateau. Because of epidemics, conflicts with non-Indians, and other factors. In the 20th century, the Nez Perce had declined to about 1,800.

Newspapers
Copies of issues of two Lapwai newspapers are in the collections of the Idaho State Archives in Boise.