'Athol has just been Athol forever'

When you drive through the small North Idaho city of Athol, you'll see two different worlds.

To the U.S. 95 exit's right, there is a strip of brand-name new businesses, and to the left, a cluster of buildings that haven't changed in decades.

On paper, Athol appears to have had little growth over the last 20 years. In 2010, the city's population hit 692, up 16 from 676 in 2000. Projections for Athol's 2020 population are around 600, but Kende Howard, who has lived in Athol for 19 years, said the census is a misrepresentation.

"The growth you see from the census is what is inside the entire city limits," Howard said. "There is hardly anything in the city because there aren't any lots available. All the growth is what surrounds the city, it's just what's in our district."

Howard and her husband moved to Athol from Lewiston after falling in love with the small-town feeling.

"We love how laidback the community is, but it's getting not to be that way anymore," Howard said. "Things are starting to pick up here since we first moved to Athol; it's probably tripled in size."

Unlike other cities, growth doesn't so much mean a massive influx of people, but businesses. Commercial properties are the most significant Athol developments over the past few years, said Rand Wichman, the city's planner. In the past 10 years, the largest employers and industries in Athol are notably the Idaho Forest Group, Lakeland School District, and recently, the new Super 1 Foods grocery market.

Part of a growing commercial complex called "The Crossings," Super 1 opened in 2018 and brought an additional 125 jobs with it, according to Athol's 2019 Comprehensive Plan. Before the grocery store, Athol had about 40 to 45 businesses within the city limits, records show, offering about 200 jobs.

Due to the minimal employment opportunities, many Athol residents commute to Coeur d'Alene, Sandpoint, or Spokane for work.

Brianne Dirks, 40, and her family moved to Athol five years ago after living in Dalton Gardens for more than 15. The Dirks have their own business in Coeur d'Alene, so Brianne's husband commutes on U.S. 95. She said they moved to Athol for a quiet life and, like many, is conflicted about the commercial growth.

"I think the commercial businesses are good and bad," Dirks said. "On one side, it draws more people here, but on the other, they are employers, so there are always positives and negatives."

To retain the small-town feel that Athol holds dear, city officials have preferred locally-owned businesses over franchises. Limited growth was an intentional choice, Wichman said, that was determined by the city government over five years ago.

"When I was hired, the mayor and council decided that they wanted to have a slight change of directions," Wichman said. "Allowing growth, but only in a careful, limited, and very deliberate manner."

Residents have mixed opinions about the recent commercial developments coming in. While they recognize the convenience, accepting the change has been difficult.

"The big Super 1 used to be an empty lot," Micheal Criglow said. "I camped on that land when it used to be forested. I've seen it go from land and trees to a bunch of parking spaces."

Criglow grew up in the Athol area and graduated from Lakeland High School. After spending the last few decades traveling, he returned to the city a couple of years ago. He remembers driving down Highway 54 as a teenager, and while some things look the same, others certainly do not.

"When the city was talking about putting The Crossings in, a lot of residents in the area were against it because they didn't want those kinds of things to change," Criglow said. "I think it's a good thing for the area, I mean I like the wilderness myself, but when you're thinking about the community, it provides services."

One of the things that have constricted Athol's growth is the lack of municipal sewer service, wastewater, or collection facilities, Wichman said. The majority of the city still relies on septic systems for disposal, restricting commercial and residential lot size to a five-acre minimum, which is typical for cities.

"In Dalton Gardens we had a septic system as well, so it hasn't been a problem for us," Dirks said. "However, it's a challenge for people who want smaller lots or less expensive places. I like that it limits the number of houses that can go up around you, so Athol doesn't get filled up like what's happening on the prairie."

To assist the slowly increasing population — about 1.9% annually, according to the U.S. Census — Athol began making significant investments in the water system, Wichman said. Construction on those improvements, he said, should start this fall.

Besides the commercial aspect, lifelong Athol resident Esther Munroe said the city hasn't changed that much.

"Athol has just been Athol forever," Munroe said. "I love that Athol is so similar to how I grew up. It's safe, it's small, you don't have to worry about the kids playing in Athol, and I really love that."

Munroe isn't a fan of the big-box businesses, but they don't bother her, nor do the new residents, as long as they respect the city.

"I don't think it's possible for Athol to stay small, so many people are moving here that it has to grow," Munroe said. "You have to embrace change, it's difficult to do, but you have to."