COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho — North Idaho can bring a bit of culture shock for new arrivals. Walking around Coeur d’Alene, Seth Horst was amazed by how many people made eye contact, smiled, and said, "Hi." Many would even strike up a conversation.
"People want to interact, people want to engage with you," he said. "I think that’s what’s missing in a lot of society, and I think that’s why people like it here so much."
Horst, a former California Highway Patrol officer, and his family made that first trip to Coeur d'Alene in September 2020. Within three months, they sold their Chico home and moved to Idaho.
The Gem State's population has grown more than 12% since 2018 as thousands of families, primarily from the West Coast, have made similar moves.
