Moscow, Idaho
Moscow is a city of 26,286 people in Latah County, Idaho, founded in 1871.
Why visit Moscow
Townapedia lists 18 museums and landmarks, 28 parks and trails, 59 places to eat, 5 places to stay and 4 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Village Centre Cinemas at Eastside Marketplace, University of Idaho, Moscow City Hall and Moscow High School.
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 86°F; December lows average 22°F, and about 51 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Moscow
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Moscow
Moscow is a city in and the county seat of Latah County, Idaho, United States. Located in the North Central region of the state along the border with Washington, it had a population of 25,435 at the 2020 United States census. Moscow is the home of the University of Idaho, the state's land-grant institution and primary research university.
From the Wikipedia article Moscow, Idaho (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do4
Village Centre Cinemas at Eastside Marketplace
Cinema and theater · 0.9 mi
1420 South Blaine Street, Moscow
University of Idaho
School · 0.6 mi
Public research university in Moscow, Idaho, United States
Museums and landmarks18
Moscow City Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Courthouse in Idaho, United States
206 East 3rd Street, Moscow
Moscow High School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
School building in Moscow, United States of America
Almon Asbury Lieuallen House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
House in Moscow, Idaho
Hotel Moscow
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic building in Moscow, Idaho, USA
Kappa Sigma Fraternity, Gamma Theta Chapter
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Fraternity house in Moscow, United States of America
Mason Cornwall House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Historic house in Idaho, United States
McConnell–McGuire Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Building in Moscow, United States of America
Memorial Gymnasium
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Multi-purpose indoor arena on the campus of the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho
Moscow Carnegie Library
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Carnegie library in Moscow, Idaho, United States
Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic building in Moscow, Idaho, USA
Skattaboe Block
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Building in Moscow, United States of America
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University of Idaho Gymnasium and Armory
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Historic building at the University of Idaho, USA
6 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds28
16 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes59
Bucer's Coffeehouse Pub
Cafe · Coffee Shop
201 South Main Street, Moscow
Mo-Th 07:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 07:00-23:00
Maialina Pizzeria Napoletana
Restaurant · Pizza
602 South Main Street, Moscow
Mo-Th 11:30-21:00; Fr 11:30-22:00; Sa 10:00-22:00; Su 10:00-21:00
Pizza Perfection
Restaurant · Pizza · 0.4 mi
428 West 3rd Street, Moscow
Su-Th 11:00-01:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-02:00
47 more on the map.
History
Miners and farmers began arriving in the northern Idaho area after the Civil War. The first permanent settlers came to the Moscow area in 1871. The abundance of camas bulbs, a favorite fodder of pigs brought by the farmers, led to naming the vicinity "Hog Heaven". When the first US post office opened in 1872, the town was called "Paradise Valley", but the name changed to "Moscow" in 1875. The name Paradise persists in the main waterway through town, Paradise Creek, which originates at the west end of the Palouse Range, flows south to the Troy Highway, and west to Pullman where it enters the South Fork of the Palouse River.
Historians have disputed the precise origin of the name Moscow. There is no conclusive proof that it is connected to the Russian capital, though various accounts suggest it purposely evoked the Russian city or was named by Russian immigrants. Another account claims that the name derives from a Native American tribe named "Masco". Early settlers reported that five local men met to choose a proper name for the town, but could not agree. The postmaster, Samuel Neff, then completed the official papers for the town and chose Moscow for the name. Neff was born in Moscow, Pennsylvania.
From the History section of Moscow, Idaho on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay5
Churches and places of worship23
First Methodist Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Church · Mormon · 1.9 mi
2600 West A Street, Moscow
Moscow Seventh-Day Adventist Church
Church · Seventh Day Adventist · 0.9 mi
1015 West C Street
Shopping21
Gas and EV charging6
Schools, colleges and libraries16
Healthcare3
Map of Moscow
183 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37°F | 22°F | 3.3 in | 14.5 in |
| Feb | 42°F | 24°F | 2.6 in | 8.6 in |
| Mar | 50°F | 28°F | 3.0 in | 4.9 in |
| Apr | 58°F | 32°F | 2.8 in | 1.0 in |
| May | 67°F | 38°F | 2.6 in | 0.2 in |
| Jun | 73°F | 42°F | 1.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 84°F | 45°F | 0.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 86°F | 45°F | 0.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 76°F | 40°F | 1.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 60°F | 33°F | 2.4 in | 0.2 in |
| Nov | 45°F | 27°F | 3.5 in | 6.0 in |
| Dec | 36°F | 22°F | 3.5 in | 15.5 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Moscow U Of I Hcn (2 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Latah County has had 9 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for fires.
- 2026-06-30: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2026-04-07: Straight-Line Winds (Straight-Line Winds)
- 2024-07-26: Gwen Fire (Fire)
- 2024-07-16: Texas Fire (Fire)
- 2020-04-09: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport (PUW) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 6 miles away.
- Pullman 8 mi west, about 13 min by car
- Troy 11 mi east, about 17 min by car
- Genesee 13 mi south, about 20 min by car
- Palouse 13 mi north, about 21 min by car
- Albion 13 mi west, about 20 min by car
- Colton 13 mi southwest, about 20 min by car
- Potlatch 14 mi north, about 23 min by car
- Uniontown 14 mi south, about 22 min by car
- Juliaetta 17 mi southeast, about 28 min by car
- Lewiston 23 mi south, about 37 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- UIArboretum, cheryl.reed, CC BY 2.0
- Kenworthy Theater, Moscow, Idaho, Davidlharlan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South street entry, Moscow High School 2016, Architect21c ( talk ) ( Uploads ), GFDL
- Farmers' Market, Moscow, Idaho, USA (17696498168), Jeremy Segrott from Cardiff, Wales, UK, CC BY 2.0
- Cowgirl Chocolates, Moscow, Idaho (17263909513), Jeremy Segrott from Cardiff, Wales, UK, CC BY 2.0
- Moscow Farmers' Market, Idaho, USA (17857973226), Jeremy Segrott from Cardiff, Wales, UK, CC BY 2.0
- Scattaboe Block, 4th and Main Street, Moscow, Idaho, Davidlharlan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Bicycle parking in Moscow, Idaho (36916846031), Robert Ashworth from Bellingham, WA., USA, CC BY 2.0
- Food Coop at Moscow, Idaho (36661532710), Robert Ashworth from Bellingham, WA., USA, CC BY 2.0
- Recycled art light fixtures at Moscow Food Coop (36870135756), Robert Ashworth from Bellingham, WA., USA, CC BY 2.0
- Moscow Idaho Banner, Candy29c, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Moscow1, Candy29c, CC BY-SA 3.0
- MoscowHighSchool03, Architect21c ( talk ) ( Uploads ), GFDL
- Hotel Moscow (building), Moscow, ID, Davidlharlan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Davids Building, 3rd and Main Streets, Moscow, Idaho, Davidlharlan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- North street entry, Moscow High School 2016, Architect21c ( talk ) ( Uploads ), GFDL
- Moscow City Hall 2016, Architect21c ( talk ) ( Uploads ), GFDL
- Moscow First United Methodist Church, Steven Pavlov, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Moscow Post Office and Courthouse (now Moscow City Hall), Moscow, ID, Davidlharlan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- First Methodist Church, Moscow, Idaho, Davidlharlan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Moscow, ID — William J. McConnell House, Steven Pavlov, CC BY-SA 4.0
- McConnell-McGuire Building, Moscow, Idaho, Davidlharlan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Moscow, Idaho (36887452382), Robert Ashworth from Bellingham, WA., USA, CC BY 2.0
- ID-Moscow 1911 Ref, National Archives, Public domain
- Moscow High School Building (now the 1912 Center), Moscow, Idaho, Davidlharlan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Moscow Carnegie Library, Apstrinka, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Moscow-id-us-mcconnell-house, Robbiegiles at en.wikipedia, CC BY 2.5
- UI gymnasium and armory (now Art and Architecture South), Moscow, Idaho, Davidlharlan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Mason Cornwall House, Apstrinka, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ridenbaugh Hall, Apstrinka, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Nu Art Theatre NRHP 01001304 Latah County, ID, Jon Roanhaus, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Across the Street Picture, Cknoebel, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity House NRHP 93001335 Latah County, ID, Jon Roanhaus, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Kappa Sigma - Gamma Theta - University of Idaho Homecoming, TyeTen1905, CC BY-SA 4.0
- University of Idaho Administration Building - east side (cropped), Davidlharlan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- University of Idaho Administration Building - north side, Davidlharlan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- University of Idaho Administration Building - east side, Davidlharlan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Figure 8(f), Davi4620, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Figure 8(d), Davi4620, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Figure 8(c), Davi4620, CC BY-SA 4.0
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