Council was primarily a logging town until Boise Cascade closed the mill in the 1990s. With the loss of the largest employer in the area, the flavor of Council turned more towards agriculture and tourism. Located close to some of the best hunting and fishing areas in Central Idaho, Council attracts many summer recreationists and hunters in the fall, many of whom decide to stay and build their cabins or retirement homes in the Council area.

Located in a lovely, scenic valley between Cuddy Mountain and the Council Mountains, this area has fertile, irrigated meadows surrounded by timbered hillsides. The approximate 700 residents can easily take advantage of the Hells Canyon Recreation Area with its' numerous lakes and streams, the McCall area with Payette Lake for summertime boating and fishing plus hundreds of miles of hiking trails and the Brundage Ski area for wintertime skiing, snowboarding and many miles of snowmobile trails.

Council is the Adams County seat and offers residents an elementary school, high school, grocery store, bank, post office, restaurants plus many merchants and service providers. There are two medical clinics and the county courthouse with all the county services.

Council is approximately 130 miles north of Boise, 35 miles from McCall and 65 miles from Cascade Lake and the new Tamarack Resort (Idaho's newest world class destination resort).

Distinctly "western" in style, the City of Council is charming and friendly.