Benewah County
Benewah County covers 784 square miles and is considered the northern part of the Palouse. Approximately 10,000 people live in Benewah County and the prominent towns are Plummer, St. Maries and Tensed. The Coeur d’Alene Indian Reservation located in Benewah County. Tribal headquarters are in Plummer, a small town off of U.S. 95.
Important Links
RECREATION
People can enjoy a wide array of outdoor activities throughout the year, including camping, hiking, biking, boating, skiing/snowboarding. Hunting and fishing are popular pursuits too. People access Lake Coeur d’Alene and the St. Joe River in Benewah County.
The settlement of Benewah County began after the completion of Mullan Road in 1860, but most settlers came to the area after the discovery of gold near St. Maries in 1880. St. Maries is host to the Paul Bunyan Days celebrations to recognize their logging history. The Coeur d’Alene Indian Reservation was established through a series of Executive Orders of 1873, 1887 and 1889 and the land base of its people significantly reduced.
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Logging and farming are the primary economic drivers in Benewah County.
HISTORY
