| County: | Benewah County |
| State: | Idaho |
| Ex Image: | Benewah County Courthouse 1 - St Maries Idaho.jpg |
| Seal: | Benewah County, Idaho seal.png |
| Founded Year: | 1915 |
| Founded Date: | January 23 |
| Seat Wl: | St. Maries |
| Largest City Wl: | St. Maries |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 784 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 777 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 7.3 |
| Area Percentage: | 0.9 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 9530 |
| Pop Est As Of: | 2023 |
| Population Est: | 10369 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | auto |
| Time Zone: | Pacific |
| District: | 1st |
Benewah County is a county located in the northwest part of the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2020 United States Census the county had a population of 9,530.[1] The county seat and largest city is St. Maries, which has some area inside the Coeur d'Alene Reservation.[2] The county was established on January 23, 1915, of land partitioned from Kootenai County. It was named for a chief of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe.[3] The federally recognized Coeur d'Alene Tribe is based on the Coeur d'Alene Reservation in this and neighboring Kootenai County.
Benewah County lies on the west line of the state. Its west boundary line abuts the east boundary line of the state of Washington. The county has a total area of, of which is land and (0.9%) is water.[4] It is the northern part of the Palouse, a wide and rolling prairie-like region of the middle Columbia basin.
As of the 2000 United States Census,[5] there were 9,171 people, 3,580 households, and 2,538 families in the county. The population density was 12/mi2. There were 4,238 housing units at an average density of 6/mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 88.66% White, 0.12% Black or African American, 8.94% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from other races, and 1.82% from two or more races. 1.55% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 26.6% were of German, 11.7% English, 9.5% American and 8.6% Irish ancestry.
There were 3,580 households, out of which 31.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.40% were married couples living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.10% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.99.
The county population contained 26.90% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 25.40% from 25 to 44, 26.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 104.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,517, and the median income for a family was $36,000. Males had a median income of $35,097 versus $20,288 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,285. About 10.50% of families and 14.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.20% of those under age 18 and 9.70% of those age 65 or over.
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 9,285 people, 3,837 households, and 2,571 families in the county.[6] The population density was . There were 4,629 housing units at an average density of .[7] The racial makeup of the county was 86.6% white, 8.7% Native American, 0.3% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.5% from other races, and 3.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.5% of the population.[6] In terms of European ancestry, 23.7% were German, 17.5% were Irish, 14.6% were English, 7.1% were Norwegian, and 3.4% were American.[8]
Of the 3,837 households, 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.8% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.0% were non-families, and 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.90. The median age was 44.8 years.[6]
The median income for a household in the county was $37,500 and the median income for a family was $41,759. Males had a median income of $37,214 versus $22,348 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,312. About 11.2% of families and 15.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.6% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.[9]
Benewah County voters tend to vote Republican in the last several decades. In only two national elections since 1968 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2020).
School districts include:[10]
It is in the catchment area, but not the taxation zone, for North Idaho College.[11]