Pend Oreille

Formed March 1, 1911 (39^th county)

Pend Oreille County (13,001), Newport (2,126)

The Neo-Classical tan brick building was constructed in 1915.  It is situated on Calispell Avenue at 4^th Street.  United States Highway 2 passes four blocks to the southeast of the courthouse.  Williams & Williams are the building architects.  The courthouse was renovated in 1992 and a Hall of Justice was added in 1996.  The county was created on March 1, 1911 from Stevens County as the 39^th and last county and Newport has always been the county seat.  The county is named for the Native American tribe.  Newport is presumably named for Newport, Rhode Island. 

Pend Oreille County government consists of a sheriff and 3 Commissioners.  Three Superior Court Judges serve Pend Oreille, Ferry, and Stevens counties and One District Court Judge serve Pend Oreille County.  The county is in the northeast part of the state on the border with Canada and Idaho.  Spokane, Washington is south and Seattle, Washington is southwest of the county.  The county center is 27.5 miles North-Northwest of Newport nearer Cusick.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Canada and Idaho and Spokane and Stevens counties. 

The area of the county is 1425 square miles.  It is 25 out of 39 in the state.  It ranks 33 out of 39 in population in the state.  It has a density of 9.12 persons per square mile making it 33 out of 39 in the state.  Pend Oreille County has 24.5% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 2 comes into the county from the east, Idaho, and goes south into Spokane County.  The county resembles the number 7 with multiple heads.  Newport is located on the southeast border of the county.  Newport is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 16.4% of the county population.  The county is pronounced POND OE-RAE.