Pend Oreille County ( ) is a county located in the northeast corner of the U.S. state of Washington, along the Canada–US border. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,401. The county seat and largest city is Newport.
The county was created out of Stevens County on March 1, 1911. It is the most recently formed of the state's 39 counties. It is named after the Pend d'Oreilles tribe, who in turn were ostensibly named for large shell earrings that members wore. ("Pend d'oreille", while awkward in French, could be translated as "hangs from the ear".)
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.8%) is water.
Highways
- 20px U.S. Route 2
- 20px State Route 20
- 20px State Route 31
- 20px State Route 41
- 20px State Route 211
- International Selkirk Loop
Adjacent counties
- Boundary County, Idaho – east
- Bonner County, Idaho – east
- Spokane County – south
- Stevens County – west
- Central Kootenay Regional District, British Columbia – north
National protected areas
- Colville National Forest (part)
- Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail (part)
- Kaniksu National Forest (part)
- Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge (part)