[1] The county seat and largest city is St. Maries, which has some area inside the Coeur d'Alene Reservation.

[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,[10] there were 9,171 people, 3,580 households, and 2,538 families in the county.

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 9,285 people, 3,837 households, and 2,571 families in the county.

[11] 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.

[14] 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 2024).

School districts include:[60] It is in the catchment area, but not the taxation zone, for North Idaho College.