Chewelah (/tʃəˈwiːlə/ chə-WEE-lə) is a city in Stevens County, Washington, United States.

[4] Prior to colonization by European-Americans, Chewelah was home to a band of the Kalispel people.

Originally, the area was called Fool's Prairie, after the indigenous Kalispel who left his own tribe because of a dispute.

[citation needed] Thomas and Mary Brown moved to the Fool's Prairie in 1859.

[6] On May 8, 1872, Thomas Brown received authority to establish a post office called Chewelah.

In 1879, the post office was reestablished with Major John Simms, Indian Agent, as postmaster.

[12] By 1905 the population had reached 650, and within a few years many prosperous copper, silver, lead, and some gold mines were flourishing in the area.

During the war, there were as many as 800 people working at the plant making high temperature-resistant refractory brick.

[citation needed] By 1920 Chewelah's population had grown to 1,600 people and continued to prosper until the late 1960s.

In 1968, the magnesite plant closed down due to cheaper competition from Japan and changes in the steel industry.

Chewelah's diversified economy also includes a ski area and golf course, among other industries.

[13][14] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.98 square miles (7.72 km2), all land.