Benewah

Benewah is a geographic name used in northern Idaho, United States. The term is associated with the Coeur d’Alène people and their traditional homeland in the Idaho Panhandle. In modern usage, Benewah appears in reference to areas and contexts related to the Coeur d’Alène Reservation and the surrounding regional landscape, where the name is encountered in maps, land descriptions, and local governance discussions.

Historically, Benewah also appeared as a proposed county name during efforts to reorganize Idaho’s counties in the early 20th century. The proposal did not result in the creation of a separate county, and no current county bears the name Benewah. Despite the lack of official administrative status, the name persists in regional documents and local memory as a toponym tied to the area’s Indigenous heritage and geography.

Today, Benewah continues to be used in various regional contexts, particularly in relation to tribal affairs and land management within and around the reservation boundaries. The name’s origin and persistence reflect the enduring presence of Indigenous place names in the region and their continued relevance in contemporary Idaho geography and identity.