This quiet town is situated in a beautiful, timbered valley which includes two major rivers and a multitude of lakes.

St. Maries (which is located about 2.5 hours from the Canadian border) is the county seat of Benewah County and has a population of about 2800. It is the retail center for eastern Benewah County and enjoys a trade-area population of about 8500.

The local economy is driven by the timber industry complemented by some mining operations and a solid base of farming. The remarkable beauty of the area combined with the exceptional quality of life has spawned a considerable retirement community in the area.