Ferry County is a county in Washington, United States, in the state’s remote northeastern corner along the Canadian border. It had a population of 7,178 at the 2020 census and covers 2,257 square miles (5,850 km2) centred near 48°28′N 118°31′W, making it geographically large but the fourth-least populous county in the state.
Republic is the county seat, and its postal code is 99166. The county has one incorporated city, roughly a dozen unincorporated communities and census-designated places, and no organized townships — Washington counties do not use the civil-township system. Ferry County sits in the Pacific time zone and carries FIPS code 53019.
Towns & Villages in Ferry County
Republic is the county’s only incorporated city; every other place on the list below is an unincorporated community, rural crossroads, or census-designated place (CDP) — Washington does not distinguish “town” from “village” in its incorporation law, so places without a City Council are labeled Unincorp. or CDP here.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Republic | City · seat | 992 | 99166 |
| Curlew | CDP | — | 99118 |
| Danville | CDP | — | 99121 |
| Inchelium | CDP | — | 99138 |
| Keller | CDP | — | 99140 |
| Laurier | CDP | — | 99146 |
| Malo | CDP | — | 99150 |
| Orient | CDP | — | 99160 |
| Barstow | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Barney’s Junction | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Boyds | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Covada | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Curlew Lake | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dulwich | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Goldstake | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Harter | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Impach | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Karamin | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kewa | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Meteor | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pine Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pollard | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Torboy | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Toroda | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Twin Lakes | Unincorp. | — | — |
| West Fork | Unincorp. | — | — |
Inchelium sits within the Colville Indian Reservation on the west side of Lake Roosevelt, sharing that reservation land base with Ferry County’s neighbor to the east across the Columbia; it is included here because it is administered as part of Ferry County proper, not a separate jurisdiction.
ZIP Codes
- 99166 — Republic (also serves Curlew Lake, Torboy, and Sherman Pass-area addresses)
- 99118 — Curlew
- 99121 — Danville
- 99138 — Inchelium
- 99140 — Keller
- 99146 — Laurier (PO Box delivery only)
- 99150 — Malo
- 99160 — Orient
Smaller unincorporated places such as Barstow, Boyds, Kewa, and Toroda do not have their own post office and use the ZIP code of the nearest larger community.
Geography
Ferry County occupies rugged, heavily forested terrain in the Kettle River Range and Selkirk Mountains foothills, with Sherman Pass — at 5,575 feet the highest year-round mountain pass in Washington — crossing the county on State Route 20. The Kettle and San Poil rivers drain the county, and its eastern border follows the Columbia River as it widens into Lake Roosevelt behind Grand Coulee Dam. Only about 18 percent of the county’s total land area is taxable private ground; the rest is national forest, tribal, or other public land. Ferry County borders British Columbia, Canada to the north; Okanogan County to the west; Lincoln County to the south; and Stevens County to the east.
Demographics
Ferry County had 7,178 residents at the 2020 census, making it the fourth-least populous county in Washington. Republic, the county seat, is the largest community at 992 people; Inchelium and Curlew are the next-largest named places on the list. Median household income in the county runs well below the Washington median of $94,605, reflecting the county’s rural, resource-based economy. Population density is roughly 3.3 people per square mile of land, among the lowest in the state.
Economy & Local Life
Timber and mining have historically driven the Ferry County economy, and gold mining in particular remains active around Republic, which still bills itself as a mining town. Public land management, ranching, and increasingly tourism — centered on Lake Roosevelt recreation, Sherman Pass, and Curlew Lake — round out the local economy. Republic’s Stonerose Interpretive Center and Fossil Site draws visitors to dig for 49-million-year-old Eocene fossils, and the town’s annual “Prospector’s Days,” held the second weekend in June, features gold panning, mining and logging competitions, and a staged Old West gunfight.
History
Ferry County was carved out of Stevens County and organized on February 18, 1899, and named for Elisha P. Ferry, Washington’s first state governor. Republic grew rapidly after gold was discovered nearby in the 1890s and became the county seat soon after the county’s creation. Much of the county’s western portion overlaps the Colville Indian Reservation, and Inchelium remains a center of Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation life and governance.
Getting There
State Route 20 is the county’s main east-west highway, climbing over Sherman Pass, while State Route 21 runs north-south connecting Republic to Wilbur and to the Canadian border at Danville.
- Colville — 42 miles east
- Grand Coulee — 55 miles south
- Kettle Falls — 35 miles east
- Spokane — 105 miles southeast
The nearest commercial airport is Spokane International Airport (GEG), roughly a two-hour drive away; there is no Amtrak service in Ferry County.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Ferry County, Washington?
It is in the far northeastern corner of Washington, bordering British Columbia, Canada, along the state’s northern edge.
What is the population of Ferry County?
7,178 people at the 2020 census, the fourth-lowest of any Washington county.
How big is Ferry County?
2,257 square miles (5,850 km2) total, of which 2,203 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Ferry County?
Republic is the county seat and the county’s only incorporated city.
How many towns and communities are in Ferry County?
One incorporated city (Republic) plus about two dozen unincorporated communities and census-designated places, including Curlew, Danville, Inchelium, Keller, Laurier, Malo, and Orient.
What ZIP codes are in Ferry County?
Eight ZIP codes, anchored by 99166 (Republic), plus 99118 (Curlew), 99121 (Danville), 99138 (Inchelium), 99140 (Keller), 99146 (Laurier), 99150 (Malo), and 99160 (Orient).
What mountain pass crosses Ferry County?
Sherman Pass, at 5,575 feet the highest year-round highway pass in Washington, carries State Route 20 through the county.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Washington.