The present city of Oldtown was originally platted as Newport, Idaho in 1893. The community served as a river port for the steamers operating between Albeni Falls and Z Canyon. Public docks, a ferry, a general store, a post office, a dry goods store, hotel and several saloons made the center of commerce for the city.

The ferry operated until the Pend Oreille River Bridge was opened in 1927. When the railroad came through, the original depot was located in a boxcar on a siding on the Idaho side of the line. When the boxcar caught fire and burned in 1894, the Great Northern built on land on the Washington side of the line.

A young man from the midwest by the name of Charles Talmadge, who was employed by the railroad as a depot agent, bought 40 acres of land from the railroad and platted Talmadge's 1st Addition to Newport, Idaho on the Washington side, adjacent to the depot. This addition has since become the main downtown area of Newport, Washington. The town began to slowly move to the area around the depot, and the post office moved soon after to the Washington side of the line.

Meanwhile, the "old" part of the town fell into disarray, was unincorporated and became the "wild side of town," with bars, gambling and houses of ill-repute, largely because of less strict Idaho state laws.

Because of the change in the liquor laws in 1946, which outlawed sales of liquor by the drink except by local authority, the Village of Oldtown was incorporated on April 21, 1947, when the first Board of Directors met at the Westward Ho, a local night club.

Oldtown became a city in 1967 by a mandate from the state, which eliminated villages. The city is now governed by a Mayor and City Council.

From the Feb.2002 issue of the Newport-Oldtown Chamber of Commerce newsletter, Article submitted by Brian Orr, Bonner County Commissioner and former Mayor of Oldtown.

The city of Newport was the last County Seat created in the State of Washington. The county of Pend Oreille (pond-er-ay) was formed in 1911 by the splitting of Stevens County along a natural mountain ridge. The town of Oldtown (Newport) ID was created in the early 1890's by immigrants attracted to the area by the natural timber, mineral and agricultural resources of the region. The primary means of transportation was the large, north flowing Pend Oreille River via steamboats, which established the city of "New Port" on the river.

Relive the history of that era by visiting the Centennial Plaza located at the south end of Washington Street in Newport. You will see original structures like the IWMRR Depot (1909) which now houses the Historical Museum; the Great Northern Depot (1911) which now houses the offices for Stimson Lumber Co.; Kelly's Tavern (1894); and "The Big Wheel," a steam sawmill engine which for years powered the town's foremost sawmill, and also now resides in the Centennial Plaza. The flywheel and engine were donated to the city of Newport in 1964 by Diamond National Corp. and are historical landmarks for the city.

The logging industry is still the prevailing industry in the area. However, the scenic beauty of the river valley is attracting more diversified businesses, retiree's and visitors to our city. Our people are hospitable, hardy and generally committed to the ideal of independence and self-sufficiency. The county operates its own Public Utility District with a dam that generates a surplus of hydroelectric energy at the 2nd lowest rate in the United States.

With natures' splendor in the backyard, and all the amenities of a major city close at hand, residents around Newport-Oldtown enjoy the best of both worlds. We invite you to spend time with us and enjoy our relaxed lifestyle.

Although we cherish values from the past, we have the technology and skilled workforce to meet the challenges of the future.