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Tag: Washington Counties

A Snapshot of Cowlitz County

A Snapshot of Cowlitz County

Washington is proud of its rich Native American heritage. Many counties in Washington have names derived from native languages. Cowlitz County, which was founded in 1854, is a great example. The word Cowlitz is a rough adaptation of the Native word tawallitch, the tribal name of the Native Americans who lived there before pioneers arrived. It is also the name given to a river running through the county, as well as a massive glacier that feeds into the river. Although…

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A Snapshot of Columbia County

A Snapshot of Columbia County

The Palouse region of Washington is a landscape of gentle hills, rural towns, and wheat fields in the southeastern corner of the state. Eliciting a Van Gogh painting, Palouse starkly contrasts the mountains and forests of Western Washington. Columbia County is found in this golden part of Washington, and is the seventh county in our series. Columbia County is named after the Columbia River, which winds through Washington and serves as a vein of commerce, irrigation, and recreation for the…

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A Snapshot of Chelan County

A Snapshot of Chelan County

Chelan is third in a series covering Washington’s 39 counties, including how they got their names. ————————————— If you look at a map of Washington, you’ll notice a long body of water gently winding across the northern Cascades. This blue swath is not a river, but Lake Chelan, a long, narrow lake that is a scenic icon that draws tourists to the fourth county in our snapshot series, Chelan County. Chelan is named after the 55-mile-long lake that snakes near its…

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A Snapshot of Benton County

A Snapshot of Benton County

Benton is third in a series covering Washington’s 39 counties, including how they got their names. In southcentral Washington where the Columbia, Snake, and Yakima rivers converge, sits Benton County. Benton covers 1,738 square miles, designating it as Washington’s 21st largest county. Although it’s not particularly big, it’s population is 186,486 people, giving it a density of 103 people per square mile. This is slightly higher than the state average of 101.2, and is the 9th highest among Washington’s counties….

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A Snapshot of Asotin County

A Snapshot of Asotin County

Asotin is second in a series covering Washington’s 39 counties, including how they got their names. Nestled in the reaches of Washington’s far southeastern corner is Asotin County (pronounced uh-SOH-tin). It is colloquially referred to as Washington’s “cornerstone.” Asotin, a word derived from the Nez Perce Indian language (originally Has-Hu-Tin), translates into English as, “eel creek.” This title refers to the eels that are ubiquitous in the waterways in and around Asotin County, including the Snake River. Before the arrival…

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