Southwest Washington is a geographical area of the U.S. state of Washington , encompassing roughly half of Western Washington . It generally includes the Olympia area southwards to the Oregon-Washington state line at Vancouver . Olympia, the state capital, has been a transshipment center for Southwest Washington since its settlement in the mid-19th century.
62-641: Cities and towns in Southwest Washington include: The Southwest Washington Fair is held annually in the city of Chehalis . In the early 20th century, the region was home to a Class-D Minor league baseball league known as the Southwest Washington League . The Sou'wester is the magazine of the Pacific County Historical Society. The Southwest Washington State College Committee study of
124-499: A cemetery, hotels, and several stores and was, for a time, the largest populated town between the Columbia River and Olympia . Davis donated land for the construction of a courthouse and by 1862 the town became the county seat for Lewis County until that designation was transferred to Chehalis in 1874. A blockhouse was built and used in the community during an 1855-1856 war between settlers and Native Americans, sheltering
186-518: A collective name used by the Salish people within the region and included such spellings or pronunciations such as Atchixe-lish, Chachelis, Checalish, Chehaylis, Chickeelas, Chixeelis, Ebihalis, Tcheles, Tsehalish, and Tse-he-lis. Early non-native explorers of the Pacific Northwest vocalized the words as "Chehalis" and proceeded to describe the original inhabitants as such. The community
248-587: A group named "Adventure in Cooperation" which led to the beginnings of a commission that created the Chehalis Industrial Park later that decade. The economic area began when a new rail line, built by a group of local volunteers known as the " Gandy Dancers ", was connected to the grounds. The industrial park , located south of the city district near the interstate, leases land that it purchases to corporations and businesses. The first tenant
310-490: A hate group leader in it, purportedly a local insurance man. A trio of female high school students wrote to the magazine, believing that the feature "did not accurately depict the feelings of local citizens" just the insurance man and his followers, and a follow-up photo article from Life in May showcased the city's actual more varied and "American ideals" atmosphere which tended to more highlight inclusion, tolerance and diversity. It
372-414: A household in the city was $ 33,482, and the median income for a family was $ 41,387. Males had a median income of $ 32,289 versus $ 24,414 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 15,944. About 16.0% of families and 19.8% of the population were below the poverty line , including 27.6% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over. The Point In Time Count (PTC) is a county census that
434-408: A long-term economic sector of Chehalis, expanding in importance during the 1950s after the construction of U.S. Route 12 and Interstate 5. Callison's, formally known as I.P. Callison's & Sons, was founded in the city in 1903. The company originally processed cascara bark, used as a laxative, and shipped a variety of flora for use in flower arrangements. Callison's expanded to produce peppermint in
496-687: A major flood disaster 1990. A 100-year flood occurred in February 1996, with the Chehalis and Skookumchuck rivers setting flood stage records. A state of emergency was declared and I-5 was closed for four days. The city in the 21st century has had several floods of various levels including a record flood that closed the interstate in the town in December 2007 due to the Great Coastal Gale of 2007 . Another major flood materialized over
558-557: A store was added to the warehouse, and a courthouse and several houses were constructed. Chehalis was incorporated on November 23, 1883. Logging soon began in the nearby forests. Lumber workers of Scandinavian, English , and Scots-Irish descent arrived and settled in the neighboring valleys. In 1940, the chief local industries were dairying, poultry raising, fruit growing, milk condensing, fruit and vegetable packing, brick and tile manufacturing, coal mining, portable house manufacturing, and fern shipping. During World War II, Chehalis
620-603: A tally of over 1,300 chimneys. One Chehalis resident was reported as injured and the Green Hill School, which lost the use of four buildings, recorded $ 2 million in damages. The high school and the West Side School were destroyed; neither was rebuilt. Chehalis was also hit hard during the Hanukkah Eve windstorm of 2006 , with the interstate closed south of the city due to fallen trees. A vessel in
682-500: A year later in January 2009, immersing several regions within Chehalis, and I-5 and railroads were shut down once again. Less severe floods transpired during record daily rainfalls in 2010, 2012, and 2015. A stretch of I-5 between Chehalis and Centralia was closed for several hours after a major flood in January 2022. Chehalis has not been immune to a history of hate crimes, racism, and white supremacy groups. An article written in
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#1732783456840744-638: Is a member of the Tsamosan (or Olympic Peninsula ) branch of the Coast Salish family of Salishan languages . In some classifications, Lower Chehalis is placed closer to Quinault than it is to Upper Chehalis . It went extinct in the 1990s. Vowels are represented as /i ə u a/ and /iː uː aː/ . Allophones are also noted. This article related to the Indigenous languages of the Americas
806-625: Is known locally for its annual summer event, ChehalisFest. The city anchors the beginning trailhead for the Willapa Hills Trail and accommodates riders during the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic . Chehalis once was home to a championship minor league baseball team and often welcomed barnstorming ballclubs and competitions featuring teams from Negro league baseball. In the 21st century, Chehalis initiated several charity, volunteer, and local government sponsored groups to revitalize
868-530: Is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km ) is water. The city rests in a valley bordered by foothills of the Cascade Range to the east and the Willapa Hills to the west. Chehalis straddles Interstate 5 at a point almost exactly halfway between Seattle , Washington and Portland, Oregon . The historic downtown and most of the city's amenities lie on the east side of the freeway , nestled at
930-532: Is located at a commercial development near the I-5 exchange on Main Street known as Liberty Plaza. Created to honor American military veterans, the piece is part of a fountain. The 29,000 lb (13,000 kg) artwork was dedicated in 2009 and features a column standing 25 feet (7.6 m) in height, at the time thought to be the tallest such type in the world. Lower Chehalis Lower Chehalis ( Łəw̓ál̕məš )
992-602: Is located in the Chehalis valley and is split by Interstate 5 (I-5) and State Route 6 . It is twinned with the bordering city of Centralia . The communities of Napavine and Newaukum lie directly south, with the town of Adna to the west. Due to the community's location on the Chehalis River, and the nearby confluences of the Newaukum and Skookumchuck rivers, the city has experienced several historic flooding events during its history. Incorporated in 1883, Chehalis
1054-504: Is required by law to count the number of the population experiencing homelessness . Mandated by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) since 2003, the annual PTC tracks the number of individuals and families experiencing homelessness on a specified date and is usually held in January. It is organized locally with data transmitted to state and federal agencies. Students and children under
1116-634: The Black Lives Matter movement, holding two demonstrations in 2020 at the Lewis County Courthouse after the murder of George Floyd . The second event was attended by approximately 300 people who knelt for 8 minutes 46 seconds in protest against police brutality . Notwithstanding a brief interruption, the assembly remained peaceful. A rise in hate crimes against LGBTQ people in the 21st century also affected Chehalis, usually perpetrated or led by non-Chehalis residents. In
1178-620: The Köppen Climate Classification system, Chehalis has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate , abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps. The city was hit with 100 mph winds gusts during the Columbus Day storm of 1962 . The highest temperature ever recorded in the city was 107.0 °F (41.7 °C) in July 2009. Chehalis matched that record high on June 28, 2021, while surpassing other daily and monthly heat records for
1240-504: The United States Navy , the gunboat USS Chehalis (PGM-94) , was named in honor of the city. Due to Chehalis being located near several large rivers and resting in a valley, heavy rains and snowmelt has led the city to experience numerous historic flooding events, often recorded between November and February. Historical accounts and spiritual lessons passed down in the history of Native American people living in and around
1302-409: The 1940s, spearmint in 1952, and eventually essential oils , including the production of foxglove for medicinal use. The company headquarters and exporting components were moved to Lacey but the manufacturing plant remains in Chehalis. The company produces mint used in the production of candies at Chehalis Mints, a local confectioner that began in 1994. The Lewis County Mall, situated south of
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#17327834568401364-596: The 2020s, a billboard in Chehalis supporting LGBTQ and racial equality movements was vandalized. And a drag show held in June 2023 at the Chehalis Theater was a site of controversy when a political fundraiser that referred to drag performers as "groomers" was hosted nearby without theater approval by the Lewis County GOP, headed by a non-Chehalis resident, and timed so as to coincide with the drag show in
1426-497: The Chehalis Bee-Nugget newspaper from 1909 details a letter from a Black man who considered Chehalis a "white man's city" and would not move to the town. While the piece mentions that the people of Chehalis have not exhibited hostilities towards non-White people, the editorial does report that a Black family has never resided in the city while also acknowledging a lack of representation for citizens of Asian heritage. At
1488-516: The Chehalis River tell of major floods in the basin. The first record of a flood, when the community known as Saundersville was settled, was in 1865. The first newspaper accounting of floods mention events in 1887 and 1897 that disrupted sawmill operations and river and railroad traffic. The 20th century recorded over two dozen notable flooding events in and around the Chehalis community. The earliest recordings of floods are from 1906, 1909, and 1910, with major floods in 1915 and 1919. Chehalis, which
1550-464: The Chehalis Theater and a similarly protested Pride event that had been held in Centralia earlier that day. The GOP’s actions were shortly after condemned by local leaders. A few weeks later, a single-evening hate crime act occurred that targeted LGBTQ charities and symbols within various locations of the city. The Chehalis Friendship Fence was vandalized during the hate crime attack. The fence
1612-490: The Chehalis and Newaukum rivers are prone to flooding during periods of abnormally heavy or persistent rain, and the lowlands from the freeway westward are particularly susceptible to inundation. Near the Port of Chehalis is Dillenbaugh Creek, a watershed encompassing over 17 square miles (44 km ). This region experiences warm and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6 °F (22.0 °C). According to
1674-540: The Columbia River; State Route 6 between Raymond and Chehalis; and U.S. Route 12 , which also traverses the Cascade Range at White Pass . Chehalis, Washington Chehalis ( / ʃ ə ˈ h eɪ l ɪ s / shə- HAY -lis ) is a city in and the county seat of Lewis County , Washington , United States. The population was 7,439 at the time of the 2020 census . The city
1736-497: The KKK or the JBS began to wane in the 1970s and 1980s, and the last activity of either group was recorded as taking place at the end of the century. The city, due to its early history and present-day lack of a Black population, was listed as a sundown town though there is no evidence the city ever had sundown policies. Residents in the city in more recent years have protested in favor of
1798-483: The Lewis County Fairgrounds, was built in 1972. The mall was home to national chains and major retailers but in 1999, JC Penney's departed the venue and other businesses followed soon thereafter due in part to the growth of other shopping centers in the local area. Sears was the last nationwide company to leave. In the 2000s, the 10-screen Midway Cinema was established in the building. As of 2023 ,
1860-547: The Northern Pacific Railroad, in 1874, began to refer to the location as Chehalis but for unknown reasons. The naming was officially recognized by the state legislature on September 23, 1879. The Chehalis nomenclature is believed to denote its location to the Chehalis people and the Chehalis River . The meaning of the names of Saunder's Bottom and Chehalis were fitting for the growing town due to
1922-948: The Twin City Town Center district. Due in part to renovations of the Recreation Park Complex, and a subsequent growth in attendance for sports events, the community entered a growth phase in the hospitality industry . Based on a plan approved by the city council in 2009, the Chehalis Community Renaissance Team (CCRT) was formed and implemented artistic improvements as part of long term revitalization project for downtown Chehalis. With funds provided by CCRT via community donations and various city, county, and state programs, local artists and business owners have produced artworks on utility boxes, trash can lids, and benches, along with additional murals and building façade renovations in
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1984-454: The age of 18 who are described as, "in an overnight accommodation insecure situation", are not officially recorded as part of the PTC. However, the city of Chehalis had a count in 2017 reporting 130 students, and an incomplete count the following year of 136, who met the qualifications to be listed as homeless. After the loss of a large pharmaceutical plant in 1952, the Chehalis community organized
2046-496: The base of a small range of forested hills. On the west side of the freeway are parks, farms, a few subdivisions developed in the hills to the west, and a centralized shopping district, the Twin City Town Center. The Chehalis–Centralia Airport is located immediately west of the freeway towards the northern end of the city. From numerous vantage points in the city and the Willapa Hills, there are views of Boistfort Peak and
2108-559: The beginning of the 1910 Chehalis Gophers baseball season, the club and its ballplayers participated in a minstrel show, receiving positive reviews in a local paper. An "anti-Greek and Italian" movement existed in Chehalis around 1911 that demanded to abolish the employment of foreigners within the town. In 1924, a rally for the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) was held at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds and
2170-509: The city changed its motto to "Where Heart and History Shape Our Future". Chehalis began as a settlement around a warehouse beside a railroad track in 1873, when the Northern Pacific Railroad built northward from Kalama to Tacoma . Northern Pacific's decision bypassed the town of Claquato, then the county seat. This allowed Chehalis, in 1874, to become the central location for Lewis County government. That same year,
2232-530: The city, with focus on renovations to its historic downtown district, the upgrading of the community's transit sector, and increasing the education and graduation rate within the school district. Additional efforts of improvements were led via art programs and renovations to its parks. The Native American Chehalis people described, using their language and pronunciation, a location and village in present-day Westport, Washington , that translates to English as "place of sand" or "shifting sand". The word may have been
2294-424: The city. The population density was 1,259.0 people per square mile (485.7/km ). There were 2,871 housing units at an average density of 512.2 per square mile (197.6/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 89.56% White , 1.35% African American , 1.46% Native American , 1.20% Asian , 0.24% Pacific Islander , 3.95% from other races , and 2.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.91% of
2356-556: The damages were severe enough that parts of the local attraction needed to be repainted. The trio were found guilty of misdemeanor malicious mischief but were acquitted by jury on hate crime charges. As translated from the Chehalis Native American language, Claquato means "high prairie" or "high land". The town began as a settlement in 1853 by Lewis Hawkins Davis, who originally named the area Davis Prairie. The community grew quickly to include Claquato Church ,
2418-618: The downtown and surrounding business districts. A rainbow painted fence, known as the Chehalis Friendship Fence, is located in the city's Pennsylvania-Westside district near Westside Park. It was first created in 2020 and is a show of support of LGBTQ+ people and their rights. Sculptures located in Chehalis include The Guardian , a bronze work situated at the Lewis County Law and Justice Center. Created to honor local police officers who lost their lives in
2480-532: The estimated attendance was recorded between 20,000 and 30,000 members from around Washington. During the Great Depression, Chehalis and the surrounding cities and counties saw a rise in the participation of "Silver Shirts", a group that followed similar aspects to the Nazi movement of the era. In a Life magazine article from March 1939, the publication reported regarding hate groups and said Chehalis had
2542-558: The exterior of the building in 2005 on the 60th anniversary of the war's end, honors the workers of the Boeing manufactory, of which 70% were Rosie the Riveters . The city, known for its flooding events, suffered damages and hardship during other natural disasters and severe weather events. A report in the aftermath of the 1949 Olympia earthquake listed that approximately 40% of local Chehalis businesses and homes were damaged, including
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2604-453: The founding family of Chehalis during the conflict. Claquato is no longer a recognized town or municipality, and is considered a neighborhood outside the Chehalis city limits. While described as a ghost town as it was officially vacated in 1902, the area has been populated since its inception. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 5.55 square miles (14.37 km ), of which, 5.53 square miles (14.32 km )
2666-400: The interstate for the first time in the city. The Chehalis River crested twice in January 1974, causing $ 10 million in losses. A major flood disaster developed in 1986 after 8 inches (20 cm) of rainfall over several days that led to the submerging of the fairgrounds and a contamination spill at a closed industrial site near Millett Field. The highway was covered with floodwaters again during
2728-639: The late 1960s eventually resulted in the establishment of The Evergreen State College in Olympia. PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver is the region's largest medical center. The major north–south highways in Southwest Washington are U.S. Route 101 , which runs along the Pacific Coast, and Interstate 5 , a freeway between Seattle and Portland, Oregon . Several east–west highways connect these two routes, including State Route 4 along
2790-587: The line of duty, the artwork depicts a little girl along with an officer and a police dog . Four statues, portraying young children in various states of play, are located at the Recreation Park Complex . A bronze sculpture of a little girl sitting on a bench reading a book is located at the Vernetta Smith Timberland Library. The book was stolen but replaced in 2021. A sculpture containing multiple basalt columns
2852-463: The list of National Register of Historic Places , more than any other region in Lewis County. Several museums that highlight motorcycles, veterans and military history, and the Chehalis history of railroads are located within the city limits. Chehalis contains approximately 273 acres (110 ha) of parks, most begun by land donations and are overseen by volunteer community efforts. The community
2914-503: The mall is home to smaller, regional businesses and plans include a renovation of the center for storage, apartment buildings, and restaurants. Timber, once an important economic component of the city, began increasing in the 2000s and the city became a warehousing center due to its access to the interstate and its location between Portland and Seattle. Beginning in the 2010s, the city embarked on increasing its economic diversity by creating an auto row for passenger vehicle dealerships at
2976-587: The month during the 2021 Western North America heat wave . As of the 2010 census , there were 7,259 people, 2,868 households, and 1,655 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,312.7 inhabitants per square mile (506.8/km ). There were 3,131 housing units at an average density of 566.2 per square mile (218.6/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 87.0% White , 1.7% African American , 1.3% Native American , 1.3% Asian , 0.2% Pacific Islander , 5.7% from other races , and 2.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.6% of
3038-614: The muddy bottomland along the Chehalis River which had long vexed stagecoach travelers on the Washington arm of the Oregon Trail between Kalama and New Market ( Tumwater ). As red roses had long been a symbol of the community, including the All-America Rose Selections (AARS) accredited Chehalis Municipal Rose Garden , the city adopted the red rose as an official community flower in 1955, leading to
3100-424: The nickname for Chehalis, "The Rose City", which was made official in 2000. The city's motto, "A Heritage to be Proud Of" was concurrently adopted. The community has been informally known as "The Mint City" due to I.P. Callison's mint plant and as "The Friendly City", nomenclature born from social symbolism connected to roses. An attempt to change the official moniker to "The Friendly City" in 2009 did not pass, but
3162-442: The population. There were 2,868 households, of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.9% were married couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.3% were non-families. 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
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#17327834568403224-424: The population. 18.4% were of German , 11.0% English , 11.0% American and 8.4% Irish ancestry. There were 2,671 households, out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.1% had someone living alone who
3286-559: The three major volcanic mountains of the Cascades, Mount Rainier , Mount Adams , and Mount St. Helens , depending on weather conditions. The Chehalis River winds its way through the valley in which the city resides, and is joined by a tributary , the Newaukum River . This confluence of waters, along with the intersections of tributaries and railroads within Chehalis, helped the city become known as "The Maple Leaf City". Both
3348-435: Was 2.36 and the average family size was 3.02. The median age in the city was 33.5 years. 24.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 12.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.9% were from 25 to 44; 22.6% were from 45 to 64; and 14.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.2% male and 49.8% female. As of the 2000 census , there were 7,057 people, 2,671 households, and 1,696 families residing in
3410-451: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.06. In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.2% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.0 males. The median income for
3472-630: Was a $ 1.0 million Goodyear Tire plant that opened in 1957. The Port of Chehalis was officially established in September 1986 and was one of the last ports created in the state. The port was enacted by a public vote in Lewis County, which also developed a port district in the city. The agency oversees the Chehalis Industrial Park and the port is part of the South Puget Sound Foreign Trade Zone. Food processing, which included canned or frozen items, has been
3534-570: Was home to a Boeing manufacturing plant. The factory was responsible for producing wing parts for airplanes, particularly for B-17 and B-29 bombers. The plant, which received Boeing's excellence pennant, existed between 1943 and 1945 and was located in the Harry B. Quick building. Built in the mid-1920s, it has been owned by the Lewis County Public Utilities District since the early 1940s. A plaque, installed on
3596-599: Was noted that the leader of that fascist group had left town after the original story had published. After World War II , the emergence of the John Birch Society (JBS), which opposed the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, began to circulate in and around the community, though much of the group’s noted activity occurred outside Chehalis with the group opening a bookstore in Centralia. Active and open participation from county residents in either
3658-426: Was originally known as Saunder's Bottom and as the town of Saundersville, named after Schuyler and Eliza Saunders on whose donation land claim it was founded when they settled on the land in 1850. Differing timelines and recognition of the name change to Chehalis exist. A founding member of the community and its postmaster, Obadiah B. McFadden , renamed the town as Chehalis in 1870. Another account claims officials for
3720-477: Was primarily a logging and railroad town, with a shift towards farming in the mid-20th century. The city has bolstered its economy in the 21st century with a focus in manufacturing and warehousing. Chehalis is home to the historic neighborhood of Claquato, the Chehalis–Centralia Airport , and the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds. The city has several distinct historical areas and boasts 11 locations on
3782-413: Was repainted days later through a volunteer effort. The fence was targeted again in February 2024 after a group of three people, all with ties to a variety of hate groups, as well as previous hate crime acts, splashed the artwork with black paint. The perpetrators, who were not from Chehalis, were chased down by a local resident and caught; fellow neighbors were able to wipe the paint off before it dried but
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#17327834568403844-400: Was submerged in a month-long rain event, broke flood records in 1933 and moderate floods followed later in the decade. A 1948 weather pattern, a widespread disaster for the state, led to flooding in Chehalis. Heavy rains in the early-to-mid 1950s bought moderate floodwaters. The Christmas flood of 1964 led to widespread floodwaters in 1965. A record-setting flood occurred in 1972, submerging
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