Conconully

History

The name Conconully comes from the Okanogan name for Salmon Creek, /qʷúnqʷunɬp/, which flows from Conconully to the Okanogan River at Okanogan. According to historian Harry M. Majors, the word means "cloudy". Originally named Salmon City after the nearby Salmon Creek, Conconully began as a gold miners camp, and served as the county seat from 1888 to 1914. It was officially incorporated on November 11, 1908. On May 27, 1894, the town was devastated when an unusually heavy storm caused Salmon Creek to overflow. Debris-filled water more than 30 feet high rushed through canyons toward the town. One resident witnessed the oncoming flood and rode his horse through town warning the residents. More than 42 buildings were destroyed and one person was killed.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land. The city is flanked by two separate reservoirs of the United States Bureau of Reclamation, created by the 1911 Conconully Dam and the 1921 Salmon Lake Dam. This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Conconully has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.

Race & ethnicity