Creston

History

Creston sprang up with the arrival of the Central Washington Railroad in 1889. It was so named because of its high altitude; it was thought to be at the highest point (the crest) between Cheney and Coulee City, Washington, along the railroad grade. In the spring of 1890, a town site was platted by H.S. Huson and registered with the state on June 23 of that year. The first structure in town was a small store building moved to the site by Henry Verfurth from the nearby village of Sherman, 5 miles northwest of Creston. A post office was established shortly thereafter whose jurisdiction extended to the Columbia River on the North and the railroad tracks on the South with ten miles East and West. Henry Verfurth was appointed as postmaster. Following the Panic of 1893 and the bankruptcy of the town site owner, Creston remained dormant until a bumper wheat crop in 1897 gave a boost to the regional economy, bringing thousands of new settlers to the region. The results of the strong harvest were immediate with new businesses, grain elevators, public buildings, churches and the town's first bank and newspaper. At the same time, Creston was given a boost by a new road and ferry connecting it to the rich mineral belts in the nearby Colville Indian Reservation. Between 1900 and 1903, Creston's population doubled to 102. In August 1902, the last surviving member of the infamous Hole in the Wall Gang, Harry Tracy, was shot at a Creston ranch and killed himself there to avoid capture. Creston was officially incorporated on April 20, 1903. An exceptionally rare tornado struck Creston, Washington, on April 5, 1972, during the regional tornado outbreak that also produced tornadoes in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington. The tornado touched down near Hartline before tracking…

Geography

Creston is located roughly west of Davenport, the county seat. U.S. Route 2 passes through Creston, connecting it to Wilbur a few miles to the west, with which the town shares a school district. Creston is home to an elementary school and the two towns' middle school, though the Wilbur-Creston High School is located in Wilbur. Creston is located at the foot of Creston Butte, which lies directly south of the town. The butte rises to above sea level, approximately higher than the town's elevation. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land.

Race & ethnicity