Northport

History

Northport began when railroad builder Daniel C. Corbin had agents purchase two wooded benches overlooking the Columbia River from the federal government in 1892. Corbin had plans to extend his Spokane Falls and Northern Railway (S&FN) from Little Dalles, the town seven miles south, to the rich mining districts of southern British Columbia. Northport would provide a railhead for two railroads into Canada. At this time, The Kootenai Steamship Company riverboats provided service from Little Dalles to Revelstoke, B.C. After the S&FN reached Northport on Sept. 18, 1892, the riverboats ran from Northport to Revelstoke. Northport became an international port of entry in 1895. In March 1896 a major fire occurred in the business district. At least 16 businesses were destroyed or damaged. The north half of the Colville Indian Reservation, across the river from Northport, was opened to mining in February 1896. Miners and prospectors flooded into the area and came into town to record their claims, get supplies and entertain themselves. In 1890, rich gold ore was discovered in Canada at Red Mountain, near the present city of Rossland, British Columbia. Mines were developed and the ore was laboriously shipped out by wagon on a rude road 17 miles (27.4 km) and ferried across the Columbia river to Northport and the S&FN. In January 1896, 174 horse teams hauled ore down the road in one week. The need for rail transportation was great and D.C. Corbin set about obtaining approvals and charters to fill the need. Construction began on the American side in May 1896. A ferry was built at Northport to carry engines and cars across the Columbia River until a bridge could be built. The Columbia and Red Mountain railroad began service in December. The bridge over the Columbia River was…

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land. 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, Northport has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps. The hottest temperature measured in Northport is during the 2021 Western North America heat wave in June. | source 2 = National Weather Service }}

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Northport Homelink Program
  Other · Northport · 117 students · 29.3:1 ratio
• Northport Elementary School
  Elementary · Northport · 113 students · 12.6:1 ratio
• Northport High School
  High · Northport · 53 students · 10.6:1 ratio
• Onion Creek Elementary
  Elementary · Colville · 46 students · 11.5:1 ratio