Ryderwood

History

Ryderwood, originally named Cougar Flats, was established as a logging camp by the Long-Bell Lumber Company in 1923. The town was constructed at a cost of $1.5 million and was the largest community to be built by private funding. Simultaneously, the town of Longview was created to mill and ship the lumber coming out of Ryderwood. Ryderwood was named for W. F. ("Uncle Bill") Ryder, the logging operations manager for Long-Bell, who came to the northwest to locate a timber source. The community was envisioned beyond that of a temporary logging camp, as a permanent center that would contain a school, church and theater. Billed as a place for families to live rather than bachelor workers, Ryderwood was considered a "modern logging town", as an article in The Log of Long-Bell proclaimed. At Ryderwood's peak, the town became the third largest in Cowlitz County with a population of 2,000 and the community contained a high school. By 1953, due to advances in timber harvesting technology and the loss of old growth timber, Long-Bell sold the town to Harry H. Kem, a real estate specialist from Los Angeles, Homeowners were required to be retired and the functions of the town, such as the fire department, library, and water utilities system, were undertaken through volunteer efforts of Ryderwood residents. In the 1980s, Ryderwood was home to the beginning of the Winlock Pickersfest, originally a bluegrass festival. The event relocated to Winlock in 2000. , the festival continues to be held. Ryderwood held a town-wide centennial celebration in 2023. Featuring a pioneer costumed parade, the event included the opening of a time capsule.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , all (100.0%) land. The town is bordered to the west by Becker Creek and to the east by Campbell Creek and Ryderwood Lake. Campbell Creek is the main water source for the community.

Race & ethnicity