Washtucna

History

George Bassett, an Iowan settler homesteaded the future site of Washtucna in 1878 The first rail line into the area was completed by the Oregon Improvement Company in 1886, and shipped 30,000 bushels of wheat in its first five years. Several attempts at large-scale irrigation projects were attempted between 1892 and 1917, but all failed. Dry land wheat farming has persisted since that time. Washtucna was officially incorporated on October 27, 1903, with Charles T. Booth as the first mayor. During the early 2000s recession, Washtucna faced a potential budget shortfall due to reduced state subsidies and poor wheat sales.

Geography

Washtucna sits at the head of Washtucna Coulee, a thin but deep valley that runs west to Connell, Washington where it merges with Providence Coulee to form Esquatzel Coulee. Being located on the floor of the coulee, Washtucna is at relatively lower elevation than the terrain that surrounds it. The floor of the coulee at Washtucna is roughly 1,027 feet above sea level, but the steep walls of the coulee quickly rise to 1,600 feet above sea level in places within a mile of the city center. Washtucna is located at the intersection of State Routes 26 and 261; about west of Pullman, Washington, southwest of Spokane, Washington, and east of Seattle, Washington. The Columbia Plateau Trail passes through Washtucna as well. The Palouse River currently passes within a couple of miles to the east of Washtucna, but in geological history the river previously flowed through Washtucna down Washtucna Coulee. The river eventually changed into its present-day course, abandoning the coulee. During the Missoula Floods, the former riverbed saw water once more as flood waters scoured their way through its channel. That history gives the Washtucna area features that are representative of both the Channeled Scablands region which extends to the north and west and the Palouse which extends to the south and east. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Washtucna Elementary/High School
  Other · Washtucna · 73 students · 6.6:1 ratio