Cowiche, Washington
Cowiche, Washington | |
|---|---|
  Cowiche, Washington Location of Cowiche, Washington  Cowiche, Washington Cowiche, Washington (Washington (state)) | |
| Coordinates: 46°40′11″N 120°42′44″W / 46.6698469°N 120.7122935°W[1] | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Yakima |
| Elevation | 1,749 ft (533 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 535 |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code | 98923 |
| Area code | 509 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1512121[2] |
Cowiche (pronounced Cow-witch-ee) is a census-designated place and unincorporated community northwest of Yakima, Washington, near the eastern foothills of the Cascade Mountain range, in central Washington State (US). Cowiche, sometimes spelled Cowychee, is said to mean "footbridge between the valley and the mountains." According to the 2020 census,[3] the town had a population of 535, which is an increase from 428 at 2010.[4]
History
[edit]The first inhabitants of the area were the Tkai'waichash-hlama, a band or tribe of Native American people who lived along Cowiche Creek. The area was settled in the late nineteenth century by farmers who relied upon crops that did not require irrigation, such as wheat, barley, rye, and grazing cattle. Homesteading in Cowiche was difficult since fields had to be cleared of volcanic rock before they could be tilled and there was little rainfall in summer. In 1906, construction began on the Tieton Irrigation Project, a division of the broader Yakima Project. Irrigation water became available in 1907, and shortly thereafter, orchards began to replace wheatfields.
Way of Life
[edit]Cowiche, along with the neighboring town of Tieton, is served by the Highland School district Highland School District / Homepage. The community takes great pride in its high school sports programs, and in 1988 their varsity men's basketball team won the Washington State A division championship. The boys soccer team also won the state championship in 2006, 2007 & 2015
Most people in the area are involved in agriculture. Cowiche, like much of the Yakima Valley, is known for its apple crops.
Points of interest
[edit]External links
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Cowiche". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
- ^ a b "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "Census Bureau profile: Cowiche, Washington". United States Census Bureau. May 2023. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
Municipalities and communities of Yakima County, Washington, United States | ||
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |