BlockBefore

Pacific County, Washington

117 topographic sheets cover 60 settlements here, and 20 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

20 National Register listings published here, 1 of them a National Historic Landmark.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Washington within the United States
Pacific County within Washington

What the record shows

  • 797 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 20 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 16 buildings, 3 districts and 1 site.
  • 10 of the 20 listings were added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 60 populated places in this county; 60 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

20

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Cape Disappointment Historic Districtdistrict197575001864
Chinook Pointsite196666000747
Colbert Housebuilding197777001347
Columbia River Quarantine Stationbuilding198080004007
Fort Columbiadistrict2025100011981
Klipsan Beach Life Saving Stationbuilding197979002546
Lumber Exchange Buildingbuilding198888000604
Oysterville Historic Districtdistrict197676001898
Pacific County Courthousebuilding197777001348
Raymond Public Librarybuilding197979002548
Raymond Theaterbuilding199191000540
Russell Housebuilding197777001349
Peter Schulderman Housebuilding198888000597
Shelburne Hotelbuilding197878002765
Shogren Cottagebuilding2019100002409
South Bend Carnegie Public Librarybuilding198282004269
Tokeland Hotelbuilding197878002766
US Post Office-Raymond Mainbuilding199191000654
Willapa Bay Boathousebuilding198686000358
Wreckage, Thebuilding197979002547

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

317 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 317 of them, burning about 1,372 acres. 16 started naturally and 23 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning92
Recreation and ceremony55
Missing data/not specified/undetermined53
Fireworks35
Arson/incendiarism23
Smoking16
Natural16
Equipment and vehicle use16
Misuse of fire by a minor10
Power generation/transmission/distribution1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
11 September 2014Missing data/not specified/undetermined127 acresWashington State Department of Natural Resources HeadquartersFORK PEAK
23 November 2013Missing data/not specified/undetermined119 acresPacific Cascade Region-DNRCHINOOK VALLEY
4 July 2013Fireworks110 acresWashington State Department of Natural Resources HeadquartersINDEPENDENCE
20 October 1998Debris and open burning102 acresWashington State Department of Natural Resources Headquartersnot named
27 November 2015Missing data/not specified/undetermined100 acresPacific Cascade Region-DNRCOHO
22 June 1992Equipment and vehicle use98 acresWashington State Department of Natural Resources Headquartersnot named
12 November 2014Debris and open burning85 acresWashington State Department of Natural Resources HeadquartersBEAR RIVER
8 July 2006Natural51 acresWillapa National Wildlife Refuge ComplexGRASS ISLAND

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1990 to 2023

27 of 27 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 27 reports for this county, causing no deaths, no injuries and about $11,017,000 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Flood12
Heavy Rain6
Tornado3
Thunderstorm Wind3
Funnel Cloud1
Wildfire1
Hail1

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
December 2007FloodWillapa$10,000,000The Willapa River flooded near Willapa, reaching major flood levels. Downtown Raymond had a depth of 2 feet of flood water due to a combination of coastal flooding and flooding of the Willapa. Residents in the Willapa valley stated they had never seen the Willapa river as high as it was. Also, minor flooding of the Naselle river sent some water over Hwy. 401. NOTE: Damage estimates are for the entire Pacific county.
January 2022FloodLebam$990,000The gauge on the Willapa River near Willapa rose above flood stage of 21.0 feet at 1620PST, crested at 23.3 feet on the 7th at 0345PST (major flood stage is 24.0 feet), then dropped below flood stage on the 7th at 1750PST. As a result, 33 homes have significant damage (combined river and coastal flooding.) Two people were sheltered. Also landslides preventing road entries into the county including five slides on SR 105.
December 1990Tornado (F0)not stated$25,000no account filed
September 1997Funnel CloudOysterville$2,000A funnel cloud moved across Oysterville but did not touch down. However, it damaged a mobile home as it passed overhead.
December 2023FloodWillapa-The Willapa River at Willapa rose reached minor flood stage during a period of 1 and half hours, cresting at 21.03 feet at 315 pm on December 5th.
January 2022FloodNaselle-The gauge on the Naselle River near Naselle rose above flood stage of 15.0 feet on the 6th, crested at 18.3 feet at 2000PST. This is above major flood stage of 17.0 feet. The river then dropped below flood stage on the 7th at 1130PST.
January 2021FloodWillapa-The Willapa River at Willapa (WILW1) reached flood stage at 0345PST, crested at 21.2 feet then dropped below flood stage at 0800PST on January 3rd. Flood stage is 21.0 feet.
March 2021Tornado (EF0)Ilwaco Arpt-A tornado occurred in Ilwaco, Washington just north of the Port of Ilwaco Airport. The tornado began near the intersection of Redwing Way and Captain Gray Drive around 1904PST, tracked northeast across a housing subdivision, crossed the Wallacut River before dissipating near the intersection of Chinook Valley Road and U.S. Highway 101 around 1908PST. The tornado track was about one-third of a mile long and 60 yards wide. There was minor damage to trees, fences, windows, shingles, and other unsecured attachments to structures along the path (DI 2, DOD 2).
September 2020Heavy RainOceanside-Over 1.25 inches of rainfall.
January 2018Thunderstorm WindIlwaco-Weather station on Cape Disappointment recorded wind gusts up to 67 mph.
October 2016Thunderstorm WindIlwaco-Thunderstorms produced strong winds on and off through the morning, with the strongest gust of 63 mph at Cape Disappointment.
January 2015FloodNaselle-The Naselle River near Naselle reached flood stage of 15.5 feet at 410 AM on January 5th. The river crested at the major flood stage of 17 feet around 745 AM before dropping below flood stage at 1150 AM.
November 2015FloodWillapa-Five day rainfall totals ending in the morning of Nov 17th in the Willapa Hills were 8 to 12 inches. This rain resulted in the Willapa River to exceed flood stage around 11 pm on the 17th. The River crested at 21.12 feet which is 1.1 feet above flood stage.
November 2014HailNaselle-A Pacific County Sheriff officer took photos of very large hail that fell near the Naselle-Grays River School District Office. The size of the hail was estimated to have a 1.25 inch diameter.
November 2012FloodRaymond-Heavy rain caused the Willapa River near Willapa to overflow its banks and flood low lying areas. The Willapa River crested at 23.9 feet on November 19th at 9 pm PST, 2.9 feet above flood stage.
December 2010Thunderstorm WindLong Beach-Gusty winds were reported at Long Beach, Washington with a peak gust of 55 kts.
January 2009Heavy RainRaymond-Heavy rain resulted the closure of highway 6 outside of Raymond due to high water.
January 2009FloodNaselle-Heavy rain caused the Naselle River to overflow its banks and cause significant flooding. The Naselle River crested at a flood of record of 20.8 ft.
January 2009FloodWillapa-Heavy rain combined with snowmelt runoff caused the Willapa River to overflow its banks.
January 2009Heavy RainNaselle-Heavy rain caused localized flooding in the community of Naselle. Several structures were flooded and many people forced to evacuate thier homes and businesses.
October 1998WildfireNaselle-A slash fire near Naselle Washington got out of control and burned 100 acres before fire crews and cooler weather checked the fire. The 100 acre Bear Fire was west of Washington Highway 401 about 6 miles from Naselle. The glow of the fire was visible at night as far away as Astoria, Oregon.
January 2006FloodWillapa-no account filed
January 2006FloodWillapa-no account filed
January 2003Heavy RainCountywide-no account filed
March 2003Heavy RainCountywide-no account filed
August 2001Heavy RainCountywide-no account filed
June 1991Tornado (F0)not stated-no account filed

Mines and quarries

76 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 76 workings inside this county. 4 still produce and 72 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Stone, Crushed/Broken29
Sand and Gravel, Construction25
Limestone, General4
Gold3
Stone3
Iron3
Titanium, Iron2
Clay2
Gold, Chromium, Zirconium, Titanium, Metal, Iron, Platinum1
Platinum, Gold, Iron, Titanium, Metal, Zirconium1
Platinum, Iron, Zirconium, Titanium, Metal1
Iron, Platinum, Titanium, Metal, Zirconium1
Lead1
Gemstone1

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Bear RiverGemstoneOccurrence
Beards Hollow PlacerIron, Platinum, Titanium, Metal, ZirconiumOccurrenceBeach Placer
Beards Hollow PlacerPlatinum, Zirconium, Titanium, IronOccurrence
Chinook Black SandsTitanium, IronOccurrence
Fort CanbyGold, Platinum, Iron, Zirconium, Titanium, MetalOccurrenceBeach Placer
Leadbetter PointGold, Chromium, Zirconium, Titanium, Metal, Iron, PlatinumOccurrenceBeach Placer
Mc Gowan PlacerIron, Titanium, ZirconiumProspect
Mc Gowan QuerryFlagstonePast Producer
NahcottaPlatinum, Gold, Iron, Titanium, Metal, ZirconiumOccurrenceBeach Placer
NaselleLeadOccurrence
Fort Canby PlacerGold, Titanium, IronProspect
Ocean Park PlacerGold, Titanium, IronOccurrence
South BendClayPast Producer
Willapa No. 2ClayOccurrence
Chetlo HarborIronOccurrence
D-4 QuarryStonePast Producer
Gravel PitStonePast Producer
Salmon Creek PitStonePast Producer
Bear RiverLimestone, GeneralPast Producer
Bear RiverLimestone, GeneralPast Producer
KnapptonLimestone, GeneralPast Producer
MenloLimestone, GeneralOccurrence
FenderSand and Gravel, ConstructionOccurrence
Holcomb PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Londalen PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Long BeachSand and Gravel, ConstructionOccurrence
MeglerSand and Gravel, ConstructionOccurrence
Nahcotta PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Naselle RiverSand and Gravel, ConstructionOccurrence
Newart PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Palix River PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed Pit AndsSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed Pit Ing CoSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Willapa HarborSand and Gravel, ConstructionOccurrence
Bear River Quarry No. 1Stone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Bear River Quarry No. 2Stone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Chinook QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
City of South Bend QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Falls Creek QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Grays River 7000 PitStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Half Moon Creek QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Johnson QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Lane Creek QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
N. Willapa River QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Nallpee QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Naselle River QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
O'Conner Creek QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
O'Meara QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Pluvius QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Provo QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
South Bend QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Templin QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Templin QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Twin Harbors Lumber Co QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unnamed QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unnamed QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unnamed QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unnamed QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unnamed QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unnamed QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unnamed QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unnamed QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unnamed QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer

Every populated place in the county

60

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

The vanished settlements of Pacific County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.