Klickitat is a census-designated place (CDP) in Klickitat County, Washington, United States. The population was 320 at the 2020 census. Once the site of a lumber mill, it is now primarily a bedroom community.

History

The site where the town is located was originally called "Wrights" after one of the original settlers. This was the name given to the rail stop there. The rail stop down the river at milepost 7.2 was named "Klickitat", after the Klickitat people and the railroad later switched the two signs when the carbonated beverage company Klickitat Pop (operating near the town) gained fame. On February 7, 1910, the name of the town post office was officially changed to "Klickitat".

thumb|left|Klickitat, July 2010

The first non-native settlers arrived in 1890 seeking land to homestead. The abundance of timber drew in other settlers during the early 1900s. Travel through the Klickitat canyon and up to the plateau was arduous until the completion of a rail line in 1903.[4, p. 47] The rail line eased travel and facilitated the transportation of people, crops, livestock and timber. The lumber mill was the primary employer in town, with the first major mill formed 1909, until 1994 when the mill was permanently closed. The naturally carbonated Klickitat Mineral Springs just east of town gave rise to health spas, a carbonated beverage company, and a large dry ice plant which operated until 1957.

Geography

Klickitat is located along the Klickitat River. The closest major town is Goldendale, to the east. State Route 142 passes through Klickitat, leading southwest (downstream) to Pitt and east (upstream) the same distance to Wahkiacus. Lyle, along the Columbia River, is to the southwest via Route 142.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Klickitat CDP has a total area of , all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census Washington State Route 142 provides a scenic drive through the canyon. Two miles east of town is the ruins of the dry ice plant with a single remaining building. The site is now a public campsite.

See also

  • List of census-designated places in Washington

References

Further reading

  • Niels, Selma M., So This Is Klickitat. Metropolitan Press, 1967.
  • Klickitat School District
  • Klickitat community website
  • Klickitat Historical Museum
  • About the Klickitat Trail