36 minute read
Welcome
Welcome to the Northshore of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Our communities overlook the Columbia River Gorge with spectacular views of beautiful Mt. Hood and majestic Mt. Adams. Thanks to Sam Hill, the famous road builder and founder of Maryhill Museum, the incredible and diverse climate of Klickitat County is often described aptly as “The Land Where the Sun Meets the Rain”, due to its location in a transition zone between west and east Gorge. The marine-influenced climate west of the Cascades and the dry continental climate of the inter-mountain region collide at the White Salmon River junction with the Columbia River, leading to times of sunshine between clouds, or wild storms and rainbows. Spectacular rivers and summer winds that funnel through the Gorge make this area a wind and water sport Mecca of international renown.
The surrounding evergreen forests and oak woodlands are perfect settings for all manner of wildlife and year-round recreational opportunities including hiking, biking, skiing, bird watching, fishing, hunting, just about anything active people enjoy. The abundance of farm fresh foods, foragers and hunters provides our culinary artists delightful inspiration for your meals. Wash it down with a local kombucha, a cold brew, award winning wine or other beverage of choice. The bountiful forest lands, farms and orchards are the backbone of industries that the area was founded upon, while new technology and fermentation industries are rapidly expanding and opening up new employment and investment opportunities. The area has developed into an unmanned aerial vehicle nexus, and its proximity to the Columbia River transportation corridor offers unique opportunities for traditional and progressive industrial development. There is also access to nearby barge, train, air transport and interstate highways – all leading to Pacific Rim ports and other major transportation arteries.
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COMMUNITY OVERVIEW
Within Klickitat County, communities stretch from Bingen and White Salmon at the west end waterfront, up north to Trout Lake and Glenwood at the base of Mt. Adams, and east to Lyle, Goldendale and Maryhill in the heart of the vineyard country. Across the river to the south, several communities such as Cascade Locks, Hood River, and The Dalles lie a short distance from us on the Oregon side of the river. It is not uncommon for residents to find themselves working, eating, and playing on both sides of the Washington and Oregon border, which is the middle of the Columbia River. Housing options in the communities include apartments, condos, single-family units, affordable housing, and span all the way up to custom-built homes, however availability is often extremely limited especially in summer. Because of the growing reputation of White Salmon and the surrounding area, housing continues to be a wise investment, with growing demand.
BZ CORNER
BZ Corner is small community at the intersection of the BZ Glenwood Hwy and SR 141. A recreation access point to the White Salmon River with several rafting companies based here. Zoller’s Outdoor Odysseys have been in business there for 46 years. Home of the historic The Log’s Inn where the Kingsmen used to play Louie Louie and everyone gathered from around the gorge to dance the night away.
HUSUM
Husum is home to many local whitewater rafting companies and you will find several delightful bed and breakfast options here. Visit the historic Ice House Wine Bar at the RubyJune Inn. With good viewpoints from the bridge, you will find Husum Falls a vertical 10-foot (3.0 m) Class V waterfall in the White Salmon River is a fantastic photo opportunity. Book a guided trip (you can portage the falls!) and enjoy spectacular and awe-inspiring beauty along the water route. Wet Planet’s Café is a great place to get food and drink.
TROUT LAKE
Trout Lake is notable for its organic dairy and herb farms, as well as being an access point to Mt. Adams Wilderness areas and the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The dark skies of this area allow frequent viewing of the aurora borealis and expansive fields of stars. Visit the Trout Lake Abbey where you can attend classes, stay overnight or just walk the serene property. The Mt. Adams area is administered by the Mt. Adams Ranger District. This area is located in the eastern portions of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and compromises 367,000 acres. It includes Mt. Adams Wilderness, Indian Heaven Wilderness and Trapper Creek Wilderness.
GLENWOOD
Glenwood is a ranching community which hosts a National Pro Rodeo Association sanctioned rodeo annually on Father’s day weekend in their arena nestled in the valley below the Mt. Adams Wilderness. This two day event has a popular cowboy breakfast, Saturday night dance and parade through town. The Conboy Lake Wildlife Refuge is home to a large herd of roaming elk and many other animals, as well as the Whitcomb-Cole Hewn Log House that you can walk to. Have lunch or dinner at the Glenwood General Store.
KLICKITAT
The site where the town of Klickitat 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 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.
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. 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. The area surrounding the town of Klickitat and the river which shares its name is renowned for its seasonal hunting and fishing. During summer months popular activities on the Klickitat River include recreational drift boating, kayaking, and rafting. Paths and trails provide opportunities for scenic hikes. The 31 mile long Klickitat Trail is on the route of the former railroad tracks, later turned into a biking and hiking trail. The trail follows the Klickitat River north from the Columbia River past the town of Klickitat. 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 camp site.
LYLE
There are several reasons to visit Lyle: the cluster of winery tasting rooms, the hiking/biking trails, the bald eagles and other raptors, the Wild & Scenic Klickitat River, salmon fishing, and water sports just to name a few! Established around 1859, the community was originally called “Klickitat Landing”. Although tiny, somewhat rustic, and usually quiet, Lyle has attracted some attention because it lies very near several popular windsurfing beaches, including Doug’s Beach. The area is also home to six boutique wineries:
Cor Cellars, Domaine Pouillon, Jacob Williams Winery, Klickitat Canyon Winery, Tetrahedron, and Syncline. The historic Lyle Hotel provides live entertainment most weekends and has a great menu to select from.
WHITE SALMON AND BINGEN
Erastus S. Joslyn and wife, Mary were the first whites east of the Cascades on the north shore in 1853. White Salmon was incorporated on June 3, 1907, with Jewett and Rudolf Lauterbach being a primary force in that development. More on history can be learned by visiting the Gorge Heritage Museum in Bingen.
White Salmon and Bingen were part of the home of the Klickitat Tribe, now a part of the Yakama Confederated Nations. The Klickitat Tribe sold some land to the Joslyns’, and later to A.H. Jewett and his wife. In the beginning, the Joslyns’ were generally Native advocates for the time. The area was thrown open on October 31, 1858 for white settlement after the Klickitat and Yakama lost the fight for their homelands in the Yakama War. Within the same year, the region was very rapidly and heavily settled by white immigrants making land claims. The Klickitats were forced to relocate to the Yakama Reservation; and to Camas White Salmon was named after the White Salmon, a now-extinct species of salmon that lived in the Columbia and surrounding area. While remnants of the German influence are still visible in aspects such as White Salmon’s City Hall building, a more updated, fresh color scheme has been preferred by business owners over the last decade. Public murals, art installations and flower gardens in the downtown area create an inviting atmosphere. Along Jewett Blvd. in White Salmon, you can eat al fresco at most of the restaurants and enjoy the always changing skyscape.
Bingen was founded by P.J. Suksdorf in 1892, and named by him for Bingen am Rhein in Germany. Bingen was officially incorporated on April 18, 1924. The name of the town is pronounced (BINjen), despite the fact that its German namesake is pronounced (BING-en). The city has grown considerably over the past decade but been able to retain its small town vibe where everyone comes out on summer nights to watch movies in the park together or pitches in to put on the annual Huckleberry Festival in September. No matter Join Community Partners of Bingen-White Salmon, an effective and well-respected community service organization since 2010, in planning, organizing and accomplishing important community-building projects and events for our greater White Salmon Valley area.
Some of their more visible and popular projects include many free Park Concerts, July 4th Music in the Park, our unique White Salmon crosswalks, the annual Holiday Tree & Menorah lighting with the S’Mores Fire Circles, Dock Grade ornaments, Community Halloween Haunted House, wind surfing board signs promoting our community, Jewett Blvd. Flower Baskets and Sidewalk Gardens, and providing support for fundraising events of other local organizations.
These and many more enhancements are made possible by multiple small donations from local businesses and individuals, and by the tireless work of Community Partners volunteers contributing to making our communities more attractive, livable, engaged and proud.
Your heart knows what it wants. We know how to help you achieve it.
All in, for Klickitat County
WINDERMERE REAL ESTATE COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE THE DALLES 122 E 2nd St. HOOD RIVER 504 Cascade Ave HOOD RIVER 315 Oak St. CASCADE LOCKS 651 Wanapa WHITE SALMON 216 E Jewett BINGEN 106 W Steuben STEVENSON 220 SW Second St. PROPERTY MANAGEMENT 541-386-7368
Photo by Rob Radcliffe
Wine tasting at COR Cellars in Lyle, WA Photo credit: gorgewine.com
Surrounded BY HISTORY
There’s no good record of precisely which peoples first came to live in the Columbia River Gorge. Most archaeological evidence along the river dates no further than the end of the latest Ice Age, but the ice age concluded with dramatic floods that would have swept away any earlier traces. Tantalizing glimpses of early habitation - an ancient hearth, for instance - were discovered during construction of The Dalles Dam, and farther upstream near the mouth of the John Day River, buried under gravel deposits laid down by those floods. The last glacial flood came through about 12,800 years ago, so the buried hearth proves people have been here at least that long. But just who they were, how they came to be here and what became of them is lost to prehistory.
Much better documented are the people who later witnessed the arrival of the Lewis & Clark expedition. These comprised many different cultures, speaking different languages (indeed, the native languages of North America are greater in number and more diverse than the languages of any other continent). Between Celilo Falls upriver to Priest Rapids, there was a collection of peoples, not a single tribe so much as myriad autonomous groups, speaking the Sahaptin language. Their descendants now live on the Yakama, Umatilla and Warm Springs reservations. Downriver from Celilo were the Wasco-Wishrams, who spoke a Chinookan language. Each language had its subdivisions. Upper Chinook, for instance, is a series of separate languages and dialects ranging from the Oregon and Washington coasts to the middle Columbia River Gorge. There was a Cascades dialect separate from the Wasco-Wishrams, and subtle differences even between those two groupings. All these peoples shared the river in common, primarily because of the tremendous natural resource it provided in the annual salmon runs. The salmon were - and are - more than a food source; they’re a link between mankind and
creator, symbol of an ancient lifestyle maintained always close to the earth. The local Klickitat Tribe along the White Salmon and Klickitat Rivers were traders and travelers, connecting up tribes from the Plateaus with the Willamette Valley and coastal Salish tribes.
The Lewis & Clark expedition, commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson, firmly established a United States claim to the Pacific Northwest over its British rivals; the “Corps of Discovery” arrived at the Columbia Gorge in October 1805, overwintered at Fort Clatsop near Astoria, then retraced their steps the following spring. They encamped both years at the site of modern-day The Dalles. Two other important explorations into the Northwest were conducted by David Thompson in 1807-11, and by David Stuart in 1812. George B. McClellan surveyed a potential railroad route in 1853.
By the 1840s, the fur trade was in serious decline, and the economic engine that drove the region’s development turned to permanent settlement and land claims. Preceded by missionaries and military officers, a trickle of immigrants began to arrive in the early 1840s. This expanded dramatically in 1843, with 900 immigrants reaching the end of the overland Oregon Trail at The Dalles, followed by 1,100 in 1844 and 1,765 in 1845.
Industry would change, as the early fur trade was replaced by timber and wheat ranching. Salmon provided another industry, although this resource was soon depleted through overfishing and habitat loss. A similar fate overtook the timber industry, but not until the early 1990s. Highways came next, most notably the Columbia River Highway in the 1920s, with communities strung along them - towns such as Bingen, Lyle, Hood River, Stevenson and Cascade Locks, plus many others which have long since disappeared from the map.
The rapids of the Cascades, which long hindered upriver navigation, were tamed first with completion of a lockage at Cascade Locks in 1896, and later in 1938 with completion of Bonneville Dam. The dam inundated the old rapids, and a new lock allowed ocean-going freighters to reach the upper Columbia River. A newer, bigger lock opened in 1993. Farther upstream, the Celilo lock and canal opened in 1915; from The Dalles, it led upstream around the Long Narrows Rapids and Celilo Falls, replacing a portage railroad. Celilo Falls themselves were inundated in 1957 with construction of The Dalles Dam - a victory at the time for economic progress, but one purchased at heavy cost in terms of culture and scenic beauty. There is a wonderful podcast series by “Hear in the Gorge” giving a greater sense of place, particularly one called “Woody Guthrie and the Columbia River Songs“. They can be found at hearinthegorge.com.
The hydroelectric dams (Bonneville in 1937, The Dalles in 1957 and John Day in 1971) brought not only navigation and flood control but also a source of relatively cheap electricity, which fueled development of a new industry - aluminum smelting. Recent years however brought the closure of the aluminum smelting plant south of Goldendale.
Two key events for the Columbia Gorge came in the latter half of the 20th century: development of Interstate 84 (originally known as Interstate 80-N), replacing Highway 30 in the late 1950s and allowing the large-scale movement of truck traffic, and the 1986 passage by Congress of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The act has two purposes: to protect the region’s natural environment, and to encourage its local economies. Toward that end, Congress authorized a regional conference center - which would become Skamania Lodge at Stevenson - and a regional interpretive center, the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and Museum at The Dalles. The region’s long history and prehistory are displayed in museums throughout the Columbia Gorge, including our own local Gorge Heritage Museum in Bingen, and the Twin Bridges Museum in Lyle.
GEOGRAPHY
The county has a total area of 1,904 square miles, of which 1,871 square miles is land and 33 square miles (1.7%) is water. The Columbia River Gorge boasts an amazing array of geologic and Ice Age flood features to delight everyone from
the casual tourist to the most intensely-focused researcher. These features nestle in ecological zones ranging from snow-clad volcanic peaks to boreal rainforest, oak woodlands and high desert, all within a 50 mile wide swatch around the mighty Columbia River.
Ice Age Floods Institute – of Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana works to inform and educate the public about the humongous floods that repeatedly swept through and reshaped the interior Pacific Northwest landscape during the last ice age into the massive and beautiful coulees and gorges we cherish today. Learn more by visiting their website.
LOCATION
Klickitat County is located on the North bank of the Columbia River, in South Central Washington between Skamania County to the west, Benton County to the east, and Yakima to the north.
The most common access points are via a scenic drive on State Hwy 14, or by driving I-84 in Oregon and crossing at the HR toll bridge at Exit 64. However there are many other routes in and out of the area. Many of them are rustic forest roads, only accessible for a few months of the year, however Highway 97 south from Toppenish is a well traveled main highway that passes through Goldendale and joins Highway 14 at Maryhill. Here you can cross from Oregon over the Biggs Junction Bridge. From Goldendale there are paved roads west to Glenwood and Trout Lake, connecting to Highway 141 where you can travel south to Highway 14. A turn off the Glenwood Highway travels southwest connecting to Highway 142 through Klickitat to Lyle and Highway 14. Yet another road travels through Centerville to Lyle, and more roads head east to Bickleton and other towns in the east end of Klickitat County.
POPULATION
There are approximately 21,000 citizens living in Klickitat County.
ELEVATION
Bingen 131 ft White Salmon 623 ft Husum 413 ft Lyle 203 ft Trout Lake 1893 ft Glenwood 1900 ft Goldendale 1637 ft
ECONOMY
The economy of Klickitat County, WA is specialized in Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, Hunting; Utilities; and Construction.
The largest industries in Klickitat County, WA are Manufacturing, Construction, and Healthcare & Social Assistance.
HOUSING
Finding available housing can be a challenge in the Columbia River Gorge region. We encourage you to contact one of the local real estate professionals listed in this directory for more information and guidance.
TRANSPORTATION
Our communities are located along major transportation routes, including interstate highways, two railroad lines, and the Columbia River. One of the best features of Klickitat County is its paradoxical nature as both a remote, quiet getaway and an easy-to-access area not far from Portland. The Portland International Airport is about an hour from White Salmon. State High
way 14 runs parallel to the Columbia River from Vancouver all the way to Bingen and beyond, and is, without a doubt, one of the most scenic highways in the nation.
Winter weather can make driving conditions difficult, but Highway 14, on the sunny side of the Gorge, usually remains open and well-maintained. Always travel prepared for emergencies and delays.
Across the Columbia, Interstate 84 snakes along the river, just as Highway 14 does on the Washington side. White Salmon and Bingen are connected to Hood River, Oregon by an iconic, historic (yet narrow) toll bridge that spans the Columbia River.
The closest Greyhound Station is in Hood River, Oregon, across the Columbia River from Bingen. Amtrak operates out of Bingen and Wishram. Mount Adams Transportation Services is designed to enable Klickitat County residents who lack transportation resources to meet their basic needs. Gorge TransLink is an alliance of rural transportation providers offering public transportation services throughout the Mid-Columbia area to more distant destinations including Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington.
AIRPORT INFO
Columbia Gorge Regional Airport 45 Airport Way, Dallesport Wa 98617 509-767-0005
Ken Jernstedt Airfield 3608 Airport Dr, Hood River, OR 97031 (541) 386-1133
Portland International Airport 7000 NE Airport Way, Portland, OR 97218 (503) 460-4234
Klickitat
Business OVERVIEW
Klickitat County is a good place to do business and a wonderful place to live. The rural quality of life offering numerous outdoor recreational opportunities in a healthy, family oriented environment is a strong draw for many. We have strong schools throughout the county, a reasonable tax structure with no personal state income tax and are near to the Portland metro area, yet surrounded by year round scenic vistas.
While the economic history of the county includes sheep and cattle raising, wheat, orchards, timber and aluminum, Klickitat County now has three distinct economic regions. The western third of the county relies on advanced manufacturing and technology based industries, orchards and fruit packing and wood products. The eastern third is dominated by fruit & vegetable farming and an increasing number of world class wineries, as well as the Roosevelt regional landfill. The central third boasts the county seat: Goldendale, wind farms, the Maryhill Museum, windsurfing and kite boarding beaches, as well as the now shuttered aluminum smelter.
Recreation tourism brings visitors to all corners of Mt. Adams Country year round. We encourage them to spend dollars at the many small businesses along their route and to stay longer than they planned.
Major INDUSTRIES
The Port of Klickitat Established in 1945, the Port has been a cornerstone of transportation and economic development in the Columbia Gorge for over 60 years. To companies of all sizes, we offer access to commercial and industrial facilities, shovel-ready property, modern communications facilities, and road, rail, and river transportation. To our constituents, we provide marine-based recreation facilities and manage environmentally sensitive areas for the benefit of all.
Insitu, a non-fully integrated subsidiary of The Boeing Company, is an integrated information and technology company, pioneering in the design, development, production, and operation of high-performance, cost-effective unmanned aircraft systems that have logged more than 1 million operational flight hours over land and at sea. We exist to pioneer and innovate products and services that positively impact people’s lives and change the course of history. To reach our full potential as a business, we imagine and create much more than products with wings. On
a daily basis, our Vision and Mission guide us, while our cultural pillars — Pioneer | Perform | Unite | Care — inform our decisions in all that we do, and aspire to do.
We are growing and looking for qualified applicants to join us in Bingen, Hood River and beyond. To learn more, go to https://insitu.com/ about/careers.
SDS Lumber Wally Stevenson, Frank Daubenspeck, and Bruce Stevenson founded SDS Lumber Company in 1946, and Stevenson Land Company in 1990. SDS Lumber Company manufactures lumber, plywood, power and pulp for a variety of markets. Stevenson Land Company is focused on managing approximately 70,000 acres of timberland in the mid-Columbia gorge. These two companies work in partnership to grow high-quality timber and manufacture high-quality lumber products. SDS Lumber Company’s mill site is fully integrated including full maintenance, engineering and construction capability. This structure provides constant innovation and improvement to our manufacturing processes For over 60 years, SDS Lumber Company has focused on excellence in both wood production and customer service. Our timber comes from various sources, all of which is grown on the eastern side of the Cascade Mountains, where trees grow slower with finer grains ideal for high grade lumber and plywood. To ensure quality, SDS oversees production every step of the way, from harvesting the raw material to packaging and shipping the finished product. Once logs reach the mill, we rely on our competent work force and state of the art technology and equipment to produce the finest wood products available. Our commitment to the long- term health of our business continues to ensure our success; we utilize technology to enhance production and minimize waste, and recycle every ounce of our raw material, including the bark which fuels our biomass plant and manufacturing facilities. With our convenient location on the Columbia River, SDS’ diversified operations include a marine division providing tugboat services.
Innovative Composite Engineering Our diverse product portfolio consists of carbon fiber tubing and hollow shapes, compression molded, bladder molded, as well as some specialty products. Since 1989, ICE has been a United States based company accomplishing all volume manufacturing, design and prototyping programs in house. This allows us to reach the highest level of security, quality and confidentiality throughout the life of our projects, with the end result being complete satisfaction of our clients and a secure workplace for our employees. The vision of ICE was to apply advanced composite technology from the aerospace industry to the design and manufacture of industrial and consumer products. We have experience in many different, specialized manufacturing processes for composites. We often have entry level positions available in our exciting, challenging and rewarding workplace. We strive to work with our employees so they can experience growth personally as well as professionally. For more info, visit http://www. innovativecomposite.com/employment/
Mount Adams Fruit - We are the apple and pear packers and shippers of choice for 55 growers. Farming 90 orchard properties with fertile volcanic soils between Mt. Adams and Mt. Hood in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge, in the rain shadow of Washington’s and Oregon’s Cascade Range. Our unique environment is enhanced by our growers’ total commitment to Global Gap standards, sustaining the clear mountain irrigation waters, and fertile land, and the welfare of
our farm and warehouse workers.
Underwood Fruit was formed in 1917 by seven local growers to supply their farms with production and packing materials and to provide a railroad shipping point for moving their farm packed product east. One of those growers was Mt. Adams Farms, a 300 acre pear orchard planted in 1910. That orchard, now under the same ownership as Mount Adams Fruit, has expanded that farm to 750 acres of pears, Honeycrisp apples and cherries. Mount Adams Fruit began in 1957 packing cherries from the Hood River-White Salmon district as well as from The Dalles, Oregon. In 2019, they began utilizing a newly built building replacing the units lost in a 2017 fire.
LABOR FORCE FACTS
Over the past 25 years, unemployment in Klickitat County has slowly trended lower, as the county economy has become less dependent on resource-based jobs that tend to have large seasonal and cyclical patterns. Major trends and events over the last 20 years include: • The expansion of agriculture throughout the county, but especially in vegetable farming and vineyards in east Klickitat County and fruit orchards in the western portion. • The closure of the aluminum smelter in
Goldendale in 2001. • The development of the regional landfill at Roosevelt in 1992 and its subsequent expansion. • The establishment of Insitu, a designer and fabricator of unmanned aerial vehicles, in Bingen, along with a number of its suppliers setting up shop here as well. New projects on the east end of the county are anticipated to create many new jobs for a number of years to come. These include the J.W. Hill Renewable Natural Gas Project, a solar panel installation and the proposed
GOVERNMENT
Klickitat county has three incorporated cities; White Salmon, Bingen, and Goldendale (county seat). Underwood, Husum, Trout Lake, Glenwood, Klickitat, Appleton, Snowden, and Lyle are some of the unincorporated communities in western Klickitat County.
The county is governed by a board of commission
ers, while the cities of White Salmon, Bingen, and Goldendale each have city councils and a mayor.
The Port of Klickitat owns and leases commercial and industrial facilities at two business/industrial parks in the Columbia Gorge/Mid-Columbia region of Washington State. The Bingen Point Business Park is located near Bingen, Washington, just across the Columbia River from Hood River, Oregon, and is zoned for commercial and light industrial use. The Dallesport Industrial Park is located in Dallesport, Washington, just across the Columbia River from The Dalles, Oregon, and is zoned for light and heavy industrial use.
Klickitat County is located within Legislative District 14 of Washington State.
FIRE, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EMERGENCY SERVICES
Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office 509-493-1811 Bingen-White Salmon Police Department 509-493-1177 Inter-Tribal Police 541-386-6363 Klickitat County Jail 509-773-3666 Skamania County Jail 509-427-5047 Bingen Fire Department 509-493-2122 White Salmon Fire Department 509-493-1177 Husum, Klickitat County Fire District 3 (also Snowden area) 509-493-2996 Trout Lake, Klickitat County Fire District 509-395-2043 Glenwood, Klickitat County Fire Protection District 8 Appleton, Klickitat County Fire District 13 - 509-365-3185 Lyle Fire Department 509-365-2500 Dallesport, Klickitat County Fire District 6 - 509-767-1252 Goldendale, Klickitat County Rural 7 Fire and Rescue 509-773-4246 Centerville, Klickitat County Fire Protection District 5 - 509-773-1919 Bickleton, Klickitat County Fire Protection District 2 – 509-896-5445
Schools & EDUCATION
The White Salmon Valley School District is a rural P-12 school district. Our district serves approximately 1280 students. Our schools include a Preschool, K-3 elementary school, 4-6 intermediate school, 7-8 Middle School, 9-12 high school, and an alternative high school.
We have a very dedicated staff of teachers, para-educators, administrators, and other district staff that are committed to providing a quality and equitable education for each of our students. Our students have the opportunity to receive a well-rounded educational experience that includes academics, art, music, Career and Technical Education (CTE), extra-curricular activities, and after school programming.
Our district is grateful for the support we receive from our school board, parents, and the community. We truly believe that by working together, we can create a school district and educational experience for our students that we can all be proud of.
DISTRICT SCHOOLS Early Childhood & Family Center
520 NW Loop Rd, White Salmon, WA 98672 509-493-4224
Whitson Elementary School
450 N. Main St, White Salmon, WA 98672 509-493-1560
Wallace & Priscilla Stevenson Intermediate School
480 NW Loop Rd, White Salmon, WA 98672 509-493-4028
Henkle Middle School
480 NW Loop Rd, White Salmon, WA 98672 509-493-1502
Columbia High School
1455 NW Bruin Country Rd White Salmon, WA 98672 509-493-1970 Lyle School District serves the residents of Lyle, Dallesport, Appleton, High Prairie, Timber Valley, Murdock and the surrounding areas. Lyle School District offers a K-12 educational system for approximately 300 students throughout the school district.
Dallesport Elementary
625 Keasey Ave, Lyle, WA. 98635 509-365-2211
Lyle Secondary School (Lyle Middle School and Lyle High School)
625 Keasey Ave, Lyle, WA. 98635 509-365-2211
Trout Lake School District serves approximately 245 students in grades K-12. While enjoying the benefits of a small school, teachers consistently challenge students to meet and exceed state academic standards. The Trout Lake staff share a unified vision and work hard to meet the individual needs of each student. Located about 80 miles from Portland, Oregon at the base of 12,230 ft tall Mount Adams, Trout Lake residents enjoy a community-centered way of life.
Trout Lake School District
2310 Highway 141, Trout Lake WA. 98650 509-395-2571
Glenwood School District serves approximately 70 students K-12. The district’s small class sizes, supportive community members, strong fiscal position and spectacular natural setting translate to boundless opportunities for these students.
The district has 24 employees, an annual operating budget of $2.3 million, and excellent fiscal health due to sound budget management and consistent levy support from the Glenwood residents. All grades attend an attractive school facility constructed in 1982. Students at the elementary level are educated in multi-grade classrooms. Middle and high school students are currently on a seven-period day.
Students enjoy the many benefits of today’s best computers and software, as well as opportunities provided by several vocational classes, robotics and online courses. Athletic and extra-curricular activities are offered either in-district or in cooperation with larger neighboring districts. The district belongs to the Educational Service District 112, which includes a Special Education Cooperative that attends to the district’s students with special needs.
shop facilities to enable increased vocational-education offerings, courses connecting students with the area’s natural resources, and revitalization of the high school’s varsity basketball program.
Glenwood School District #401
320 N. Bunnell St, Glenwood, WA 509-364-3438 Mill A is a rural single school district surrounded by national forests, mountains, and crystal clear rivers. The nearest towns are Stevenson to the west and White Salmon to the east.
The facility is a single building, with 3 classrooms, a cafeteria, library and gym that are well maintained for use by both students and community.
Mill A School currently serves 24 students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Kindergarten is all day. Both our reading and math curriculum are based upon the Common Core State Standards. Science is taught using FOSS kits, which offer hands-on exploration of numerous subjects, such as sound, anatomy, electricity, and magnetism. Teachers provide art instruction in the classroom.
High school students attend Stevenson High School in the Stevenson-Carson School District or Columbia High School in the White Salmon Valley School District. Transportation to and from Stevenson High School is provided by Mill A. Transportation to and from Columbia High School is provided by White Salmon Valley School District
In 2015, community residents became aware of an opportunity for non-high school districts to create an in-district high school option for local students. Over the next nine months, a team of volunteers worked together to research, dream, and design a 21st century model high school program. In 2016, these volunteers presented their proposal to the Mill A School Board. The Mill A School District and a neighboring non-high district, Mount Pleasant School District, agreed to join this audacious plan. Together, the districts filed an application to create Pacific Crest Innovation Academy, and in February 2017 they received approval from the State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. During the summer of 2017, instructors were selected for the various PCIA courses, and the first year of study at PCIA began on August 30, 2017.
Mill A Elementary
1142 Jessup Rd, Cook, WA. 98605 509-538-2522
Pacific Crest Innovation Academy
1142 Jessup Rd, Cook, WA. 98605 509-538-2700
PRIVATE EDUCATION
Horizon Christian School, with around 200 students, pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, located in Hood River, serves the entire Columbia Gorge area and is regionally accredited through AdvanceEd.
Academic excellence at Horizon is accomplished through low teacher-student ratios and individualized attention to help students achieve their goals. Horizon teachers and staff are committed to creating a Godly, caring, and safe learning environment; therefore, we believe relationships are key: student/parent/teacher.
Students participate in a full range of classes and activities including Advanced Placement and college-level classes, field trips, retreats, mentoring, fine arts, service projects, and extracurricular activities all of which provide a rounded and rich curriculum. The Hawks soccer, volleyball, bas
CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
The largest provider of private education in the Gorge!
Academic Excellence Biblical Worldview Character Development Music, Art, Sports Regionally Accredited Pre-K through 12th
Higher Education
Washington State University Klickitat County Extension connects the people of Klickitat County to the research and knowledge base of the state’s land grant research university, providing solutions to local problems and stimulating local economies. Our county-based educators work with partners in the local communities to provide educational programs and leverage the broad resources of a major university to resolve issues and create a positive future for the residents of Klickitat County.
Our local programs include 4-H Youth & Families and the beginnings of a Master Food Preserver program. In addition, Washington State University provides over 2,200 publications, numerous online educational opportunities, and other statewide educational programs and technical assistance from four Research and Extension Centers, 15 Academic Departments and six of WSU’s Academic Colleges.
Examples of services available; Pressure Gauge Testing ($5.00), Insect Identification, Livestock Resources, Plant Identification, Plant Problem Diagnosis, and Small Farms Resources just to name a few.
Our main office is located in Goldendale at 228 W. Main Street. In the near future we will have access to a drop box in White Salmon at the Pioneer Center 500 NE Washington Street.
Columbia Gorge Community College - CGCC
“builds dreams and transforms lives by providing lifelong educational programs that strengthen the community.” CGCC offers associate degrees, certificates, and transfer opportunities to fouryear institutions. The college serves over 6,000 students in a supportive environment with two campuses: The Dalles and Hood River. Their Renewable Energy Technology Program was the first of its kind on the West Coast. The Nursing and Health Occupations Program has trained hundreds of nurses and medical technicians. Through its Gorge Scholar Program, CGCC provides an opportunity for local high school graduates to attend CGCC for free, for up to two years. The college also provides workforce training, business counseling, childcare resource and referral services, maintains a commercial kitchen and offers adult continuing education courses that promote lifelong learning and skills development.
Medical Centers & HEALTH PROVIDERS
The area has numerous family medicine care centers serving the community, attracting top-quality providers who come to the Columbia Gorge seeking the idyllic lifestyle and sense of community offered here. A wide range of specialists are available throughout the Gorge region, including dermatologists, eye doctors, Ob/Gyn, podiatrists, and sports medicine physicians, to name a few.
Skyline Health, located in White Salmon, Wash., is a full-service Critical Access Hospital, offering advanced medical technology and specialty care, delivered with a personal touch. The Critical Access Hospital program relieves the financial burden placed upon small rural hospitals. Critical Access Hospitals are allowed more flexibility with federal rules and regulations and are eligible for higher level of reimbursement from the Medicare and Medicaid programs without increasing out-of-pocket costs for patients. Skyline Hospital hopes to make it easier for area residents to find a local primary care provider through the establishment of Skyline Medical Clinic. The clinic functions as a patient-centered medical home, which – through collaboration with other health care providers – takes a person’s whole health into consideration.
Northshore Medical Group has been providing neighborly healthcare since 1974, with a dedicated team of local healthcare providers who have been helping individuals and families achieve good health and wellness throughout their lifetimes. We are a community-based practice serving all of the residents of the Columbia River Gorge regions in both Washington and Oregon. As family practice providers, we receive additional professional training in internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, surgery, orthopedics and psychiatry. This broad training enables us to address more than 90% of the medical issues you or your family might encounter. We are also trained to identify medical needs that may require the care of a specialist. As independent healthcare providers, we are uniquely positioned to help you understand all of the options available, and to personally advise you in choosing the best treatment path based on your individual needs. Locations in both White Salmon and Stevenson to better serve you.
White Salmon Family Practice offers another other option for personalized medical care in Klickitat County.
Within easy access there are two other hospitals across the river, while many more state-of-theart hospitals and specialist services are located in Portland, just an hour away. Oregon Health and Science University has its main campus and two hospitals in Portland, and is an award-winning research and health care provider in close proximity to Gorge residents.
Dentistry is also a thriving specialty in the Gorge, with dozens of providers and specialists, including endodontics, denturists, and orthodontics.
Stamp the Earth Labyrinth
Northshore Medical Group Bingen, WA
Klickitat County’s residents are community-oriented, which is why the area is home to a multitude of community resources, service clubs, and non-profit entities offering volunteer opportunities, and numerous options for community involvement. Your Chamber has several volunteer needs available now. Please call us! in need, protecting our environment, philanthropic fund-raising, and serving the community’s diverse population.
COMMUNITY RESOURCES & FELLOWSHIP
A notable and widely-used community resource in the county is the White Salmon Valley Community Library, which is a branch of the Ft. Vancouver Regional Library System. The White Salmon Library proudly offers robust resources such as meeting spaces, exam proctoring, and technology access. The FVRL Book-Mobile is a critical connection for many of the rural citizens, bringing resources to them.
Pediatric specialists in both health care and dentistry are also available, along with free and income-based health clinics.
Alternative and complementary health practices are also widely utilized by county residents, and the numerous small businesses that provide a variety of healthcare needs and treatments are a testament to this. The Columbia Gorge offers naturopathic physicians, acupuncturists, chiropractors, massage therapists and natural healers. Many physical therapists practice at a handful of clinics, aiding recovery from injuries or surgery.
There are a multitude of mental health providers with degrees in psychology, psychiatry, counseling, and social work to support residents with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, stress, behavioral issues, or addiction.
Residents value a quality of life hard to find anywhere else in the country, and their attentiveness to personal and community health is a large part of this lifestyle. With a close tie to the land, residents encourage one another to stay physically fit in the numerous gyms, yoga and fitness studios, as well as regular workouts in our outdoor gym: the Gorge. Along with the health food stores available, many locally-sourced, organic, and health-conscious eateries and grocers are also at the disposal of residents who seek such amenities. A strong Farmer’s Market network is an important aspect to connecting citizens to fresh produce and healthy options. A well run community food bank program ensures that even those financially restricted citizens have access to healthy, fresh foods.
The communities within Klickitat County are resplendent with many worship and spiritual centers, with many denominations represented in dozens of churches. Whatever your faith, Klickitat County’s many religious organizations are all welcoming visitors and new members.
