Almota, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Almota, Washington
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Looking north towards Almota, c.1880
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 Almota, Washington
Location in Washington (state)
Almota, Washington
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Whitman |
| Established | 1878 |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
Almota is a place in Whitman County, Washington. It is known as a ghost town. This means it was once a busy town, but now it is mostly empty.
Almota's First Residents
Long ago, the Almota area was home to the Almotipu people. They were a group from the Nez Perce tribe. They lived in several villages along the south shore of the Snake River. One of their villages was called Alamotin. This name means "The Soaring Flame" in the Nez Perce language.
The famous explorers Lewis and Clark traveled through this area. They camped near Almota Creek on October 11, 1805. However, the exact spot where they camped has not been found.
The Rise and Fall of Almota
Almota was first planned as a town in the late 1870s. This happened after some fast-moving parts of the Snake River were cleared. This clearing allowed boats to travel easily. Boats could then reach the farmers who grew wheat in the Palouse region.
The community got its name from Almota Creek. This creek flows into the Snake River at the town's location. Almota quickly became an important port. It was used to ship wheat from the region. It was also a place where people could cross the river by ferry.
A post office opened in Almota in 1878. It stayed open until 1961. By 1917, a railroad line also reached Almota. This line was part of the Oregon–Washington Railroad and Navigation Company. Today, this railroad is part of the Great Northwest Railroad. It connects the Tri-Cities to Lewiston, Idaho.
Between 1963 and 1970, the Little Goose Dam was built. This dam caused the Snake River to rise. The rising water flooded what was left of the original village of Almota.
Today, you won't find many buildings in Almota. The main thing there is a large grain shipping terminal. This terminal is operated by the Almota Elevator Co. It was built on new land created over the old townsite.
