Alpha, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alpha, Washington
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 Alpha, Washington
Location in Washington (state)
Alpha, Washington
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Lewis |
| Elevation | 751 ft (229 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
98570
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| Area code(s) | 360 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1515823 |
Alpha is a small, quiet place in Lewis County, Washington. It's known as an unincorporated community. This means it's a group of homes and businesses that isn't officially a city or town. It doesn't have its own local government. Instead, it's part of the larger county area. Alpha is located right next to Washington State Route 508. It sits between two other communities: Cinebar to the east and Onalaska to the west.
Contents
Alpha's History and Name
Alpha has a long history, even though it's a small community. It once had its own post office. This post office served the area from 1890 until 1954.
Why Alpha Isn't a "Census Designated Place"
The U.S. Census Bureau has a special program. It helps count people in areas that are not official cities. These areas are called "Census Designated Places" (CDPs). Alpha is a rural area. It does not have many homes close together. Because of this, it did not meet the rules to be a CDP. However, Alpha does appear on the Mayfield Lake U.S. Geological Survey Map.
How Alpha Got Its Name
The area where Alpha is located has had a few different names over time. It was once called Alpha Prairie. Other names included Shoestring and Tilton. The name "Alpha" was chosen later. It might have been named by a local postmaster. They may have picked it after the first letter of the Greek alphabet. Another idea is that a settler named Harold Hanson chose the name.
See also
In Spanish: Alpha (Washington) para niños
