Boistfort, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Boistfort, Washington
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 Boistfort, Washington
Location in Washington (state)
Boistfort, Washington
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Lewis |
| Elevation | 285 ft (87 m) |
| Population
(2019)
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| • Total | around 300 |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| zip code |
98532
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| Area code(s) | 360 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1510831 |
Boistfort is a small community in Lewis County, Washington, in the northwest United States. It's about 20 miles southwest of Chehalis. The first school in Boistfort opened in 1853. This was the very first school district in Lewis County and even in the Washington Territory!
Contents
History of Boistfort
A post office was set up in the Boistfort area in 1857. The community was first called Baw Faw Prairie. Later, its name was changed to Boisfort, and then officially to Boistfort. This name means "strong wood" or "heavy forest." It can also mean "small valley surrounded by green hills." The community got its name from the nearby Boistfort Prairie (Valley).
Early Life in Boistfort
By 1900, Boistfort was a busy place. It had a store where people could buy supplies. There was also a barber shop, a church, and a blacksmith shop. People gathered at a meeting hall for events. Boistfort High School was built in 1912. It served the community for many years before closing in 1976.
Famous People and Places
Boistfort was once home to large fields of hops. These fields were owned by Herman Klaber. He had a big house, which is now known as the Boistfort Mansion. After he passed away in 1912, his hop fields were closed.
A very famous test pilot named Scott Crossfield lived in Boistfort when he was a teenager. He graduated from Boistfort High School in 1939. Scott Crossfield made history in 1953. He was the first person to fly at twice the speed of sound! He also flew the first flights of the North American X-15 jet in 1959.
Community Infrastructure
Stillman Creek flows west of Boistfort's center. It eventually joins the South Fork Chehalis River. This creek is important for fish like salmon. It also supports many plants.
Stillman Creek Restoration
Over time, Stillman Creek faced problems. The water became warmer, and erosion occurred. This harmed the homes for salmon and plants. Flooding, especially in 2007, also changed the creek's path.
To fix these issues, the Stillman Creek Restoration Project began in 2018. This big project cost $8.5 million and lasted four years. Different government groups and local landowners worked together. Their goal was to make the creek healthy again. They slowed down the water flow to stop erosion. They also brought back the natural floodplain and water path. The project restored about 2 miles of creek habitat. They also planted native plants over 45 acres.
Flood Control Efforts
After major floods in 2007, some people suggested building a dam near Boistfort. This idea was meant to help control future floods. However, the Boistfort dam was never built. The Chehalis River Basin Strategy program continued to look at other flood control ideas. This included a proposed dam near Pe Ell.
See also
In Spanish: Boistfort (Washington) para niños
