Chaffee, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chaffee, Washington
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Benton |
| Elevation | 584 ft (178 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
99320
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| Area code(s) | 509 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1510869 |
Chaffee is a small, quiet place in Washington state. It's not a city or town with its own government. Instead, it's called an "unincorporated community." This means it's a group of homes and buildings without a formal local government. Chaffee is found in Benton County, right in the United States.
Contents
Where is Chaffee?
Chaffee is located about five miles west of Benton City. You can find it on the north bank of the Yakima River. The Yakima River is an important waterway in Washington. It flows through many parts of the state.
A Bit of History
How Chaffee Started
Chaffee began as a "siding" on the Oregon-Washington railroad. A siding is like a short extra track next to the main railroad line. Trains could use sidings to let other trains pass or to load and unload goods. This made Chaffee a useful stop along the railway.
Who Was Chaffee Named After?
The community of Chaffee was named after a man named Stephen E. Chaffee. He was an attorney, which means he was a lawyer. Stephen E. Chaffee owned land in the area where the community grew. Naming places after important landowners was a common practice back then.
The Post Office
For a short time, Chaffee even had its own post office! It opened in October 1924. People living in Chaffee could send and receive their mail right there. However, the post office closed just two years later, in December 1926.
