Chewelah, Washington facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chewelah
City
Chewelah, Washington
Main Avenue in Downtown Chewelah, 2018
Location of Chewelah, Washington
Chewelah Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	Washington
County	Stevens
Area
• Total	2.95 sq mi (7.65 km2)
• Land	2.95 sq mi (7.65 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	1,667 ft (508 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	2,607
• Estimate  (2019)	2,676
• Density	906.20/sq mi (349.84/km2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code	99109
Area code	509
FIPS code	53-12140
GNIS feature ID	1517676

Chewelah ( chə-WEE-lə) is a city in Stevens County, Washington, United States. It is located approximately 45 mi (72 km) northwest of Spokane. The population was 2,607 at the 2010 census, a 19.3% increase from 2000.

History

The name of the town comes from a Kalispel word, sč̓ewíleʔ, meaning "watersnake" or "gartersnake". Alice Sherwood Abrahamson stated that "The name Chewelah comes from the Indian word "S che wee leh", meaning water or garter snake. There was a spring in what is now the southwest end of Chewelah. The old McCreas lived there, and their homestead was called "Sche wee leh ee" for the spring bubbled up there. The motion of the water gave the illusion of snakes moving about in the water." Prior to colonization by European-Americans, Chewelah was home to a band of the Kalispel people. The band was known as the slet̓éw̓si, meaning "valley people". Originally, the area was called Fool's Prairie, after the Kalispel Indian who left his own tribe because of a dispute. Chewelah and the rest of the Colville River Valley were part of the Colville Indian Reservation from April 9, 1872, when the reservation was created, until July 2, 1872, when a subsequent executive order reduced the size of the reservation. The Chewelah Band of Indians is currently part of the Spokane Tribe.

Thomas and Mary Brown moved to the Fool's Prairie in 1859. On May 8, 1872, Thomas Brown received authority to establish a post office named Chewelah. The name was first used in Stevens County Commissioner Journals on May 6, 1872. That post office disbanded in February 23, 1875. In 1879, the post office was reestablished with Major John Simms, Indian Agent, as postmaster. Chewelah was officially incorporated on February 4, 1903.

Chewelah is a town of firsts in Stevens County. It had the first Protestant Congregational Church in 1891, the first school in 1869, the Spokane Falls and Northern Railroad arrived in 1889, a Catholic church was established in 1885, and the first county newspaper was founded in July 1885.

Initially Chewelah was a typical pioneer settlement, being an agricultural center as far back as the early 1870s and having its share of prospectors working the adjacent countryside as early as 1842. The town was platted in 1884 and became known for being a rough and tumble mining town; the first lead and silver mines were established around 1886, and others followed in Embry and surrounding areas.

By 1905 the population had reached 650 souls, and within a few years many prosperous copper, silver, lead, and a few gold mines were flourishing in the area. The most successful ore mined in Chewelah was magnesite. This mineral was used for making bricks and furnace linings that could withstand high temperatures. Magnesite was also an important ingredient for making high-quality steel that was in high demand during World War I. Austria had previously been the main provider of magnesite for the country, but production was interrupted by the War. By 1916 Chewelah's plant was said to be the largest producer of magnesite in the country, and at full production was the largest producer in the world, shipping some 700 tons daily. During the war there were as many as 800 people working at the plant making high temperature-resistant refractory brick.

By 1920 Chewelah's population had grown to 1,600 people and continued to prosper until the late 1960s. In 1968 the magnesite plant closed down due to cheaper competition from Japan and changes in the steel industry. Despite this major change, Chewelah survived the transition from being a "one-company town," and today Chewelah has several thousand residents and displays a pleasant blend of the past and future. With its moderate climate, dry land, and irrigated farming, ranching and dairy farming continue to be mainstays. Chewelah's diversified economy also includes a ski area and golf course, among other industries.

Geography

Beehive kiln along U.S. 395
in 1999

Chewelah is located at 48°16′50″N 117°43′23″W / 48.28056°N 117.72306°W / 48.28056; -117.72306 (48.280442, -117.722927).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.98 square miles (7.72 km²), all land.

Climate

This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Chewelah has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.

Demographics

St. Mary of the Rosary Catholic church

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 2,607 people, 1,150 households, and 690 families residing in the city. The population density was 874.8 inhabitants per square mile (337.8/km²). There were 1,284 housing units at an average density of 430.9 per square mile (166.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.1% White, 0.2% African American, 1.7% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.7% from other races, and 3.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.8% of the population.

There were 1,150 households, of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.0% were non-families. 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.85.

The median age in the city was 45.2 years. 23% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.2% were from 25 to 44; 25.7% were from 45 to 64; and 24.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.6% male and 53.4% female.

Attractions

• Chewelah Casino, run by the Spokane Indian Tribe
• 49 Degrees North Ski Area, ten miles (16 km) east
• Chewelah Golf and Country Club 27-hole course
• Melody Riders Saddle Club
• Northern Meadows 4-H Club
• StageTime Theatre School
• Chewelah City Park
• Waitts Lake resort
• Chewelah Boy Scout Troop 998
• Chewelah Cub Scout Pack 998
• Chewelah Girl Scout 2236

Education

• Chewelah School District

Notable people

• David P. Jenkins – American Civil War cavalry officer and postbellum philanthropist
• John R. Monaghan – U.S. naval officer killed in action during the Second Samoan Civil War
• Allen Stone – soul musician

Images for kids

• 

  The start of the 2019 Chataqua parade in downtown Chewelah

See also

In Spanish: Chewelah (Washington) para niños