Cora, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cora, Washington
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Former community, locale
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 Cora, Washington
Location in Washington (state)
Cora, Washington
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Lewis |
| Established | 1888 |
| Elevation | 948 ft (289 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| zip code |
98377
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| Area code(s) | 360 |
Cora was once a small farming community in Lewis County, Washington, United States. Today, it is known as a geographic locale, which means it's a specific place without its own government. You can find Cora off U.S. Route 12, right by the Cowlitz River. It's located between the towns of Randle and Packwood.
Contents
History of Cora
Cora was started around 1886 or 1888 by Levi A. Davis. He was the son of the person who founded Claquato. Cora was likely named after either Levi's wife, Cora Davis, or his niece, Cora M. Ferguson Patterson.
When Cora was first settled, it was quite far from other towns. People had to bring supplies in by walking on trails. Levi Davis passed away in 1901.
In 1906, a big part of the Davis family's land was sold to the Chicago and North Western railroad. The railroad planned to turn the area into a town and a main spot for their trains. There were some legal disagreements about who owned coal lands near Cora around 1906 and 1907. These disagreements even went all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States.
Cora Ferry and Bridge
Cora is located near the Cowlitz River. The first flood recorded in the community happened in 1896. In 1905, the town started a cable ferry service across the Cowlitz River. This ferry was called the Cora Ferry.
People would bid each year to operate the ferry. In 1913, the ferry's landing spot in Cora was moved, and a new system was built. A ferry accident happened in 1915, which was a very sad event. The ferry service stopped the next year when the Cora Bridge was finished.
Community Life
During World War I, a Red Cross group was started in Cora in 1918 to help with the war effort. By the 1920s, Cora was growing. It had a grange, which is a community organization for farmers.
The grange hall was a busy place, hosting many events and dances. In 1923, the grange building became a community hall. This helped Cora host a large meeting for grange members from the whole region that same year.
Cora's Post Office
Cora had its own post office, which opened on June 11, 1890. It stayed open until November 30, 1908. Only members of the Davis family ran the post office during its time. It closed because no one else in the community wanted to be the postmaster.
Geography and Nature
Cora shares its name with a nearby waterfall called Cora Falls. This waterfall is close to the Nisqually Entrance of Mount Rainier National Park. The water for Cora Falls comes from Cora Lake.
Education in Cora
Cora had a school as early as 1903. The first school building was made of logs. In 1915, a new one-room schoolhouse was built for about $500. This new school was located between Cora and Lewis, which is now known as Packwood. The newer schoolhouse even held summer classes. It was still standing in 1953.
Infrastructure and Roads
In February 1899, the Washington House of Representatives discussed a plan for a state road. This road would go from Cora, or Sulphur Springs (which is now Packwood), through the Cowlitz Pass to Cowiche. However, the plan was put on hold later that month. Around the early 1900s, train tracks were also being built near Cora.
The Cora Bridge, which crosses the Cowlitz River, was first built in 1915. In 1925, major improvements were made to the roads in the area. These improvements connected the community of Cora to the town of Randle.
