Dartford, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dartford
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 Dartford
Location in Washington (state)
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Spokane |
| Elevation | 1,617 ft (493 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP codes |
99208
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| GNIS feature ID | 1512136 |
Dartford is a small place in Spokane County, Washington. It's called an unincorporated community, which means it's a settlement that isn't officially a city or town. Dartford is located along Dartford Creek and the Little Spokane River, just north of the city of Spokane.
Contents
History of Dartford
Dartford got its name from Herbert Dart. He was the local postmaster, meaning he was in charge of the post office there. The post office opened in 1898 and closed in 1906.
Early Settlers and the Mill
Brothers Herb and Lafayette Dart arrived in the area in 1879. In 1883, they built a mill in Dartford. A mill is like a factory that processes raw materials. Their mill was used until 1922 and was taken down in 1943. Today, only a small part of its foundation and a wall remain.
The youth organization Camp Fire now runs a camp called Camp Dart-Lo. This 51-acre camp is located in Dartford and includes the site where the old mill once stood.
Dartford Cemetery
The Dartford Cemetery was started in 1896. This happened after a pioneer, an early settler, passed away. As of 2015, 144 people have been buried in this cemetery.
Life in Early Dartford
Besides the Dart brothers' mill, early Dartford had many other important places. There was a general store, another sawmill, a post office, and a schoolhouse. It also had a stable for horses, a factory that made fuel bricks, and lumberyards.
Today, Dartford is mostly made up of single-family homes. One well-known business is Commellini's Restaurant. It's a family-owned place on the 100-acre (0.40 km2) Commellini Estate.
The Commellini Estate was bought by Albert Commellini in 1939. Albert and his sister Leta came from Italy in 1907. They became important people in the Spokane area. They owned a business and a popular place called the Ambassador Club. This club was a fancy spot for dancing, dining, and movies.
Albert turned a barn on the estate into a dance floor. He also helped get a bus stop put in at Commellini Junction. This made the business very popular with important people in the community. The restaurant even hosted a meeting between representatives from the United States and the Soviet Union before Expo '74. Today, it's a popular place for weddings.
Geography of Dartford
Dartford is located north of Fairwood. Fairwood is a suburban area just north of Spokane. Dartford sits in a valley where Dartford Creek meets the Little Spokane River.
Rivers and Flooding
Because Dartford is in a valley with two bodies of water, it can sometimes flood. This happens especially in springtime after a winter with a lot of snow.
Roads and Connection
Dartford Drive and Hazard Road are the main roads that lead into Dartford. Even though there are only a few roads, Dartford is still well connected to the rest of the Spokane area. U.S. Route 395, a major road, passes close by.
Dartford is less than a mile from Spokane's suburban areas. However, it feels isolated and natural. This is because it's surrounded by steep hills cut by Dartford Creek and the Little Spokane River.
Education
Children in Dartford attend schools in the Mead School District.
