Dryden, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dryden, Washington
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 Dryden, Washington
Location in Washington (state)
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Chelan |
| Elevation | 968 ft (295 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 519 |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
98821
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| Area code(s) | 509 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1518980 |
Dryden is a small, unincorporated community in Chelan County, Washington, United States. It is located along the Wenatchee River in the fertile Wenatchee Valley. You can find it between the towns of Cashmere and Leavenworth. This community is important for local farms and orchards. It serves as a place where they can get supplies and ship their produce.
Dryden is part of the Wenatchee–East Wenatchee Metropolitan Statistical Area. This means it's connected to the larger cities of Wenatchee and East Wenatchee.
The USPS ZIP Code for Dryden is 98821. In 2010, about 519 people lived in the area covered by the Dryden ZIP code. Dryden itself is not an official city or town. Because of this, the Census does not track its population separately.
History of Dryden
The area that is now Dryden was once called Pine Flat. Local ranchers gave it this name because of the many large pine trees. In the 1890s, these trees were cut down. They were floated down the Wenatchee River to be milled. This left the land open and dry.
In 1892, the Great Northern Railway built its main line through the valley. However, no town or station was built in Dryden at that time. The railroad simply named the area "Dryden." This was to honor John Dryden, a Canadian expert in growing plants and a Minister of Agriculture. He had toured with the Great Northern Railway president, James J. Hill.
Native American homesteaders Dan and Topen Nason were the first to see value in the undeveloped area. They claimed land there in 1904. Other settlers soon followed. They planned to plant orchards, especially apple trees. The land was divided into small plots, which sold quickly.
The Dryden Fruit Growers Union was started in 1909. That same year, the first fruit warehouse was built. They shipped out 18 railroad cars full of apples. The next year, a post office was opened for the small settlement growing near the warehouse.
Orchard planting grew a lot after the Icicle Canal was finished in 1913. By 1915, the railroad had a station in Dryden. By 1919, the community had its own bank and school, plus two churches. Today, Dryden still has a post office, a general store, a "tienda" (a small shop), and a small cafe called the Take A Break Cafe. This cafe has been open consistently since the early 1930s.
Geography of Dryden
Dryden is located in the Wenatchee Valley. It sits along the Wenatchee River at an elevation of 968 feet (about 295 meters) above sea level. The valley is quite narrow in this area. The slopes around Dryden rise to heights above 2,400 feet (about 730 meters) within two miles on either side.
U.S. Route 2 and U.S. Route 97 both run through Dryden. They split into separate roads about two miles up the valley from the community. Dryden is about three miles by highway from Peshastin to the northwest. It is also about five miles by highway from Cashmere to the southeast.
Climate in Dryden
The climate in Dryden has big differences in temperature throughout the year. Summers are warm to hot and often humid. Winters are cold, and sometimes very cold. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Dryden has a humid continental climate. This is shown as "Dfb" on climate maps.
See also
In Spanish: Dryden (Washington) para niños
