Keller, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Keller, Washington
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 Keller, Washington
Location in Washington (state)
Keller, Washington
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Ferry |
| Area | |
| • Total | 9.5 sq mi (24.6 km2) |
| • Land | 9.5 sq mi (24.6 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,499 ft (457 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 234 |
| • Density | 25/sq mi (9.5/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
99140
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| Area code(s) | 509 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1518417 |
| FIPS code | 53-34960 |
Keller is a small community in Washington state. It's located in Ferry County, in the northeastern part of the state. It is also known as a census-designated place (CDP). In 2010, about 234 people lived there.
Contents
History of Keller
Keller was founded in 1898 by a businessman named John C. Keller. It's located in the beautiful valley of the Sanpoil River. The original town, sometimes called "Old Keller," was once much bigger. At its busiest, about 3,500 people lived there. It even had its own minor league baseball team!
Moving the Town
Starting in 1941, the town had to move several times. This was because of the Grand Coulee Dam. Water from the dam flooded the old locations. Today, Keller is about 18 miles north of the Columbia River. These moves caused many people to leave, and the town's population became much smaller.
Native American Heritage
The town of Keller is part of the Colville Indian Reservation. About 1,200 people live on the reservation. Most of them are Native American. Many are members of the Sanpoil tribe. The Sanpoil are one of the twelve tribes that make up the Colville Confederated Tribes. They are one of the few Native American nations that were never forced to move by the U.S. government.
The 2024 Swawilla Fire
On July 17, 2024, a wildfire started southwest of Keller. It was caused by dry lightning. This fire was called the Swawilla Fire.
Fire Spreads and Closures
At first, firefighters had trouble stopping the fire. By July 20, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) decided to keep the Keller Ferry closed. The ferry had been closed for maintenance. The area near the ferry's northern landing was under a "Level 3: Go Now" evacuation order. This meant people needed to leave immediately.
Evacuation Notices
By July 23, the fire was still growing. The weather also changed. This led to a "Level 2: Get Ready" notice for areas northeast of the fire. This notice included Keller. On the evening of July 24, a "Level 3: Go Now" notice was issued for the greater Keller area. Winds shifted, pushing the flames towards Keller. Fire officials said it was very likely the fire would reach the community.
Ferry Helps with Evacuations
To help people evacuate, the Keller Ferry started running again. It only operated from the northern launch. The ferry also ran overnight, which is not its usual schedule. During this time, the ferry only carried people who were evacuating.
