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Keller, Washington
Keller, Washington is located in Washington (state)
Keller, Washington
Keller, Washington
Location in Washington (state)
Keller, Washington is located in the United States
Keller, Washington
Keller, Washington
Location in the United States
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)
 • Total 234
 • Density 25/sq mi (9.5/km2)
Time zone UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
99140
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.

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.

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