Marengo, Columbia County, Washington facts for kids

Marengo is a place in Columbia County, Washington. It's special because it was planned to be a town, but it was never actually built. Think of it as a "ghost town" that never even got started!

The Unbuilt Town of Marengo

Marengo was meant to be a new town in the late 1800s. People had big plans for it. They hoped it would become an important place in the area. But for different reasons, the town never came to life. It remained just a plan on paper.

How Marengo Got Its Name

Marengo was named after a man called Louis "Marengo" Raboin. He was one of the first settlers in that area. It was common back then to name places after important people who lived there.

The Race for County Seat

One of the biggest reasons Marengo was planned was to become the "county seat." A county seat is like the main office for a county. It's where the government buildings are, like the courthouse. People would go there for official business. Marengo was put forward as a choice for this important role. However, when it came time to vote, Marengo did not win. Another town was chosen instead. This was a big reason why Marengo was never built.