Megler, Washington facts for kids

Megler is a small community in Pacific County, located in the U.S. state of Washington. It is an unincorporated community, which means it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town.

Megler is named after Joseph G. Megler, who was a lawmaker or "legislator." He helped create laws for the state. The community sits right at the mouth of the Columbia River, on the Washington side of the river.

This community is important because it's the northern end of the Astoria-Megler Bridge. This long bridge crosses the Columbia River. It connects Megler in Washington to Astoria, Oregon, a city on the Oregon side of the river.

Two important roads, U.S. Route 101 and State Route 401, meet in Megler. These roads help people travel to other cities like Aberdeen, Olympia (the state capital), and Vancouver.

A Look Back in Time

Before the big Astoria-Megler Bridge was built, people used a ferry to cross the Columbia River. From 1921 to 1966, a ferry boat connected docks near Megler to the Oregon side. This ferry was a very important way for people and goods to travel. It helped connect Washington and Oregon for many years. The Astoria-Megler Bridge opened in 1966, making travel much faster and easier.