Mineral, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mineral, Washington
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Downtown Mineral
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 Mineral, Washington
Location in Washington (state)
Mineral, Washington
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Lewis |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.66 sq mi (1.72 km2) |
| • Land | 0.66 sq mi (1.72 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,470 ft (448 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 193 |
| • Density | 290.6/sq mi (112.2/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
98355
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| Area code(s) | 360 |
| FIPS code | 53-46090 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1523205 |
Mineral is a small community in Lewis County, Washington. It's located near State Route 7. Mineral started as a place for cutting down trees (a logging camp) and for mining. People looking for gold here instead found coal and arsenic.
By the early 1920s, the mines closed. A big fire also destroyed the town's largest sawmill. After this, Mineral began to focus on tourism, especially fishing in Mineral Lake. In 2020, about 193 people lived in Mineral.
The Mineral Log Lodge, built in 1906, is a historic building. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
Contents
History of Mineral
The town of Mineral was founded around 1897. It got its name from Mineral Lake and the natural minerals found nearby, like "ruby of arsenic." In its early days, people sometimes called the area Mineral City. The lake was once known as "Goldsboro Lake."
Mineral was mainly a timber town, meaning it focused on cutting and processing wood. When arsenic mines opened, the population grew a lot. By the 1920s, about 1,000 people lived there, and the downtown area was busy.
However, mining stopped because there were better ways to get the minerals elsewhere. Also, the biggest sawmill, owned by the Mineral Lake Lumber Company, burned down in 1922 and was never rebuilt. The town then became much smaller.
Mineral is also famous for being near where Kenneth Arnold saw strange flying objects in 1947. This event helped start many stories about UFOs.
YMCA Campground Plans
In 2021, the YMCA of Greater Seattle bought over 500 acres (about 200 hectares) of land near Mineral Lake. They planned to create a campground there. The Nisqually Indian Tribe supported this project. This land was originally part of the Nisqually people's traditional territory.
The YMCA hoped to buy even more land, up to 1,600 acres (about 650 hectares), in the future. However, many people in the Mineral community were against the idea of a large campground.
After many meetings and studies, the local government (Lewis County commissioners) did not approve the plan in November 2022. The land was set aside for forest resources, not a campground. The YMCA then took legal action against the county. Even though the campground plan was not approved, the YMCA bought the additional 1,600 acres in early 2022. They suggested this larger area could remain a "working forest."
In early 2023, the county commissioners again voted against the campground plan. But in January 2024, a court ruled that the county's decision was wrong. The court said the county must approve the YMCA's plan within 30 days. Two weeks later, the commissioners formally accepted the plan, but they still had concerns, especially about how it would affect law enforcement in the area.
Geography
Mineral is located in the northeastern part of Lewis County. It is about 3 miles (5 km) south of the Pierce County line. The community is at the southern end of Mineral Lake. It's about 4 miles (6 km) south of Elbe and 12 miles (19 km) north of Morton. The town is also about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east of State Route 7.
Mineral covers an area of about 1.7 square kilometers (0.66 sq mi), all of which is land. Water from Mineral Lake flows north into Mineral Creek, which then goes into the Nisqually River. The Nisqually River eventually flows into Puget Sound near Olympia.
Climate
Mineral has warm, dry summers, but they are not extremely hot. The average monthly temperatures do not go above 71.6°F (22°C). This type of weather is called a warm-summer Mediterranean climate.
Arts and Culture
Tourism in Mineral
The Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad is a special train ride that goes from Elbe to Mineral. It uses old steam locomotives and historic train cars. The train travels through forests and crosses the Nisqually River. The ride ends at the Mt. Rainier Railroad and Logging Museum in Mineral.
Parks and Recreation
Mineral offers great views of Mount Rainier. It is most famous as a place for fishing. Mineral Lake is filled with rainbow trout and other types of fish every year. On the first weekend of Washington's fishing season, the town's population more than triples because so many people come to fish. A local saying is, "Mineral Lake, home of the 10 pound trout!"
Mineral is also where one of the tallest Douglas fir trees was ever recorded. It measured about 120 meters (390 feet) high.
Education
The Mineral Elementary School opened in 1944. It replaced an older school that had burned down. However, the elementary school closed in 2003. Today, students from Mineral attend schools overseen by the Morton School District.
Notable People
- Pearl Thrasher: She was a former member of the Washington House of Representatives from 1945 to 1947. This is a part of the state government that makes laws.
See also
In Spanish: Mineral (Washington) para niños
