Moclips, Washington facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Moclips, Washington
Census-designated place
Location of Moclips, Washington
Country	United States
State	Washington
County	Grays Harbor
Area
• Total	1.81 sq mi (4.69 km2)
• Land	1.78 sq mi (4.62 km2)
• Water	0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2)
Elevation	43 ft (13 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	211
• Density	116.5/sq mi (44.99/km2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code	98562
Area code(s)	360
FIPS code	53-46405
GNIS feature ID	1512471

Moclips is a small community in Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States. It is called a census-designated place (CDP) because it's a specific area the government counts for population. In 2020, about 211 people lived there. Moclips is located close to where the Moclips River meets the ocean.

The name "Moclips" comes from the Quinault language. Some say it means a place where young girls went as they grew up. Others believe it simply means "large stream."

Exploring Moclips' Past

Houses along the beach, Moclips, 2023.

Moclips keeps many wooded areas. This helps block strong winds from the Pacific Ocean. It also provides a home for animals like deer.

Early Inhabitants: The Quinault People

The first people to live in this area were Native American tribes. The Quinault tribe lived along the coast. The Chehalis tribes lived near the Chehalis River. These groups were part of larger language families in the Pacific Northwest.

These tribes built permanent villages near rivers and lakes. Water was very important to their way of life. They caught salmon as they swam upstream. They also hunted whales and seals along the coast. In the summer, they traveled inland to hunt and trade with other tribes. They were skilled at making canoes from cedar trees. These canoes were designed for different types of water, from fast rivers to the open sea.

First European Contact

The Quinault people first met Europeans in 1775. This happened near Point Grenville. Sadly, this meeting ended in conflict. The Europeans landed, put up a cross, and claimed the land. The reason for the fight is not fully known.

In 1792, Captain Robert Gray explored the area. He discovered Grays Harbor and entered the Columbia River. This was the first time non-native people had done so. Later, in 1803, President Thomas Jefferson sent the Lewis and Clark Expedition. They explored the land between the Missouri River and the Pacific Ocean. Their journey helped the United States claim the Oregon Country.

Changes and Treaties

When Europeans arrived, they brought new diseases. These diseases spread quickly among the tribes. Many native people became sick and died. This greatly reduced the population of the tribes.

In 1855, the Quinault Treaty was signed. This happened after Washington Territory was created. Chiefs from the Quinault and Quileute tribes, along with others, signed the treaty. One important result was the creation of the Quinault Indian Reservation. This reservation is located between the Pacific Ocean and Lake Quinault.

Moclips Grows and Changes

American settlers began to arrive in the mid-1800s. Many of them claimed land with lots of valuable timber. Moclips officially became a community in 1905. This happened when the Northern Pacific Railway was completed. The first Moclips Beach Hotel was also built around this time by Dr. Edward Lycan.

This first hotel burned down quickly. So, Dr. Lycan built a new, much larger hotel. It was finished in 1907. This hotel was three stories tall and very long. It had 270 rooms and great views of the Pacific Ocean. The ocean was very close to the hotel.

Moclips was promoted as a healthy place to visit. People believed the fresh salt air and ocean bathing were good for you. Dr. Lycan thought Moclips was the best place for health and fun in the Northwest.

The town grew to have restaurants, hotels, a candy store, and a theater. There were also canneries and a lumber mill. Many schools were built, teaching children from nearby towns. Two of these old school buildings are still standing today.

W.W. Kurtz's fish cannery in Moclips, 1915.

Challenges and Recovery

In 1911, Moclips faced severe storms. Much of the town was washed away. The large Moclips Beach Hotel was destroyed by the end of 1913. Fires also damaged many buildings along the beach. In 1948, a welding accident on a hilltop caused more fires, destroying homes and businesses.

During World War II, the U.S. Navy and Air Force used the nearby town of Pacific Beach. The Navy still has a recreational center there for military members.

In the 1960s, tourism started to grow again in Moclips. Today, Moclips is still a popular place to visit in Washington state. It is often ranked as one of the top places to see.

Moclips' Location

Moclips is located in the western part of Grays County. It includes the main community of Moclips and a residential area called Sunset Beach. To the south, it borders Pacific Beach. To the north is the Quinault Indian Reservation. The Pacific Ocean is to its west.

Washington State Route 109 goes through Moclips. This road leads north about 9 miles to Taholah. It also goes southeast about 31 miles to Hoquiam.

The total area of Moclips is about 4.69 square kilometers (1.81 square miles). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

People of Moclips

In 2000, the Moclips area included Pacific Beach. However, Pacific Beach became its own separate area before the 2010 census.

In 2020, Moclips had a population of 211 people.

Moclips in Pop Culture

Moclips has appeared in movies and songs!

• Beach scenes for the 1974 John Wayne film McQ were filmed in Moclips.
• The song "NW Apt." by the band Band of Horses is set in Moclips.
• The 2012 Animal Planet TV film Mermaids: The Body Found talks about a mystery involving whales in Moclips.
• According to reports, Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain and his band Fecal Matter once played a show at a Moclips beach bar called The Spot Tavern.

See also

In Spanish: Moclips (Washington) para niños