Ocosta, Washington facts for kids

Ocosta is a small place in Grays Harbor County, Washington. It's called an "unincorporated community." This means it's not a city with its own local government. Instead, it's part of the larger county. Ocosta is located right near the ocean coast.

The Story of Ocosta

Ocosta has an interesting past, especially how it got started. It was first called "Ocosta-by-the-sea." The town began because of a disagreement between a nearby city, Aberdeen, and a big train company called the Northern Pacific Railroad.

Railroad Rivalry

Back in the late 1800s, train companies often asked towns for money. This money would help them build train tracks to connect to the town. Aberdeen, Washington, didn't want to pay the Northern Pacific Railroad. So, the railroad decided to create a new town, Ocosta. Their plan was to bypass Aberdeen completely.

Building the Tracks

Train tracks reached Ocosta in 1892. However, the harbor at Ocosta wasn't very good for ships. Because of this, the Northern Pacific Railroad changed its mind. They made a deal with Aberdeen instead. They decided to build a short train line, called a "spur," directly into Aberdeen.

A Financial Challenge

In 1893, a big economic problem happened. It was called a "financial panic." This meant money became very hard to get. The Northern Pacific Railroad had to stop its building plans. The city of Aberdeen then took over. They finished the train spur themselves. They even used old rails from a sunken ship to do it!

Ocosta's Name and Post Office

A post office opened in Ocosta in 1890. It served the community for many years. The post office finally closed in 1943. The name "Ocosta" comes from its location. It's right near the ocean coast. Today, the ZIP Code for Ocosta is 98520.