Silcott, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Silcott, Washington
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 Silcott, Washington
Location in Washington (state)
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Asotin |
| Elevation | 738 ft (225 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP Code |
99403
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| Area code(s) | 509 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1533427 |
Silcott is a ghost town located in Asotin County, Washington. A ghost town is a place where most people have left, and it's mostly empty now. Silcott sits on the south side of the Snake River. You can find it along U.S. Route 12. A big part of the old town was covered by water when Lower Granite Lake was created in 1975. This happened after the Lower Granite Dam was built on the Snake River.
Contents
The Story of Silcott
Early Days: The Nez Perce People
Long before anyone wrote down its history, the land where Silcott is now was home to the Nez Perce people. They lived there for many, many years. In 1805, the famous explorers Lewis and Clark camped in this area. They met and talked with the native people during their journey.
How Silcott Grew
The first fruit orchard in the whole Snake River valley was planted in Silcott in 1837. Later, in the mid-1800s, more settlers came to live there. Silcott became an important spot for crossing the river. It also had a mill to grind grain and warehouses to store goods. Sadly, a big fire caused a lot of damage to the community in the late 1800s.
A Real Town: Post Office and Name
Silcott even had its own post office! It opened in 1883 and stayed open until 1931. The town was named after an early settler, a man named John Silcott.
The Lake That Changed Everything
In the 1970s, a big change came to Silcott. The Lower Granite Dam was built on the Snake River. This dam created a large body of water called Lower Granite Lake. When the lake filled up, much of what used to be the town of Silcott was covered by water. This is why Silcott became a ghost town.
