Welcome to Walla Walla County, Washington
Welcome to the valley that they liked so much they named it twice!!
Actually, Walla Walla means many or running waters and the valley is full of small streams and springs.
Walla Walla was one of the original counties formed as part of the Washington
Territory in 1853. In those days it included all the area east of the Cascade
Mountains to the western portion of Montana.
This web page is designed to provide help for your search for your family and friends. It is also an opportunity to help others as you have been helped. Read on and find out what is happening and what you can do to help.
As with other web sites, this one will change and grow so come back often. Add your ideas and suggestions and efforts. Work with me and this will become a great site.
I plan to add maps as I find ones in the public domain, plus any databases that relate to this county. Also look for the bibliography of materials available for this county and the families who lived here. Please feel free to add books, etc. that you find in your work.
Keep your ideas flowing in my direction. Celia Tomlin
Brief History of Walla Walla County
- 1853, March 3 : Territory of Washington created; Isaac I. Stevens appointed territorial govenor.
- 1854, April 16 : Walla Walla county organized; covered entire eastern portion of the present state; plus all of Idaho and parts of Oregon and Montana.
- 1856, Christmas : Colonel Steptoe finished first buildings for Fort Walla Walla; located near present Colville Street on Mill Creek.
- 1859, March 15 : First County Commissioners meeting
- 1859, Nov 15 : Name of seat of government changed from Steptoville to Walla Walla.
- 1859 : Charter of Whitman College granted this year.
- 1860, November First newspaper between Missouri and the Cascades debuted as Washington Statesman. The first public school opened; A.J. Milner, teacher
- 1862, July 6 First marriage recorded for Lt. Henry McCann and Josephine L. Forrest.
- 1865, January First Congregational Church organized; also first in territory
- 1866, October First fair organized by Agricultural Society, H.P. Isaacs, president.
- 1869, July First bank begun by A.H. Reynolds; Baker-Boyer Bank opened in November
- 1870, July Completed telegraph line between Walla Walla and Portland
Economic history from W.D. Lyman's History of Old Walla Walla County.
More to come!!Source: The Walla Walla Story: Washington Centennial Edition: An Illustrted Description of the History and Resources of the Valley They Liked So Well They Named It Twice! A 1988 edition of the 1953 book compiled and written by Vance Orchard editor for the Walla Walla County Centennial Committee; including selected material from contributors.