College Place, Washington
City in the United States in Walla Walla County
About College Place
College Place is a city in Walla Walla County, Washington, United States. It neighbors the larger city of Walla Walla, and had a population of 10,090 per Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) population estimates.
College Place is the home of Walla Walla University (formerly Walla Walla College, thus the city's name), a Seventh-day Adventist Church operated liberal arts university.
The City has a quaint downtown primarily centered along College Avenue from Rose Street to 13th Street. It is anchored by small businesses such as Happy Wanderer, Andy's Market, Enable Art, and Rogers Bakery. Many businesses downtown are owned by Seventh-Day Adventist owners so they close two hours before sunset on Fridays and then reopen at sunset on Saturday evenings. Downtown has seen significant reinvestment after College Avenue/Rose Street (CARS) Project fully reconstructed the corridor between 2015 and 2017. Economic Development in the corridor is shepherded by the Downtown College Place Association as well as the Cowalla (College Place - Walla Walla) Creative District. Both cities were recognized as a State of Washington Creative District in 2025.
Big box retailers in the city are primarily centered along State Route 125 and Myra Rd. The City in recent years has made significant reinvestment into its park system with Kiwanis Park being rehabbed with pickleball courts in 2017, Veterans Park donated to the City from Hayden Homes out at Homestead in 2019, Korean War Memorial at Veterans Park in 2024, and then the massive Lions Park reconstruction of 2024-2025.
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How College Place is governed
Form of government not yet listed.
0 of 14 positions listed. Gray dashed boxes are placeholders waiting for a name.
Residents of College Place
Registered voters elect the officials below.
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Mayor
Executive
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The city's chief elected official. Presides over the executive branch, proposes the budget and represents the city.
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City Manager / Administrator
Executive
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The professional administrator who runs day-to-day operations (in some cities appointed by the council instead of the mayor).
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Police Chief
Administration & departments
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Leads the police department.
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Fire Chief
Administration & departments
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Leads the fire and emergency services department.
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Public Works Director
Administration & departments
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Streets, water, sewer, and city buildings.
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Finance Director
Administration & departments
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The budget, taxes, and city accounts.
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Planning & Zoning Director
Administration & departments
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Land use, zoning, building permits.
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Parks & Recreation Director
Administration & departments
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Parks, programs, and public facilities.
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City Council
Legislative
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The elected body that passes ordinances, sets the tax rate and approves the budget.
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City Clerk
Administration & departments
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Keeps the official records, runs meeting agendas and, often, local elections.
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City Attorney
Administration & departments
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The city's lawyer; advises officials and prosecutes ordinance violations.
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Boards & Commissions
Legislative
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Citizen advisory bodies, such as planning, zoning appeals and library boards.
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Municipal Court
Judicial
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Hears traffic, ordinance and other minor cases.
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Municipal Judge
Judicial
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Presides over the municipal court.
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- Website
- ci.college-place.wa.us
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Population over time
From 8,765 in 2010 to 9,902 in 2020 (+13.0%).
Show the numbers
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 9,902 |
| 2010 | 8,765 |
History
Martin Field, to the west of town, was an air training base during World War II. It is now a private airfield.
College Place was officially incorporated on January 19, 1946.
Partial Directory of Mayors
Norma Hernandez: September 2019 to Present
Mayor Pro Tem Marge Nyhagen: August 2019
Harvey Crowder: June 2016 to August 2019
Julie Scott: June 2014 to June 2016
Rick Newby: 2008 to June 2014 (died in office)
Ed Ammon: 2000 to 2008
Fred Spruell: 1997 to 2000
Thor Bakland: 1994 to 1997
Partial Directory of City Administrators
Robert McAndrews: September 2026 to Present
Troy Rayburn: October 2025 to July 2026
Interim - Michael Matthais: June to July 2025
Mike Rizzitiello: November 2016 to June 2025
Interim - Mike Jackson: July 2016 to October 2016
Pat Reay: August 2004 to July 2016
Mike Patterson: July 2000 to September 2004
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.