Washougal, Washington
City in the United States in Clark County
About Washougal
Washougal ( wah-SHOO-gəl) is a city in Clark County, Washington, United States. The population was 17,039 as of the 2020 census.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How Washougal is governed
Form of government not yet listed.
0 of 14 positions listed. Gray dashed boxes are placeholders waiting for a name.
Residents of Washougal
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
- cityofwashougal.us
Looking for your county, state and federal representatives too? See who represents 98671 or everyone in Washington.
Population over time
From 14,095 in 2010 to 17,039 in 2020 (+20.9%).
Show the numbers
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 17,039 |
| 2019 | 16,107 |
| 2010 | 14,095 |
History
The area around present-day Washougal was originally home to the Watlala, an indigenous Chinookan-speaking group with settlements along the Columbia River. Among the first non-indigenous people to visit the area were the Corps of Discovery led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark in 1805 and 1806; they camped near the Washougal River during their return voyage in April 1806 and tentatively named it the "Seal River" and "Seacalf River" due to the number of seals they observed in the river.
English sailor Richard Ough (also spelled Howe) built a home in what would become present-day Washougal sometime between 1838 and 1841; he had arrived in the area to work at Fort Vancouver for the Hudson's Bay Company and later married the daughter of Cascade Chinook chief Schluyhus. Ough was followed in 1844 by a cohort led by David C. Parker, who built Parker's Landing and claimed 580 acres (230 ha) under the Donation Land Claim Act; among the settlers was George Bush, among the first African American settlers in the Pacific Northwest. Parker's Landing, later renamed Parkersville, unsuccessfully applied for incorporation in 1852 or 1854; by this time, it had a hotel, bar, and a store and was a trading post along the river. A public school—claimed to be the first American school north of the Columbia River—was established in 1852–53. A portion of Ough's own claim was sold to Joseph E. C. Durgin, who established a townsite in 1880 that was named Washougal; the new settlement overtook Parkersville and was platted on May 6, 1880.
Washougal was connected to the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway in 1908 and was incorporated in November of that year. In 1910, a textile mill opened in the town and grew to become a major part of the area's economy; it was acquired by Pendleton Woolen Mills two years later. A new east–west highway along the Columbia River (now part of State Route 14) opened in 1927 and aided development of summer homes and recreation areas near Washougal. In the mid-to-late 20th century, Washougal became a bedroom community for workers in Vancouver and Portland, but grew slower than neighboring Camas. Its Mount Pleasant Grange Hall is the oldest continually used grange hall in Washington.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.