Wauconda, Washington

Wauconda is a small unincorporated community in Okanogan County, Washington, United States. Once a boom town, it has dwindled almost to nothing; it is now under single ownership.

Wauconda, Washington
Unincorporated community
Wauconda, Washington
Coordinates: 48.726°N 119.014°W / 48.726; -119.014
CountryUnited States
StateWashington
CountyOkanogan
Elevation
3,576 ft (1,090 m)
Population
 (2000)[1]
 • Total226
 • Density1.8/sq mi (0.7/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
98859
Area code(s)509
GNIS feature ID1527856[2]

History

Wauconda was founded in 1898 as a mining community. Three brothers from Wauconda, Illinois, discovered gold in the area and decided to name the mine after their hometown. Four mines, the Oregonian Mine and three Wauconda Mines, eventually operated in the area, quickly swelling the area's population to over 300. By 1900 the town had a general store, and by 1901 it had a post office,[3] although the location was two miles west of the original camp. At its peak there were about 1000 residents.[4]

In the early 1900s the output of the mines declined and they were eventually closed. In 1929, the state built Highway 20 on a route that bypassed the town, so the town was relocated to be on the new road. The abandoned former town location is now a ghost town.[5]

Present-day Wauconda is much smaller than the old mining boomtown. Its small commercial district has a post office, gas station, general store, and restaurant, all with a single private owner. In 2008, owner Daphne Fletcher placed the town's commercial properties, along with a residence, up for sale with an asking price of $1,125,000.[6] In March 2010, Fletcher put the combined properties on the eBay online auction website, promoting the sale as a "town for auction".[4] A couple from Healesville, Victoria, in Australia, won the auction with a purchase price of $370,601, but failed to complete the transaction due to financial and health concerns.[7] Two weeks later, the town was sold to a couple, Neal and Maddie Love, from Bothell, Washington, for $360,000.[8] However, when Neal Love found steady employment in North Dakota, the couple closed the store in June 2015.[9][10]

Geography

Wauconda is located at 48°43′33″N 119°0′49″W (48.7257163, -119.0136516),[2] on a plateau about 23 miles east of Tonasket, Washington, near Wauconda Pass and the Okanogan National Forest.[11] It is near the headwaters of a fork of Granite Creek, which empties into the Sanpoil River at nearby Republic, Washington.[12]

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References
  1. Wauconda Zip Code 98859 population
  2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Wauconda, Washington
  3. Kirk, Ruth; Alexander, Carmela (1995). Exploring Washington's Past: A Road Guide to History. University of Washington Press. p. 71. ISBN 0-295-97443-5.
  4. McEntee, Kate (March 23, 2010). "Eastern Washington town for sale on eBay". The News Tribune. Retrieved April 3, 2010.
  5. Smith, Jerry (2011). Boom Towns & Relic Hunters of Washington State: Exploring Washington's Historic Ghost Towns & Mining Camps. Seattle, Washington: Classic Day. p. 74. ISBN 978-1-59849-120-3.
  6. Corson, Sheila (October 1, 2008). "Wauconda, house included, is for sale". The Omak-Okanogan County Chronicle. Retrieved April 3, 2010.
  7. Muir, Ed (April 2, 2010). "Hurry if you want to own a small Eastern Washington town". NWCN.com. Retrieved April 3, 2010.
  8. Lacitis, Erik (April 18, 2010). "SOLD: 1 tiny town, to Bothell couple, for $360,000". Seattle Times.
  9. Deshais, Nick (June 16, 2015). "Tour Deshais: Closure a Downer on Dry Stretch". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  10. Garone, Elizabeth (June 21, 2015). "The People Who Bought Their Own Town". BBC. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  11. Wootton, Sharon; Savage, Maggie & Oakley, Myrna (2009). Washington Off the Beaten Path: A Guide to Unique Places (8th ed.). Globe Pequot. p. 97. ISBN 978-0-7627-4882-2.
  12. Shedd, Solon (1913). Cement Materials and Industry in the State of Washington. Washington Geological Survey. p. 169.
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