A Brief History & Timeline of Milestone Events

Nobody really knows for sure how Yakima got its name. There are several theories on the translation or meaning of "Yakima." The most popular is based on a native legend about a Chief's daughter from Moxie who fled from her home after breaking tribal rules. She made her home on the Yakima River. The word Yakima in this legend means "runaway." Another translation is from the plural form, "ma," of black bear "yah-kah."

The Yakama or Yakima Indians are the first known inhabitants of the region living in the Columbia and Yakima Rivers area. The waters were full of salmon and the fertile valley was abundant in berries, fruits and nuts. The natives excelled at basket making and well skilled at many crafts.

There is brief mention in history of Europeans arriving in the area in the 1700's.

In 1805, Lewis and Clark led the first American expedition into the region. Their announcement of the abundant wildlife and rich soil of the valley attracted trappers and homesteaders.

Near Ahtanum in 1847 a Catholic Mission was established.

Throughout the 1850's and 60's increasing settlers moved into the Yakima Valley which lead to disputes between settlers and Native tribes resulted in the Yakama Indian Wars of 1855.

In 1858 an Army garrison was established at Ft. Simcoe. And United States Cavalry fought against the tribes Ultimately Yakama Indians were moved to a reservation south of Yakima.

The first wagon train to cross the Cascades north of the Columbia River was the Biles-Longmire wagon train on its way over Naches Pass in 1853.

The first settlers arrived in 1861.

Yakima County was formed from Walla Walla Co., Kittitas Co. and portions of Benton Co. The region became a thriving agricultural area.

The original settlement was located at the north of the valley, Union Gap, and later moved to the present site.

Incorporated as Yakima City on December 1,1883.

In 1884 Northern Pacific Railway Company established a station four miles west and moved over one hundred buildings from Yakima to the new site free. The new settlement was called "North Yakima." The reason behind this was because the Northern Pacific could not obtain the concession to operation from the existing "Yakima.

North Yakima incorporated and officially became the county seat in 1886.

1870 Yakima census was 432, within a decade the population had expanded to 3000 residents. Yakima continued to grow as a progressive Western town.

In 1889 The Women's Christian Temperance Union organized the first reading room, water mainlines are installed and the first local telephone company is established. By 1890, Electrical utility services were available.

1899, Yakima Republic, was the local weekly newspaper.

At the turn of the century, Yakima was 15,000 strong and growing.

In 1905 the Yakima Herald went from a weekly to a daily newspaper.

In 1907, the Carnegie Library building opened through the generosity of Andrew Carnegie's $10,000 grant. The Streetcar system organization formed the same year.

"North" was dropped from Yakima by- Washington State Legislature in 1918.

Yakima makes Washington famous internationally for apples, wine grapes and other agricultural prodcuts of excellent quality.