Quote of the Month:
“Nature gives to every time and season some beauties of its own." - Charles Dickens
Population: 91, 878
Area: 2,791 square miles
County Seat: Ephrata
OVERVIEW
Grant County is located in the central part of the State of Washington. The territory of the county is 2,791 square miles; this fact makes this county the forth largest in state. The county was created out of Douglas County in 1909 and was named in honor of U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant. The county seat is Ephrata and the largest city is Moses Lake. It should be also said that the county is located in the Columbia Basin region.
HISTORY
Before the white setters Native American cultures such as Wenatchi, Interior Salish and Okanagan were the first inhabitants of these areas. Most of the tribes settled along the Columbia River. The first white settlers came here in the 1850s. Mostly, they raised livestock, but with the building of the railroads, new settlement developed changing the major industry here. Newcomers dedicated themselves to farming.
The main problem for the farm owners was irrigation, the first attempts to develop the irrigation system were made in 1898, but these attempts were not successful until the completion of the Columbia Basin Reclamation Project.
The construction of the system included 3,200 miles of drains and wasteways and 2,300 miles of canals and laterals. Nowadays the irrigation system provides help to about 6, 000 farms or more than 550, 000 acres.
COUNTY SEAT
Ephrata is the county seat of Grant County. The population of the city is about 8,000 people. The county seat was officially incorporated in 1909, but historically, this place was known long ago. The legend tells that the town was named by a man, a worker from the Great Northern Railway. “Ephrata” is derived from a biblical description of an orchard in the middle of the desert.
It should be also mentioned that these territories were famous for herds of wild horses; horse trading was one of the main parts of the economy. Ephrata one of the main areas for the horse roundups.
TOP ATTRACTIONS
Columbia National Wildlife Refuge
The 23,200-acre refuge is situated in the middle of the Drumheller Channeled Scablands. Columbia Refuge was established in 1944 and it represents a great mixture of lakes, rugged cliffs and wetland area. It should be said that refuge has very favorable conditions for more than 200 species of migratory birds, such as Canada geese, mallard ducks, tundra swans and other waterfowl.
Website: http://www.fws.gov/columbia/
Hanford Reach National Monument
Hanford Reach is situated in southern Washington and preserves important parts of the Columbia River. This monument lies on the territory of the Hanford Site, which was known as a place that helped to develop the first nuclear bombs. Here visitors will enjoy shrub-steppe ecosystem, White Bluffs and blue waters of the Columbia River. It should be noted that the best way to explore the monument is by a jet boat.
Website: http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Hanford_Reach/
Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area
Lake Roosevelt is also known as a jewel of the Northeast Washington. It is a 130-mile long lake that was created after the construction the Grand Coulee Dam. Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area offers great possibilities for water recreation: boating, fishing, swimming, canoeing, and camping. Visitors may also visit historical places like Fort Spokane and St. Paul’s Mission.
Wild Horse Monument
More than 5 million of cars annually drive along I-90 between the cities of George and Vantage and enjoy the most wonderful view of a herd of wild running horses. This is a wonderful metal art of work, which is officially called "Grandfather Cuts Loose the Ponies".
It was created by David Govedare in 1989. Wild Horse Monument honors the history and the legends associated with Native American culture and the history of wild horses in this region.
Frenchman Coulee
Frenchman Coulee is a perfect destination not only for the hikers, but also for climbers. Summer is the “hottest” season, because rock climbers come here to enjoy these tall basalt columns that form the coulee walls. Frenchman Coulee located near Quincy, Washington. By many climbers it is called Vantage. There are over 600 routes for climbing in the area that range from 5.2 to 5.13. Different kinds of flowers make this spot even more beautiful, creating comfortable atmosphere for rest.
Information: Marina Petrova
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