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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1854 | 5 |
| 1858 | 7 |
| 1859 | 14 |
| 1860 | 3 |
| 1861 | 15 |
| 1862 | 12 |
| 1863 | 8 |
| 1864 | 6 |
| 1865 | 3 |
| 1871 | 1 |
| 1872 | 28 |
| 1876 | 191 |
| 1877 | 131 |
| 1878 | 81 |
| 1879 | 11 |
| 1880 | 27 |
| 1882 | 29 |
| 1883 | 158 |
| 1884 | 78 |
| 1885 | 130 |
| 1886 | 60 |
| 1887 | 66 |
| 1888 | 77 |
| 1889 | 189 |
| 1890 | 45 |
| 1891 | 159 |
| 1892 | 323 |
| 1893 | 227 |
| 1894 | 219 |
| 1895 | 215 |
| 1897 | 4 |
| 1898 | 33 |
| 1899 | 53 |
| 1900 | 17 |
| 1902 | 6 |
| 1903 | 144 |
| 1904 | 114 |
| 1905 | 28 |
| 1907 | 17 |
| 1908 | 131 |
| 1909 | 263 |
| 1910 | 79 |
| 1911 | 4 |
| 1914 | 50 |
| 1915 | 59 |
| 1916 | 93 |
| 1917 | 48 |
| 1918 | 12 |
| 1922 | 2 |
| 1923 | 16 |
| 1924 | 11 |
| 1925 | 7 |
| 1928 | 2 |
| 1929 | 1 |
227 stories matching town
- The Town That Shed Its Violent Name
Citizens of Slaughter petition the legislature to rebrand their town to something more inviting.
- The Ghost Town of Gray's Harbor City
An abandoned boom-town remains standing in silence, a monument to the reckless real estate speculation of the era.
- The Ghost Town That Refused to Die
A legal war between Denver, Washington, and the city of Spokane ends in the state supreme court, effectively wiping a town off the map.
- A Frontier Town Wiped Out by Fire
A supply hub in Stevens County is reduced to ash after a midnight blaze in a general store.
- The Town That Faded With the Mill
When the lumber mill burned at Port Crescent, the town simply emptied out, leaving only a half-finished harbor project behind.
- Farmer Sues Over Property Washed Away by White River
Nels Hansen claims the town of Auburn's poor construction of a new river channel caused the total loss of his home and barn.
- A 'Native Son' for the Toughest Town
While fleeing to California to escape the mountain snows, a stranded couple makes history in the rough-and-tumble railway camp of Skykomish.
- The Midnight Boxing Bust
Local law enforcement intervenes in a late-night prizefight held just outside of town, resulting in arrests for the illicit sporting event.
- The Mayor of Gilman's Violent Vengeance
After discovering his wife was coerced into an affair, the Mayor of Gilman took matters into his own hands in a public beating that transfixed the town.
- The Political Fight for the Port Orchard Dry Dock
An Everett booster attempts to block federal funding for the Kitsap County naval facility in a desperate bid to lure it to his own town.
- The Night Colfax Burned
A Chinese cook's kerosene mishap destroys the heart of a small Washington town, exposing the dangers of inadequate civic infrastructure.
- The Midnight Blaze at Slaughter
A suspicious fire destroys a downtown block in the town of Slaughter, leaving citizens to form a bucket brigade to save the town's remaining structures.
- Palouse Settlers Win Decisive Victory Over Railroad Interests
A landmark federal decision voids railroad claims to 'lieu lands,' prompting town-wide celebrations and jubilation among homesteaders.
- Armed Vigilantes Threaten Chinese Residents in La Conner
A group of six masked, armed men confronted the Chinese laundry workers in La Conner, demanding they leave town within ten days.
- Domestic Strife in the Mining Town of Gilman
A divorce filing from the coal-mining town of Gilman reveals a history of abuse and a struggle over meager family assets.
- The Desert’s Promise in Wenatchee
Impatience grows as the city council moves to bond the town to pull water from the Columbia River, hoping to turn brush land into a fruit-growing empire.
- The Failed Elopement of the Postmaster’s Daughter
A small-town romantic drama in Bucoda ends with an attempted escape, a Winchester rifle, and a boxcar departure to California.
- Ezra Meeker Tries to Take Back Puyallup's Park—and Loses
The state supreme court rules that a public dedication survives the town's invalid original incorporation, leaving Puyallup's park in the city's hands.
- The Rivalry of the Rails
A baseball series between Aberdeen and Montesano turned into a rowdy town affair, complete with a band parade and umpire disputes.
- Vigilante Justice Looms in Asotin
A town sits on the edge of a riot following a deadly fire and accusations of arson.
- Twin Towns Devastated by Blazes
Fire-ravaged business districts in Fairfield and Winlock lead to over $60,000 in total losses in a single day.
- Roslyn Bank Robbery Trial Ends in Hung Jury
A retelling of the 1890 bank heist that terrorized a Kittitas County mining town and triggered a high-stakes manhunt.
- The Buckley Bank Scam
A town in shock as two men posing as bankers abscond with the life savings of farmers and laborers.
- Ballard Opera House Destroyed by Blaze
A mysterious fire levels the largest building in Ballard, narrowly sparing the surrounding town.
- The People's Railroad
Citizens of Aberdeen pledge labor to build a rail line, betting their own time against town lots to secure Northern Pacific's investment.