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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1854 | 5 |
| 1858 | 6 |
| 1859 | 14 |
| 1860 | 2 |
| 1861 | 14 |
| 1862 | 12 |
| 1863 | 8 |
| 1864 | 6 |
| 1865 | 3 |
| 1871 | 1 |
| 1872 | 28 |
| 1876 | 188 |
| 1877 | 130 |
| 1878 | 81 |
| 1879 | 11 |
| 1880 | 27 |
| 1882 | 29 |
| 1883 | 141 |
| 1884 | 51 |
| 1885 | 130 |
| 1886 | 60 |
| 1887 | 66 |
| 1888 | 77 |
| 1889 | 189 |
| 1890 | 45 |
| 1891 | 154 |
| 1892 | 312 |
| 1893 | 216 |
| 1894 | 206 |
| 1895 | 193 |
| 1897 | 4 |
| 1898 | 32 |
| 1899 | 50 |
| 1900 | 17 |
| 1902 | 6 |
| 1903 | 142 |
| 1904 | 114 |
| 1905 | 28 |
| 1907 | 13 |
| 1908 | 109 |
| 1909 | 232 |
| 1910 | 45 |
| 1911 | 4 |
| 1914 | 49 |
| 1915 | 59 |
| 1916 | 92 |
| 1917 | 47 |
| 1918 | 12 |
| 1922 | 2 |
| 1923 | 16 |
| 1924 | 11 |
| 1925 | 7 |
| 1928 | 1 |
3,497 stories matching town
- The Tale of Two Towns: A Battle for the Depot
As the railroad bypasses established settlements, a bitter conflict erupts between long-time residents and land speculators creating a brand-new town three miles away.
- The Deed Itself Said No Saloon
A Spokane land company wrote liquor prohibition into every lot in the new town of Irby, Washington — then quietly bought the surrounding countryside so nobody could open a bar next door.
- The Town Chain Gang
Kennewick’s new municipal code establishes forced labor for inmates to settle debts and minor offenses.
- The Town That Shed Its Violent Name
Citizens of Slaughter petition the legislature to rebrand their town to something more inviting.
- The Judge Who Dissolved Two Towns
A legal loophole in territorial law leaves aspiring municipalities in limbo after Judge Hanford declares the town-incorporation statute unconstitutional.
- The Town Held Hostage by the Railroad
When the Northern Pacific Railroad bypassed an established town to create a company-owned rival, the residents were left in a fight for their city’s survival.
- A Frontier Town Washed Away in the Night
A catastrophic flood destroyed the business district of Conconully in Okanogan County, leaving residents destitute and the town in ruins after a suspected cloudburst.
- The Railway Heartbeat of Walla Walla
When a railroad bypasses a growing town for a smaller rival, the economic stakes—and the town's survival—hang in the balance.
- Vigilante Threat Forces Ocosta Resident Out of Town
A 'White Cap' warning left on a door successfully intimidated a local man into leaving town within 24 hours.
- The Farmers' Road Rebellion
When fencing blocked access to town, the local farmers took the road-building into their own hands.
- The Shadow of Exclusion in Pasco
A town wakes up to find anti-Japanese stickers plastered on storefronts and saloons, fueling local tension.
- The Fight for Public Water in Ballard
Before Ballard was absorbed by Seattle, its citizens held a heated public meeting to reject corporate control of their water supply, demanding municipal ownership instead.
- State Legislature Grants Cities Local Control
A landmark bill passes in Olympia, allowing smaller towns to incorporate and manage their own debts, fueling the boom of the 1890s.
- 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 Battle for the Road into Ritzville
Local farmers are organizing to repair the treacherous road leading into town, demanding the city match their efforts to improve the final stretch.
- The Railroad's Grudge Against Old Yakima
A local resident warns travelers that the Northern Pacific is attempting to bypass and destroy the original town of Yakima to benefit their new company town.
- 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.
- Newport Would Vote Itself Wet or Dry
A local-option petition with 80 signatures forced a September 7 election to decide whether saloons could operate in Newport—and Idaho's border loomed over the fight.
- Inferno Consumes Roslyn Mining Town
A devastating fire tore through the canyon-bound town of Roslyn, destroying over 100 buildings and leaving the mining community in ruins.
- The Town That Voted to Keep Its Saloon
By a single vote, the town of Steilacoom decided to maintain its remaining liquor license in a special election.
- The Ghosting of Yakima City
When the Northern Pacific Railroad bypassed the original town of Yakima City, they didn't just move the station—they forced the entire town to uproot itself.
- The Town of Gilman Demands its Share
When the town of Gilman incorporated, it stopped being under county jurisdiction—but now they want the county to hand over the saloon license fees collected before the split.
- Ballard’s Big Expansion Ambitions
The growing town of Ballard moves to annex territory, aiming to secure land before Seattle can claim it.
- Wenatchee Residents Clash with Development Company
Town residents are resisting a development company's attempt to force the relocation of the town center to a less desirable site.
- The Last Beaver Near Town
A hunter traps a 50-pound beaver just south of town, signaling the disappearance of local wildlife.