The Birth of Ione
Stevens County commissioners officially certify the incorporation of the town of Ione following a successful local election.
Office of the Board of County Commissioners, Stevens county, Wash. In the matter of the incorporation of the town of Ione. Whereas, the Board of County Commissioners have this day canvassed the votes cast at election held at Ione, Stevens county, Washington, on the 28th day of December, 1909; and, whereas, it appears upon such canvass that a majority of the votes cast are for its incorporation. Now, therefore, it is ordered and entered upon the minutes of the board, that the territory proposed to be incorporated... be and the same is declared duly incorporated as a municipal corporation of the fourth class, under the name and style of the town of Ione. And, whereas, it appears that the following named persons have received the highest number of votes cast for the offices respectively set opposite to their names, at said election, to-wit: John McInnis, mayor; E. S. Moore, councilman; W. G. Smith, councilman; Joseph Swoboda, councilman; G. W. Frank, councilman; J. Q. Hood, councilman; L. L. Mathews, treasurer.
“Now, therefore, it is ordered and entered upon the minutes of the board, that the territory proposed to be incorporated... be and the same is declared duly incorporated.”
Ione remains a small, historic town in Pend Oreille County, though it is no longer in Stevens County as it was in 1910. The transition from a collection of lots to an incorporated municipality was the defining moment for many small Washington towns during the early 20th-century boom.
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