Editing Touchet, Washington (section)

==History==
Prior to removal to reservations, there was a village of [[Walla Walla people]] located near the present townsite. This site was called Tuushi, meaning "baking salmon on sticks over coals", a name based on a coyote myth.<ref name="E.S Hunn, 2015">E.S Hunn, E. T. Morning Owl, P.E. Cash Cash, J. K. Engum (2015) "Caw Pawa Laakni They are Not Forgotten", Tamastslikt Cultural Institute</ref>  Bands of [[Palus (tribe)|Palouse]], [[Yakama]]s, [[Umatilla (tribe)|Umatilla]], [[Walla Walla (tribe)|Walla Walla]] and [[Wanapum]], that used this area were collectively called [[Nez Perce tribe|Nez Perce]] by [[Lewis and Clark Expedition|Lewis and Clark]] when they passed through the [[Walla Walla Valley]] on their return journey in 1806.<ref name=dougherty>{{cite web |last=Dougherty |first=Phil |date=July 11, 2006 |title=Columbia County — Thumbnail History |url=https://historylink.org/File/7801 |work=[[HistoryLink]] |accessdate=May 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwvchamber.com/index.html?s%3D1%26c%3D59%26p%3D224 |accessdate=October 10, 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528205728/http://www.wwvchamber.com/index.html?s=1&c=59&p=224 |archivedate=May 28, 2008 |title=Walla Walla Valley Chamber of Commerce }}</ref>

Settlers from the east came to the valley in the early 1850s, but shortly left due to [[Yakima War|conflicts with the Native people]]. Homesteaders returned to the valley in 1859.<ref name=paulus>{{cite web |last=Paulus Jr. |first=Michael J. |date=February 13, 2008 |title=Columbia County is formed on November 11, 1875|url=https://historylink.org/File/8482 |work=[[HistoryLink]] |accessdate=May 11, 2020}}</ref>

The [[Walla Walla & Columbia River Railroad]] from [[Wallula, Washington|Wallula]] to [[Walla Walla, Washington|Walla Walla]] was not completed until 1875, but by March 1874, 16 miles of track were completed up to Touchet. By the end of that year Touchet farmers shipped 4,000 tons of wheat and received 1,100 tons of merchandise.<ref name=gibson>{{cite web |last=Gibson |first=Elizabeth |date=March 7, 2006 |title=Walla Walla & Columbia River Railroad is completed from Wallula to Walla Walla on October 23, 1875|url=https://historylink.org/File/7630 |work=[[HistoryLink]] |accessdate=May 11, 2020}}</ref>

Touchet has never been officially incorporated.