Editing Vader, Washington (section)

==Etymology==
The community was platted under the name Kraft and became known as Little Falls after the waterfalls of the same name on Olequa Creek.<ref name="VNCAF"/><ref name="SOLFS"/> The name was changed to Sopenah by the [[Northern Pacific Railway]] after it refused to recognize the moniker because there was already a [[Little Falls, Minnesota]]. The townspeople were unsatisfied with the new name and petitioned the [[Washington State Legislature]] to change it to Toronto but several communities with that title already existed in the United States, not solving the concern over naming confusion. A dispute then arose which was resolved by a compromise agreement to name the town after a German resident, and Civil War veteran, named Martin Vader. The town name was changed to Vader by the legislature on March 25, 1913. Vader later moved to California or Florida where a myth began that he did not care for the recognition; later reporting stated that he was proud of the honor.<ref name="SOLFS">{{cite news |last1=Hull |first1=Laurie |title=Spirit of Little Falls still roams in Vader |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-chronicle/2002/04-02/page-1 |access-date=September 30, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=April 2, 2002 |pages=A1, A7}}</ref><ref name="RRTTV">{{cite news |title=RR Ticket To Vader Didn't Name Town |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1966/10-10/page-161 |access-date=October 10, 2024 |work=The Daily Chronicle |date=October 10, 1966 |page=G4}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= Vader |work= Washington Place Names database |publisher= Tacoma Public Library |url= http://search.tpl.lib.wa.us/wanames/ |access-date= March 6, 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090309023858/http://search.tpl.lib.wa.us/wanames/ |archive-date = March 9, 2009 |url-status= dead}}</ref>

Twice in the 21st century motions have been made to change the community's moniker back to its original name, Little Falls, due to a variety of concerns such as the name of Vader did not encapsulate the meaning of the town, or that the title of Little Falls would be more inviting from a tourism and visitor standpoint. The issue was added to the ballot in 2005 and 2015 to determine voter approval; both attempts failed.<ref name="VNCAF">{{cite news |last1=Stanton |first1=Carrina |title=Vader name change attempt failing |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/vader-name-change-attempt-failing,226864? |access-date=September 11, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=November 9, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=The Chronicle staff |title=Goodbye, Little Falls: Vader to Keep Its Name |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/goodbye-little-falls-vader-to-keep-its-name,67615? |access-date=September 11, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=November 5, 2015}}</ref> In the 2015 vote, 131 residents voted against the change and 73 in favor.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Osowski |first1=Kaylee |title=Incumbent Councilor in Vader Loses Seat; Mayor Retains Position |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/incumbent-councilor-in-vader-loses-seat-mayor-retains-position,67013? |access-date=September 11, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=November 25, 2018}}</ref>