Editing Chewelah, Washington

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Chewelah
| official_name      = Chewelah, Washington
| settlement_type    = [[City government in Washington (state)|City]]
| image_skyline      = Downtown_Chewelah.jpg
| image_caption      = Main Avenue in Downtown Chewelah, 2018
| image_map          = Stevens_County_Washington_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Chewelah_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Chewelah, Washington
| pushpin_map        = USA
| pushpin_relief     = 1
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States
<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Washington|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Stevens County, Washington|Stevens]]
<!-- Government -->
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = 
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = 
<!-- Area -->
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_53.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi   = 2.95
| area_land_sq_mi    = 2.95
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.00
<!-- Population -->
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 2470
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
<!-- General information -->
| timezone           = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific (PST)]]
| utc_offset         = -8
| timezone_DST       = PDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -7
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 1673
| coordinates        = {{coord|48|17|48|N|117|44|21|W|region:US-WA|display=inline,title}}
<!-- Area/postal codes and others -->
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 99109
| area_code_type     = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
| area_code          = [[Area code 509|509]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 53-12140
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2409444<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2409444}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|http://www.cityofchewelah.org/}}
| area_total_km2     = 7.65
| area_land_km2      = 7.65
| area_water_km2     = 0.00
}}

'''Chewelah''' ({{IPAc-en|tʃ|ə|ˈ|w|iː|l|ə}} {{respell|chə|WEE|lə}}) is a [[city]] in [[Stevens County, Washington]], United States. It is located approximately {{convert|45|mi|km|abbr=on}} northwest of [[Spokane, Washington|Spokane]]. The population was 2,470 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 2023 |title=Census Bureau profile: Chewelah, Washington |url=https://data.census.gov/all?q=Chewelah%20city,%20Washington |access-date=May 11, 2024 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

==History==
The name of the town comes from a [[Pend d'Oreilles tribe|Kalispel]] word, {{lang|spo|sč̓ewíleʔ}}, meaning 'watersnake' or '[[common garter snake|gartersnake]]'.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bright|first=William|title=Native American placenames of the United States|year= 2007|publisher=University of Oklahoma Press|isbn=978-0-8061-3598-4|page=95}} online at [https://books.google.com/books?id=5XfxzCm1qa4C Google Books]</ref> Prior to colonization by European-Americans, Chewelah was home to a [[band society|band]] of the [[Pend d'Oreilles tribe|Kalispel people]]. The band was known as the ''slet̓éw̓si'', meaning "valley people". Originally, the area was called Fool's Prairie, after the indigenous Kalispel who left his own tribe because of a dispute.<ref>Drury, Clifford Merrill, First White Women Over the Rockies, Volume 2, Mary Walker's diary, September 11, 1842, page 235 and Chewelah Independent June 12, 1914, History of Chewelah, by Hilda Dickson. [http://www.crossroadsarchive.net/items/show/12886 crossroadsarchive.net]</ref> Chewelah and the rest of the [[Colville River (Washington)|Colville River Valley]] were part of the [[Colville Indian Reservation]] from April 9, 1872, when the reservation was created, until July 2, 1872, when a subsequent executive order reduced the size of the reservation. The Chewelah Band of Indians is currently part of the [[Spokane people|Spokane Tribe]].{{citation needed|date=August 2019}}

Thomas and Mary Brown moved to the Fool's Prairie in 1859.<ref>Steele, Richard F. 'An illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington', Spokane, Washington, Western Historical Publishing Company, 1904.</ref> On May 8, 1872, Thomas Brown received authority to establish a post office called Chewelah. The name was first used in Stevens County Commissioner Journals on May 6, 1872.<ref>Stevens County Commissioners Journal Book A, p. 168, 1860–1883.</ref> That post office disbanded on February 23, 1875. In 1879, the post office was reestablished with Major John Simms, Indian Agent, as postmaster.<ref>Ramsey, Guy Reed, 1960–66, Postmarked Washington: 1850–1960, pps. 1556–1157, viewed at Washington State Library, Olympia, July 23, 2013.</ref> Chewelah was officially incorporated on January 26, 1903.<ref>Stevens County Commissioners Minutes Book D, pps. 402–403.</ref>

Chewelah is a town of firsts in Stevens County. It had the first Protestant Congregational Church in 1891, the first school in 1869,<ref>"The Last Bell" by Alpa Naff, c. 1984 listed Pinkney City school established 1862 as the first public school in Stevens County.</ref> the [[Spokane Falls and Northern Railway]] arrived in 1889, a Catholic church was established in 1885, and the first county newspaper was founded in July 1885.<ref>[http://www.crossroadsarchive.net/admin/items/show/15324 Slater, John B. comments on first newspaper in Stevens County.]</ref>

Initially, Chewelah was a pioneer settlement, being an agricultural center that can be traced back to the early 1870s and having prospectors working the adjacent countryside as early as 1842. The town was platted in 1884 and became known for being a rough and tumble mining town; the first lead and silver mines were established around 1886, and others followed in Embry and surrounding areas.

The town's newspaper, The Independent, was founded by William Hunter Brownlow (1860–1946) in 1903 and has been in publication ever since. The first issue came off the press on June 19, 1903, with the help of his four sons—Truman, Ralph, Arthur, and Alex—Brownlow. The family produced a weekly eight-page newspaper.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ABOUT/SUBSCRIBE – THE INDEPENDENT |url=https://chewelahindependent.com/the-independent/ |access-date=2022-08-08 |language=en-US}}</ref>

By 1905 the population had reached 650, and within a few years many prosperous copper, silver, lead, and some gold mines were flourishing in the area. The most successful ore mined in Chewelah was [[magnesite]]. By 1916 Chewelah's plant was said to be the largest producer of magnesite in the country, and at full production was the largest producer in the world, shipping some 700 tons daily. During the war, there were as many as 800 people working at the plant making high temperature-resistant refractory brick.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}}

By 1920 Chewelah's population had grown to 1,600 people and continued to prosper until the late 1960s. In 1968, the magnesite plant closed down due to cheaper competition from Japan and changes in the steel industry. Despite this major change, Chewelah survived the transition from being a "one-company town", and today Chewelah has several thousand residents and displays a pleasant blend of the past and future. With its moderate climate, dry land, and irrigated farming, ranching and dairy farming continue to be mainstays. Chewelah's diversified economy also includes a [[49 Degrees North Ski Area|ski area]] and golf course, among other industries.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}}

In June 2019, the Chewelah Creative District became the second state-designated creative district in the state, following a similar designation for [[Edmonds, Washington|Edmonds]].<ref>[https://www.arts.wa.gov/chewelah/ Washington State Arts Commission]</ref><ref>[https://chewelahindependent.com/chewelah-designated-state-creative-district/ Chewelah Independent]</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|2.98|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web |title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=2012-12-19 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archivedate=2012-01-25 }}</ref>

===Climate===
This [[climate|climatic]] region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Chewelah has a [[humid continental climate]], abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=593154&cityname=Chewelah,+Washington,+United+States+of+America&units=|title=Chewelah, Washington Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase|accessdate=August 22, 2019}}</ref>

{{Weather box 
|width=auto
| location    = Chewelah
| single line = Y
| collapsed = yes
| Jan record high F = 57
| Feb record high F = 62
| Mar record high F = 75
| Apr record high F = 91
| May record high F = 100
| Jun record high F = 106
| Jul record high F = 107
| Aug record high F = 110
| Sep record high F = 104
| Oct record high F = 92
| Nov record high F = 69
| Dec record high F = 58
| year record high F = 110
| Jan high F = 33.9
| Feb high F = 40.8
| Mar high F = 49.2
| Apr high F = 61.6
| May high F = 69.4
| Jun high F = 76.2
| Jul high F = 86.6
| Aug high F = 83.9
| Sep high F = 75.5
| Oct high F = 61.5
| Nov high F = 45.5
| Dec high F = 36.9
| year high F = 60.1
| Jan low F = 19.8
| Feb low F = 23.6
| Mar low F = 27.8
| Apr low F = 33.9
| May low F = 40.3
| Jun low F = 45.7
| Jul low F = 51.9
| Aug low F = 50.7
| Sep low F = 45.5
| Oct low F = 36
| Nov low F = 28.3
| Dec low F = 23.8
| year low F = 35.6
| Jan record low F = -38
| Feb record low F = -38
| Mar record low F = -12
| Apr record low F = 12
| May record low F = 16
| Jun record low F = 26
| Jul record low F = 31
| Aug record low F = 28
| Sep record low F = 12
| Oct record low F = 2
| Nov record low F = -19
| Dec record low F = -33
| year record low F = -38
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 2.3
| Feb precipitation inch = 1.74
| Mar precipitation inch = 1.83
| Apr precipitation inch = 1.44
| May precipitation inch = 1.75
| Jun precipitation inch = 1.66
| Jul precipitation inch = 0.82
| Aug precipitation inch = 0.8
| Sep precipitation inch = 1.06
| Oct precipitation inch = 1.47
| Nov precipitation inch = 2.4
| Dec precipitation inch = 2.9
| year precipitation inch = 20.17
| Jan precipitation days = 12
| Feb precipitation days = 9
| Mar precipitation days = 10
| Apr precipitation days = 9
| May precipitation days = 10
| Jun precipitation days = 9
| Jul precipitation days = 5
| Aug precipitation days = 5
| Sep precipitation days = 6
| Oct precipitation days = 9
| Nov precipitation days = 12
| Dec precipitation days = 13
| unit precipitation days = 0.01&nbsp;inch
| Jan snow inch = 14
| Feb snow inch = 8.4
| Mar snow inch = 3.6
| Apr snow inch = 0.4
| May snow inch = 0
| Jun snow inch = 0
| Jul snow inch = 0
| Aug snow inch = 0
| Sep snow inch = 0
| Oct snow inch = 0.4
| Nov snow inch = 3.7
| Dec snow inch = 11.8
| year snow inch = 42.4
| source 1 = <ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?wa1395 |title=CHENEY, WASHINGTON (451395) |accessdate=November 16, 2015 |publisher=Western Regional Climate Center }}</ref>
| date     = November 2015
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1910 = 823
| 1920 = 1288
| 1930 = 1315
| 1940 = 1565
| 1950 = 1683
| 1960 = 1525
| 1970 = 1365
| 1980 = 1888
| 1990 = 1945
| 2000 = 2186
| 2010 = 2607
| 2020 = 2470
| align-fn = center
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 4, 2013}}</ref><br>2015 Estimate<ref name="2015 Pop Estimate">{{cite web|title=Population Estimates|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2015/SUB-EST2015-3.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=July 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019182931/https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2015/SUB-EST2015-3.html|archive-date=2016-10-19|url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]],<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2012-12-19}}</ref> there were 2,607 people, 1,150 households, and 690 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|874.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,284 housing units at an average density of {{convert|430.9|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 93.1% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.2% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.7% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.5% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.7% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 3.7% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.8% of the population.

There were 1,150 households, of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.0% were non-families. 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.85.

The median age in the city was 45.2 years. 23% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.2% were from 25 to 44; 25.7% were from 45 to 64; and 24.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.6% male and 53.4% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], there were 2,186 people, 911 households, and 562 families residing in the city. The population density was 743.0 people per square mile (287.1/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 1,004 housing units at an average density of 341.2 per square mile (131.9/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the city was 92.96% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.05% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.69% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.69% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.05% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.91% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 3.66% from two or more races (also .01% Kari). [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.70% of the population.

There were 911 households, out of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.9% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.3% were non-families. 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 26.5% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 22.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,238, and the median income for a family was $33,750. Males had a median income of $36,065 versus $18,938 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $13,843. About 13.9% of families and 18.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 19.9% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.

==Arts and culture==
[[File:Beehive kiln chewelah washington usa year 1999.jpg|thumb|Beehive [[kiln]] along [[U.S. Route 395 in Washington|U.S. 395]] in 1999]]
[[File:2019 Chataqua Parade.jpg|thumb|The start of the 2019 Chataqua parade in downtown Chewelah]]

===Events===
* Chataqua – formerly (1978–2020)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://chewelahindependent.com/end-of-an-era-community-celebrations-says-they-can-no-longer-hold-chewelahs-chataqua-due-to-lack-of-volunteers-for-large-event/|title=END OF AN ERA: Community Celebrations says they can no longer hold Chewelah's Chataqua due to lack of volunteers for large event|work=The Chewelah Independent|date=September 10, 2020}}</ref>
* James Dean Days<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chewelah.org/visitorpage.aspx?recordkey=e2d5595f-7f87-459a-a0d6-63fee4fbc881|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121203191351/http://www.chewelah.org/visitorpage.aspx?recordkey=e2d5595f-7f87-459a-a0d6-63fee4fbc881|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 3, 2012|title=Vintage Car Shows in Chewelah|date=December 3, 2012|accessdate=August 22, 2019}}</ref> (held on the first Saturday in August) – Car show and hot rod festival

===Attractions===
* Chewelah Museum
* Chewelah Golf and Country Club
* Chewelah Center for the Arts
* StageTime Theatre School
* Chewelah City Park
* Waitts Lake
* Copper Mine Hike 
* Quartzite Mountain Trail, maintained by the Chewelah Boy Scout Troop 998

==Education==
* Chewelah School District<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chewelah.k12.wa.us/|title=Chewelah School District|website=http|accessdate=August 22, 2019}}</ref>

==Media==
* Newspaper – ''The Independent''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://chewelahindependent.com/|title=The Independent – Local Newspaper of Chewelah, Washington|accessdate=August 22, 2019}}</ref>
* Radio – [[KCHW]]

==Notable people==
* [[David P. Jenkins (Colonel)|David P. Jenkins]] – [[American Civil War]] cavalry officer and postbellum philanthropist
* [[John R. Monaghan]] – U.S. naval officer killed in action during the [[Second Samoan Civil War]]
* [[Allen Stone]] – soul musician

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{official website|http://www.cityofchewelah.org/}}
* [http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=9534 History of Chewelah] at [[HistoryLink]]

{{Stevens County, Washington}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Cities in Stevens County, Washington]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1873]]
[[Category:Washington (state) placenames of Native American origin]]