Editing Thorp, Washington

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Cleanup reorganize|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Thorp, Washington
| other_name         = 
| native_name        = <small>([[Sahaptin language|Native American Name]]: Klála)</small>
| nickname           = 
| settlement_type    = [[Census-designated place]]
| motto              = 
| image_skyline      = ThorpWA.jpg
| imagesize          = 300px
| image_caption      = View of Thorp with Mt. Stuart in distance.
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| image_map          = Kittitas_County_Washington_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Thorp_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Thorp, Washington
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| pushpin_map        = USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States
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| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{flagicon|United States}} United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{flagicon|Washington}} [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Washington|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Kittitas County, Washington|Kittitas]]
| subdivision_type3  = 
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| government_footnotes = 
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| leader_title       = 
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| leader_title3      = 
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| leader_title4      = 
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| established_title  = Settled
| established_date   = 1868
| established_title2 = [[Unincorporated area|Platted]]
| established_date2  = July 9, 1895
| established_title3 = 
| established_date3  = 
| named_for          = Fielden Mortimer Thorp
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 3.2
| area_land_km2      = 3.2
| area_water_km2     = 0.0
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| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 232
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
| population_metro   = 
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| population_blank1_title = 
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| population_blank2_title = Demonym
| population_blank2  = Thorpite<br />Thorpian
| population_density_blank1_km2 = 
| population_density_blank1_sq_mi = 
| timezone           = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific (PST)]]
| utc_offset         = -8
| timezone_DST       = PDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -7
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 499
| elevation_ft       = 1637
| coordinates        = {{coord|47|4|5|N|120|40|22|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 98946
| area_code          = [[Area code 509|509]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 53-71225<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 1527125<ref name="GR3">{{cite gnis|id=1527125|name=Thorp}}</ref>
| website            = 
| footnotes          = 
}}

'''Thorp''' ({{IPAc-en|θ|ɔːr|p}} {{respell|THORP|'}}) is an [[unincorporated area|unincorporated community]] and [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in [[Kittitas County, Washington]], United States. In [[2020 United States census|2020]], the population was 232.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 2023 |title=Census Bureau profile: Thorp, Washington |url=https://data.census.gov/all?q=Thorp%20CDP,%20Washington |access-date=May 12, 2024 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

The town of Thorp is {{convert|100|mi}} east of [[Seattle]], {{convert|8|mi|0}} northwest of [[Ellensburg, Washington|Ellensburg]], and {{convert|17|mi}} southeast of [[Cle Elum, Washington|Cle Elum]]. It is located at the narrow west end of the [[Kittitas Valley]], where high elevation forests of the [[Cascade Range]] give way to cattle ranches surrounded by farmlands noted for [[timothy hay]], alfalfa, vegetables, and fruit production.

Thorp is named for Fielden Mortimer Thorp, recognized as the first permanent white settler in the Kittitas Valley. He established a homestead at the approach to Taneum Canyon ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|eɪ|n|.|əm}}, {{respell|TAYN|əm}}) near the present-day town in 1868. ''Klála'', an ancient Native American village and the largest indigenous settlement in the Kittitas Valley at the arrival of the first white settlers, was located about one mile above the current town site.

[[File:Thorp Collective building in Thorp Washington.jpg|thumb|upright|The Thorp Collective building]]

==Geography==
[[File:WASR10 YakimaRiver.jpg|left|thumb|The Yakima River canyon near the town of Thorp.]]
Thorp is located in central Kittitas County at {{coord|47|4|5|N|120|40|22|W|type:city}} (47.068006, -120.672687).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|3.2|sqkm|order=flip}}, all of it land.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US5371225| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213045628/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US5371225| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 13, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001), Thorp CDP, Washington| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| work=American FactFinder| accessdate=July 8, 2019}}</ref>

The town site of Thorp is above the [[flood plain]] of the upper [[Yakima River]] at an elevation of {{convert|1637|ft}}.<ref>[http://irapl.altervista.org/geografia/usa/index.php?recn=25623 United States Geography, Altervista.]</ref> It is situated near the river's west bank directly opposite the Hayward Hill [[landslide|slide area]] and Clark Flats, near the southeastern approach to the Yakima River canyon at the foot of Thorp Prairie. To the west of the town is Taneum Canyon, and to the northwest are Elk Heights, Morrison Canyon and the Sunlight Waters private residential [[subdivision (land)|subdivision]]. Ellensburg, the [[county seat]], is southeast of Thorp.

Northwest of Thorp at the junction of [[Washington State Route 10|SR 10]] and Thorp Highway, the Yakima River emerges from a [[canyon]] parallel to a [[basalt]] flow, the uppermost layers of which have been dated to 10.5 million years. The Thorp Prairie sits atop the basalt flows and ends at a deep canyon of [[Miocene]] [[columnar basalt]] structures carved by Swauk Creek whose headwaters are at [[Blewett Pass]] along [[US 97]] to the north. The Thorp Prairie deposits were also delivered by the Thorp Glacial episode.<ref name="jones"/>

===Topography===
North and northeast of the town of Thorp along the Yakima River channel is the gradual upward lift of the Thorp Drift, marked by an elevation change due to the incline onto the terminal [[moraine]] that marks the furthest advance of the Thorp [[glacier|Glacial]] stage. Here the Thorp [[Gravel]]s, which are named for the town of Thorp and the Thorp Glacial episode, are exposed along the ancient river channel in what is known as the "Slide Area". The gravels were formed at the terminus of the Thorp Glacial advance approximately 600,000 years ago.<ref name="waitt">Richard B. Waitt, Jr., ''Late Cenozoic Deposits, Landforms, Stratigraphy, and Techtonism in the Kittitas Valley, Washington'', U.S. Geological Survey, Professional Paper 1127, Washington DC: Government Printing Office (1979) pp. 9.</ref><ref>Eric S. Cheney, ''Regional Tertiary Sequence Stratigraphy and Regional Structure on the Eastern Flank of the Central Cascade Range, Washington'', Vol. 4, Geological Society of America, (GSA Field Guides, 2003) pp. 177-199.</ref>

The Thorp Gravels themselves are believed to be between 3 and 4 million years old. The whole structure is composed of individually layered belts of gravel and [[sand]] which are not well consolidated, continually weather, and are prone to continuing [[erosion]] and [[landslides]] averaging 30 degrees. The area is rich with wildlife, including [[bald eagle]]s and [[osprey]] who hunt for prey along the river. It is also a crossing point for [[deer]] and [[elk]] who often can be seen at dawn and dusk heading to the river for water.<ref name="jones">Jana Jones Mabry, ''Field Trip Guidebook to the Natural History of Kittitas County'', Ellensburg, Washington: Central Washington University, pp. 44.</ref><ref name="waitt"/>

About {{convert|7|mi|0}} west of Thorp, the first glimpses of the [[Columbia River]] Plateau are seen where the Yakima River has cut into the westernmost edge of the basalt [[plateau]]. The [[Columbia Plateau]] basalt formed when [[lava]] poured out of [[fissure vents|fissures]] in the ground across [[eastern Washington]] during the Miocene era, 17 to 20 million years ago, erupting intermittently for over 10 million years.  Many layers of basalt successively flowed over one another, back when the area was still flat.<ref>Charles D. Lenfesty and Thomas F. Reedy, ''Soil Survey of Yakima County Area, Washington'', Soil Conservation Service (1985).</ref> Subsequent to the Miocene lava flows, the [[volcanoes]] of the [[Cascade Mountains]] actively [[volcanic eruption|erupted]], depositing [[volcanic ash|ash]], cinders, [[pumice]] and [[lahar|mudflows]] that eventually inter-fingered with the alternating basalt layers throughout the region.<ref>Mac McCulloch, ''Gateway to Time: Mile by Mile Guide to the Yakima Canyon'', Yakima, Washington: Shields Printing (1990).</ref>
{{climate chart
| Thorp, Washington<ref>[http://climate.fizber.com/washington-city-thorp-climate.html Fizber, Thorp Climate] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329134649/http://climate.fizber.com/washington-city-thorp-climate.html |date=2012-03-29 }} (Retrieved 2011-10-06)</ref>
|16.5|34.3|7.94
|25.2|37.8|6.40
|26.5|42.2|5.41
|31.1|48.9|0.97
|37.8|61.6|1.24
|44.2|65.4|1.35
|51.8|77.2|0.07
|48.3|72.2|0.11
|43.6|67.2|0.44
|34.4|52.6|4.64
|28.5|42.5|5.31
|25.5|35.9|9.06
|units = imperial
|float = left
|clear = both }}

Interstate 90 drops through the Thorp Drift, which marks the oldest and furthest reaching known glacial moraine in the Kittitas Valley. Changes in the types of [[vegetation]] become more evident in this area. The changes are the result of a drop in elevation of about 1,400&nbsp;feet from the summit of [[Snoqualmie Pass]] to Thorp, and a significant drop in [[precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] of about 107&nbsp;inches average a year at the [[summit (topography)|summit]] of Snoqualmie Pass, to 42.94&nbsp;inches average a year at Thorp.<ref name="jones"/><ref>Stephen P. Reidel, Vernon G. Johnson and Frank A. Spane, ''Natural Gas Storage in Basalt Aquifers of the Columbia Basin: A Guide to Site Characterization'', Richland, Washington: Pacific Northwest Laboratory (2002) pp. 44.</ref>

At the bottom of the Thorp Drift moraine the view opens up into the Kittitas Valley which is deeply buried in river gravel deposited by the [[ancient]] Yakima River. This valley is a [[syncline]] that creates the Ellensburg Basin located between [[Mission Ridge Ski Area|Mission Ridge]] to the north and [[Manastash Ridge]] to the south. The Ellensburg Basin, more formally called the Ellensburg [[geological formation|Formation]], holds nearly 4,000&nbsp;feet of rock, sand, and gravel that accumulated over a period of 2 to 10 million years during the Miocene and lower [[Pliocene]] age.<ref name="jones"/><ref>Richard B. Waitt, Jr., ''Shorter Contributions to Stratigraphy and Structural Geology'', U.S. Geological Survey, Professional Paper 1126-A-J, Washington DC: Government Printing Office (1979), pp. H-54.</ref>

===Climate===
The [[climate]] at Thorp is hot during [[summer]] when [[temperature]]s tend to be in the 80s, and very cold during [[winter]] when temperatures tend to be in the 20s.

The warmest month of the year at Thorp is July, with an average high of 77.2&nbsp;°F and an average low of 51.8&nbsp;°F. The coldest month of the year is January, with an average low of 16.5&nbsp;°F and an average high of 34.3&nbsp;°F. Temperature variations between [[night]] and [[day]] tend to be relatively large during summer with a difference that can reach 30&nbsp;°F, and fairly limited during winter with temperatures hovering at or below [[freezing point|freezing]] for most of the day, and often dipping below zero at night.

Temperatures generally drop significantly in October, while [[rain]]fall rises from less than half an [[inch]] to nearly 5&nbsp;inches average per month. This trend continues through late [[autumn]] and [[winter]], with a marked drop in [[precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] beginning in April which coincides with a gradual rise in temperature into late [[spring (season)|spring]] and summer.

There is significant variation in rainfall throughout the year, with December and January receiving a mix of rainfall and [[snow]], averaging 9.06 and 7.94&nbsp;inches respectively.  Rainfall during summer is, on average, less than half an inch each month with July receiving the lowest monthly average precipitation of the year at .07&nbsp;inches.

===Surrounding area===
{{Geographic location
|North     = [[Yakima River]]
|Northeast =
|Northwest = <br /><small>[[Roslyn, Washington|Roslyn]]</small>
[[Cle Elum, Washington|Cle Elum]]<br /><small>[[South Cle Elum, Washington|South Cle Elum]]</small>
|West      = <small>Sunlight Waters</small><br /><small>Thorp Prairie</small>
|Center    = ''<span style="font-size:100%;">Thorp</span>''
|South     =
|Southwest = <small>Taneum Canyon</small><br /><small>Taneum Creek</small>
|Southeast = [[Ellensburg, Washington|<span style="font-size:125%;">Ellensburg</span>]]<br /><small>[[Kittitas, Washington|Kittitas]]</small>
|East      =
|}}

==Demographics==

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 273 people, 103 households, and 74 families residing in the CDP. The [[population density]] was 221.2 people per square mile (85.7/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 107 housing units at an average density of 86.7/sq&nbsp;mi (33.6/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the CDP was 93.41% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.10% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.83% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 3.66% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.20% of the population.

There were 103 households, out of which 44.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.2% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 33.0% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 113.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.8 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $33,125, and the median income for a family was $45,625. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $22,500 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the CDP was $17,772. About 5.6% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 5.2% of those under the age of eighteen and 19.2% of those 65 or over.

==History==
{{multiple image
| direction = vertical
| width     = 140
| header    = Antoine & Lucy
| image1    = ThorpWA-6Antoine.jpg
| alt1      = Antoine
| caption1  = Antoine Bertram moved to the Thorp area with his friends Charles Splawn and F. M. Thorp. He is seen here wearing a buckskin jacket and beaded hat.
| image2    = ThorpWA-7Lucy.jpg
| alt2      = Fielden Mortimer Thorp
| caption2  = Lucy Pahofta Bertram was the daughter of Indian John. She lived in the Thorp area with her husband Antoine. She is seen here wearing traditional attire complete with intricate beadwork on her hat.
}}

===Native Americans===
The [[Kittitas Valley]] was occupied by the Kittitas ([[Sahaptin language|Yakama Ichishkíin Sínwit]]: ''Ki-tatash'')<ref>Patricia Roberts Clark, ''Tribal Names of the Americas - Spelling Variants and Alternative Forms, Cross-Referenced'', Jefferson, N.C. and London: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers (1948) pp. 110.</ref> or Upper [[Yakama Nation|Yakama]] tribe, as well as hunting and food gathering parties of [[Cayuse people|Cayuse]] and [[Nez Perce tribe|Nez Perce]]. The area was rich in wild berries, fish and game, and neighboring tribes annually converged on the valley in April or May to harvest Indian onions ([[Allium|''Allium spp.'']]), Indian potatoes (''[[Claytonia lanceolata]]''), and breadroot (''[[Lomatium canbyi]]'').<ref name="walker">Deward E. Walker, William C. Sturtevant and Deward E. Walker, Jr., ''Handbook of North American Indians, Plateau, Vol. 12.'', Washington DC: Government Printing Office (1998) pp. 333.</ref> The various tribes engaged in [[horse trading]] with early [[British people|British]] and [[Americans|American]] [[fur]] traders, and had peaceful relations with [[Jesuit]] [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] [[Missionary|missionaries]] who preceded them.<ref name="welch">[http://www.workforceexplorer.com/article.asp?ARTICLEID=10138&PAGEID=94&SUBID= Carol Welch, Ph.D. and Roger Miller, Kittitas County Profile, 2010-01.]. Retrieved 2011-09-19.</ref>

In the 1840s, [[White people|white]] settlers began to pour into the [[Oregon Territory]] (and later [[Washington Territory]]), bringing with them a [[measles]] epidemic and other diseases deadly to the indigenous population. That, coupled with cultural differences such as [[plow]]ing the [[Soil|ground]], which was seen as desecrating the [[Native American religion|spirit]] of the earth, led to confrontation between Native Americans and white settlers.<ref name="welch"/>

The largest [[Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast|indigenous]] settlement in the Kittitas Valley at the arrival of the white settlers was ''Klála'', a village of around 500 people located about one mile above the present town of Thorp along the [[Yakima River]] opposite the [[Mouth (water stream)|mouth]] of Taneum Creek. Further up the river, about six miles northwest of present-day Thorp was the [[village]] of ''Tátxanixsha'', and four miles below Thorp was a village of around 400 people called ''Yumi'sh''.<ref name="walker b">Deward E. Walker, William C. Sturtevant and Deward E. Walker, Jr., ''Handbook of North American Indians, Plateau, Vol. 12.'', Washington DC: Government Printing Office (1998) p. 327.</ref><ref>Charles M. Hodges, Christian Miss and Johonna Shea, ''Cultural Resources Survey for the Desert Claim Wind Power Project'', NWAA Report Number WA03-39, Seattle: Northwest Archaeological Associates (2003), pp. 15.</ref>

Among the earliest records of Native American interaction with [[frontier]]smen in the Kittitas Valley took place in 1858, the summer of the [[Yakima War]], when a large contingency of [[Wanapum]] from [[Priest Rapids]] camped at the head of Taneum Canyon very close to where the town of Thorp is now located.<ref name="daily19680430">''Daily Record'' (Ellensburg, Washington), "Links traced in Thorp family chain," 1968-04-30, pp. 3.</ref>

They were led by [[Smohalla]],<ref name="daily19680430"/><ref name="kennedy">George W. Kennedy, ''The Pioneer Campfire ... Anecdotes, Adventures and Reminiscences'', Portland: Clarke-Kundret Printing Co. (1914), pp. 300.</ref> the legendary dreamer-prophet associated with the [[Native American religion#Waashat Religion or Dreamer Faith|Washani or "Dreamer Movement"]] among the native peoples of the [[Pacific Northwest]]. Smohalla claimed that [[Vision (spirituality)|visions]] came to him through [[dream]]s, and he preached a return to the original way of life before white influences which included [[ritual]] music and [[Dance|dancing]]. His speaking was called ''Yuyunipitqana'' for “Shouting Mountain".<ref>Carl Waldman, ''Atlas of the North American Indian'', New York: Checkmark Books (2009) pp 229.</ref>

Rumors floated that Smohalla was preparing for [[battle]]. An exchange took place in which Rev. George W. Kennedy, a frontier [[Methodism|Methodist]] [[preacher]], traveled to the location of the camp in an attempt to make [[peace]] as he had become alarmed that such a large assembly meant hostility. By all accounts, Smohalla was not easily intimidated. "He looked like a [[Monarch|king]]. Stolid as a [[statue]]," Kennedy said of meeting him. The preacher exhorted, "God had made us all brothers and not enemies" and "the Great Father want[s] us all to live together in [[World peace|peace on earth]]."

If that is [[Truth|true]], Smohalla demanded, "Why has the white man taken our lands from us? Has the white man any [[rights]] here in [the] Kittitas that the Indian has any right to respect? The Indian came first."

It was, Kennedy conceded, "an unanswerable [[speech]] ... And I promised utmost [[friendship]] on the part of the white brothers. We gave them our [[Handshake|hand shake]] and pronounced [[benediction]] of [[God]] on them, and Chief Smohalla agreed to accept that as the [[Ceremonial pipe|Pipe of Peace]]."<ref name="kennedy"/><ref name="lyman">William Denison Lyman, ''History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and Benton Counties'', The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co. (1917), pp. 762–777.</ref>

[[File:ThorpFMThorp1822-1894.jpg|left|thumb|upright|Thorp is named for Fielden Mortimer Thorp (1822-94), the first permanent white settler in the Kittitas Valley.]]

===Thorp pioneers===
Until the mid-1850s, the Kittitas Valley saw little encroachment by [[Settler|pioneer]] settlers. But in 1853, the first immigrant [[wagon trains]] passed through the area led by David Longmore. During that same year, [[George B. McClellan]] conducted a survey of the valley on behalf of the [[Northern Pacific Railroad]], and two years later Charles Splawn briefly passed through the area.<ref name="daily19700903">''Daily Record'' (Ellensburg, Washington), "First train into the valley dates 1853," 1970-09-03, pp. D-3.</ref>

Andrew Jackson Splawn, who traversed the [[valley]] in 1861 on his way to the nearby [[Mining|mines]] with his cattle, wrote of his experience:

<blockquote>"It was on the fourth day out that we came to the beautiful Kittitas valley. This valley, as it looked that day to me, a boy of 16, was the lovliest {{sic}} spot I had ever seen. To the west stood the great Cascade range; to the north rose the snow-capped peaks of the [[Stuart Range|Peshastin]] to guard the beautiful valley below where the Yakima River wound its way full-length, while from the mountains on the north flowed numerous small streams and the whole [[plain]] was covered with a thick coat of [[Grassland|grass]]."<ref name="splawn">A. J. Splawn, ''Ka-mi-akin, The Last Hero of the Yakimas'' (1917).</ref></blockquote>

Fielden Mortimer (F. M.) Thorp is recognized as the first white settler in the [[Yakima River|Yakima Valley]], prior to his subsequent move to the pleasant surroundings of the present-day town of Thorp. Rudimentary county government was formed in [[Yakima County]] in 1865, and business was transacted at the home of F. M. Thorp near [[Moxee, Washington|Moxee]] until another suitable location could be found.<ref name="daily19811027">''Daily Record'' (Ellensburg, Washington), "County's political history to be explored," 1981-10-27, pp. 9.</ref>

Settlers began to trickle into the Kittitas Valley with the opening of the Snoqualmie Wagon Road in 1867, which approximated the modern-day route of Interstate 90 past Thorp, from Seattle to Ellensburg.<ref>''Inventory of Heritage Corridors'', Old Sunset Highway Heritage Corridor, Seattle: King County Historic and Scenic Corridors Project (2009), pp. 85-6.</ref> Among these first adventurous individuals were F. M. Thorp and Charles Splawn, whose families had united with the marriage of Charles Splawn, a brother of Senator Andrew Jackson Splawn of Yakima,<ref>''Spokesman-Review'' (Spokane, Washington), "Pacific Northwest pioneers," 1908-04-14, pp. 7.</ref> to Thorp's daughter Dulcena in 1863.<ref name="preservation1">[http://www.thorp.org/history%20of%20thorp.htm Thorp Mill Town Historical Preservation Society, History of Thorp.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006214555/http://www.thorp.org/history%20of%20thorp.htm |date=2011-10-06 }} Retrieved 2011-09-20.</ref>

In 1868, they became the first permanent white settlers in the Kittitas Valley, building the Thorp and Splawn [[homestead (buildings)|homesteads]] at the head of Taneum Canyon on the banks of Taneum Creek.<ref name="splawn b">A. J. Splawn, ''Ka-mi-akin, The Last Hero of the Yakimas'' (1917).pp. 254-256.</ref> This location, not more than a mile from the present town of Thorp, provided ideal shelter for their wintering [[cattle]], as well as offering [[water]] and fertile [[soil]]s for [[agriculture]].<ref name="preservation1"/> Charles Splawn operated a tavern, or [[Roadhouse (facility)|roadhouse]], at this location which served as an overnight stop for travelers crossing the [[Snoqualmie Pass|Snoqualmie Trail]].<ref name="daily19680430"/>

Shortly thereafter, the F. M. Thorp and Charles Splawn families were joined by their friend Walter J. Reed, the second settler in the Kittitas Valley, who later established the community of [[Cle Elum, Washington|Cle Elum]].<ref name="kcplaces">[http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wakcgs/KC_Places.htm Kittitas County Genealogical Society, Kittitas County Places.] Retrieved 2011-09-22.</ref>  Tillman Houser, another early settler who brought his family over [[Snoqualmie Pass]] to settle on Coleman Creek, entered the valley on June 16 of that same year,<ref name="daily19700903"/> and was later joined by Martin Dervan and his wife.<ref name="preservation1"/> The first [[post office]] in the Kittitas Valley was established as Taneum Station at the home of F. M. Thorp in 1869.<ref name="daily19811027"/>

Antoine Bertram was a Yakama Indian who moved to the Thorp area with the Charles Splawn and the F. M. Thorp families. He farmed the area with his first wife Emma Pahofta, the daughter of Indian John (for whom Indian John Hill, and the Indian John Hill [[Rest area|Rest Area]] on Interstate 90 between Cle Elum and Thorp are named). Later in life he married Emma's sister Lucy Pahofta. Antoine helped Thorp and Splawn tend their cattle.<ref name="daily19680430"/><ref>[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ThorpWA-6Antoine.jpg#.7B.7Bint:license-header.7D.7D Washington State Library, Washington Rural Heritage] Source Identifier IND-075, Ellensburg Heritage - Kittitas Valley Crossroads Collection. Retrieved 2011-10-15.</ref> Keneho,<ref>[http://pw1.netcom.com/~carpentg/aj.html Andrew J. Splawn, From Cowboy to Politician] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401150545/http://pw1.netcom.com/~carpentg/aj.html |date=2012-04-01 }}. Retrieved 2011-10-12.</ref> another friendly Indian of Yakama descent, was paid ten [[United States dollar|dollar]]s by Charles Splawn for each trip to carry the mail over the Snoqualmie Trail to and from the Taneum Station post office.<ref name="daily19680430"/>

Among the mysterious [[Monument|landmark]]s in the Thorp area is stone slab marking a [[grave]] at Tamarack Springs in the Taneum Canyon, which reads, "A [[White people|White]] Woman's Grave." This grave belongs to the wife of Al Williams, whose wife was killed at the [[Spring (hydrosphere)|spring]]s in 1870. Williams and his [[wife]] were traveling through the area and became [[Orientation (mental)|lost]]. They were directed by an Indian to follow the Tamarack Trail, since it was the closest route to a [[Human settlement|settlement]]. In hurrying to their destination, the woman's [[horse]] stumbled over a log and fell. A letter written by Charles Splawn explains the tragic events:

<blockquote>"Because his wife was expecting a [[Infant|baby]], they started to go to a settlement. The [[horse]] Mrs. Williams was riding fell while jumping a log. The child was born [[Preterm birth|prematurely]] and the mother and [[Infant|baby]] died. Williams buried his wife and child as best he could. And rode down into the valley. He afterwards came back to remove the bodies. Thorp, Splawn and Rego advised him not to. They told him she was a pioneer's daughter and a pioneer's wife and she should rest in a pioneer grave."<ref name="daily19730601">''Daily Record'' (Ellensburg, Washington), "Tamarack Springs tragedy recalled," 1973-06-01, pp. 4.</ref></blockquote>

Years later, according to the late Mrs. W. D. Bruton of Thorp, a marker was placed over the grave by Matt Pointer, who rode the area with his cattle, to mark it as a white woman's grave so it would not be [[vandalism|vandalized]]. Eventually, a fence was built around it and rocks placed over it to protect it from [[livestock]]. After the death of his wife, Williams went to the [[Puget Sound]] area and operated a [[ferry]] at [[Nisqually River]] and eventually moved to [[California]] where his brother owned a [[Stagecoach|stage]] line.<ref name="daily19730601"/> Today, the grave is located off Road 3120 on land owned by the [[Washington Department of Natural Resources]] in a small fenced area across a [[meadow]] from the springs.

The Thorp-Splawn Pioneer Cemetery is located about a mile southwest of the town of Thorp on the north side of Interstate 90 in a field that is visible from the [[Controlled-access highway|freeway]]. The Thorp-Splawn Cemetery was neglected until 1964, when the Terra Firma Garden Club of Thorp restored the plot. However, putting the markers over the right graves was impossible due to years of decay and it is uncertain whether the markers correctly correspond with the individuals buried there.<ref name="daily19680430"/>

Other early settlers in the Thorp area were Herman Page, J. H. Stevens, W. D. Killmore, A. T. Mason, George O’Hare, George and Jacob Forgey, John Newman,  and John C. Goodwin. Goodwin was later appointed the first [[sheriff]] of Kittitas County upon the first meeting of the [[local government|county commissioners]] in Ellensburg on December 17, 1883.<ref>Austin Mires, "Early history of Kittitas County," The Coast Magazine, Vol. XV, May 1908 (from ''The Coast'', Honor L. Wilhelm, pp. 321).</ref> John Ellison and Amy Childs of Thorp were both members of early settler families in the area, and at the time of their marriage in 1884, received the first [[marriage license]] granted in Kittitas County.<ref>''Daily Record'' (Ellensburg, Washington), “Ellisons received first marriage license issued by county,” 1968-12-11, pp. 3.</ref>

{{Infobox NRHP
| name = Thorp Mill
| nrhp_type = nrhp
| image = Thorp-Mill.jpg
| caption = Historic Thorp Mill
| location = Thorp, Washington
| locmapin = Washington
| area =
| built = 1883
| architect = Oren Hutchinson
| architecture = Banked Grist Mill
| designated_nrhp_type = November 23, 1977
| refnum = 77001343
}}
In the 1870s, the area that would become Thorp was known as Pleasant Grove and was part of [[Yakima County, Washington|Yakima County]]. On July 6, 1872, the Pleasant Grove post office on the west side of the [[Yakima River]] was established at the [[ranch]] of John S. Vaughn, and the Taneum post office was discontinued the following year on April 7 due to an unnecessary overlap in service.<ref name="daily19530706">''Daily Record'' (Ellensburg, Washington), "Gives history of postoffice in the Kittitas," 1953-07-06, pp. 7.</ref> Despite being one of the earliest locations in Kittitas County to be settled, Pleasant Grove would remain sparsely populated for the next [[decade]], with cattle ranching as the primary [[Employment|occupation]].<ref name="dickfields">Richard Fields, "History of Thorp Kittitas County State of Washington to 1901" (master's thesis, Central Washington University) pp. 47.</ref><ref name="registrationform">[https://fortress.wa.gov/dahp/wisaard/documents/RN/0/13/13518.pdf National Register of Historic Places Registration Form, Thorp Grade School, KT-3052 (Prepared by Tanner Dotzauer, Thorp Mill Town Historical Preservation Society) 2009-06-03.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330000021/https://fortress.wa.gov/dahp/wisaard/documents/RN/0/13/13518.pdf |date=2012-03-30 }} Retrieved 2011-10-15.</ref>

By the early 1880s, farming was beginning to take hold in the area around Thorp, and the [[Rangeland|open range]] began to shrink. In 1880, the Pleasant Grove post office was moved close to where the small [[Commercial district|commercial center]] was beginning to form with the establishment of a [[sawmill]] and, three years later, a [[gristmill]]. The new settlement hoped for the eventual establishment of a [[Rail transport|railway]] [[Train station|depot]] as the [[Northern Pacific Railroad]] had made its intentions clear that it would soon come through the valley close to where the [[village]] was located.<ref name="dickfields"/><ref name="registrationform"/>

[[File:ThorpTrainNo255ca1900.jpg|thumb|left|Train No. 255 of the Northern Pacific as it approaches Thorp. (Photo ca. 1900)]]

===Mill town and railroad era===
In 1878, James L. Mills traversed the trail over the [[Cascade Mountains]] from [[Puget Sound]] by foot, and saw great possibilities in the Kittitas Valley.<ref name="preservation1"/> He built a [[sawmill]] west of the current town site in 1879,<ref name="eugene">Eugene J. Brain, "Thorp, Washington," The Coast Magazine, Vol. XV, May 1908 (from ''The Coast,'' Honor L. Wilhelm, pp. 366-67).</ref> diverting water from the Yakima River to turn its wheels.<ref name="preservation1"/><ref>''An Illustrated History of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas Counties with an Outline of the Early History of the State of Washington'', Chicago: Chicago Interstate Publishing Co. (1904) pp. 211.</ref> The sawmill had a capacity of 7,000&nbsp;feet daily.<ref name="eugene"/>

Not content with the sawmill, Mills devised a way for the same wheels to power the North Star Mill, a gristmill that Oren Hutchinson had built at the town of Thorp in 1883, to provide feed for [[livestock]] and [[flour]] for the local residents.<ref name="preservation1"/> The mill was best known for its leading brand "Tip Top".<ref name="eugene"/>

The Pleasant Grove [[post office]] was moved in 1880 to a site near the mills and changed its name to Milton post office to reflect the name of the small settlement that had sprung up at that location, which was named for Milton Young.<ref name="daily19530706"/><ref name="dickfields"/> It was housed in several farm houses northwest of the current town site of Thorp until 1884, when it was re-established at the Thorp gristmill through the instrumentality of James L. Mills, who named it "Oren" after Oren Hutchinson. In 1889, the name of the post office was changed to "Thorp" to conform with the name used for the settlement by the Northern Pacific Railroad, and, in 1895, the post office was moved just down the road to the location of the depot that was built there and the town site that had been platted around it.<ref name="daily19530706"/><ref name="eugene"/>

It was the system of water delivery that made the mills at Thorp possible, and the farming lands around Thorp are the oldest [[irrigation|irrigated]] section in Kittitas County.<ref name="eugene"/> The Manastash Canal was completed in 1875, followed later in the same year by the Taneum Ditch Company.<ref name="daily19811027"/> The Westside irrigating canal that runs just south of the town of Thorp was begun in June 1889, and water was first used in 1890. Utilizing water diverted from the Yakima River, it is about 14&nbsp;miles long and averages 12&nbsp;feet wide. The original cost for building the Westside Canal was $30,000.<ref>Frederick Haynes Newell, ''Nature'', "Report on agriculture for irrigation in the western part of the United States," Washington DC: United States Census Office (1894) pp. 273.</ref>

To a great extent, the town of Thorp owes its existence to the arrival of the [[Northern Pacific Railroad]]. While some of the initial settlement was undoubtedly influenced by the convergence of [[wagon train|wagon trails]] which would eventually cross Snoqualmie Pass, it was the location of the Cascade [[branch line|spur]] that ultimately determined the location of the town.<ref name="preservation1"/> In 1887, the Northern Pacific Railroad reached the town of Thorp,<ref name="daily19890818">''Daily Record'' (Ellensburg, Washington), "Thorp settlers watched Indians", 1989-08-18, pp. 14-D.</ref><ref>''National Geographic Guide to Scenic Highways & Byways'', Washington DC: National Geographic (1997) pp. 378.</ref> when the railroad’s management built a sidetrack out one mile west of the current town site and named it after the intrepid pioneer F. M. Thorp and his family.<ref name="eugene"/>

It took two years to build the Northern Pacific line from Old Town, now [[Union Gap, Washington|Union Gap]],<ref>''Daily Record'' (Ellensburg, Washington), "Bits of Thorp history recalled," 1974-02-18, pp. 2</ref> to Thorp. [[Chinese people|Chinese]] laborers or "[[coolies]]" were brought in first to build the Northern Pacific spur, and again to extend the [[Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad|Milwaukee Road]] through the Kittitas Valley. A Northern Pacific [[Section house (railway)|section house]] was located at Thorp where men of the regular crew boarded, while Chinese laborers and other members of the work gang had their own [[sleeping cars]].<ref name="daily19890818"/>

[[File:ThorpHaywagon.jpg|left|thumb|Horse drawn wagon loaded with hay near Thorp. (Photo ca. 1900)]]
In 1895, with the extension of the main line to the site of the current town, the railroad station was moved and the town was laid out.<ref name="eugene"/> The town of Thorp developed around this [[train station|depot]], with the first developments including the construction of maintenance facilities, shipping facilities and warehouses.<ref name="preservation1"/>

The current town site was settled by the Newman family in 1878. On July 9, 1895, a three-block town site was [[plat]]ted around the site of the Northern Pacific depot by John M. and Sarah Isabel Newman.<ref name="lyman"/> In May 1900, Milford A. Thorp, a son of F. M. Thorp,<ref name="eugene"/> added Thorp's Addition, incorporating into the town site the land he had purchased in 1885 from James McMurray.<ref name="kcplaces"/> Houses and businesses quickly sprang up, and small farms appeared around the edges.

The first store in Thorp was opened by J. E. Veach in about 1895. The first hotel was the Thorp House, established by A. St. John in 1893. The hotel was superseded by the Tanum House {{sic}} in 1903, which was built and operated by J. F. Duncan.<ref name="eugene"/>

The ''Ellensburg Dawn'' newspaper wrote in the spring of 1901 of the promising little town:

<blockquote>"The little village of Thorp, nine miles up the road, is one of the nicest little places in Central Washington. It is quiet, no saloons to mar the pleasure of the inhabitants, has a good church, a good public school building, a sawmill and a good flouring mill, both of which are operated by water power, a manufacturing establishment--land roller and box factory, and in fact you can get about all the accommodations in Thorp you can get in many towns of much larger population. We are glad Thorp is in Kittitas County."<ref name="registrationform"/><ref>''Ellensburg Dawn'' (Ellensburg, Washington), "Thorp," 1901-05-10.</ref></blockquote>

In 1907, the energy from the water wheel at the North Star Mill was utilized to power a [[Boiler (steam generator)|steam generator]] having a 40-[[horsepower]] [[dynamo]], which furnished [[electricity]] for laundering clothes two mornings each week, and for lighting homes for a few hours each evening. This gave Thorp the distinction of being among the first towns in Washington to have electricity, and the smallest unincorporated town in the Northwest to have [[light bulb|electric lights]].<ref name="eugene"/><ref name="historylink">[http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&File_Id=5073 HistoryLink, "Thorp Mill begins operation in the Kittitas Valley in April 1883," Essay 5073.] Retrieved 2011-09-22.</ref>

The addition of a Milwaukee Road depot in 1909 meant that Thorp was the first rail stop where the [[Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad]] and the Northern Pacific Railroad crossed paths, making it an important shipping point at one time.<ref name="kcplaces"/><ref>''The Ellensburg Capital'' (Ellensburg, Washington), "Brief news of the day," 1909-08-13, pp. 4.</ref> The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad operated its headquarters for building operations in the Lower Kittitas County, including the shipping in of supplies for the area, out of its Thorp depot. The pay office of employees and the [[commissary]] were also located at Thorp.<ref name="eugene"/>

The [[U.S. Postal Service]] carried mail to and from Thorp by railroad cars of the Northern Pacific. Rather than stopping and losing precious time, [[railway post office|RPO]] (railway post office) cars featured a large hook that would catch the mailbag in its crook on the way past the station.<ref name="daily19730508">''Daily Record'' (Ellensburg, Washington), "Thorp post office--family affair," 1973-05-08, pp. 3.</ref> A daily [[passenger train]] ran east to [[Ellensburg, Washington|Ellensburg]] and points beyond, stopping in Thorp around 11:30&nbsp;a.m. and returning around 4&nbsp;p.m., followed by another westbound train at 11&nbsp;p.m.<ref name="daily19890818"/>

[[File:ThorpTanumHouse.jpg|left|thumb|The Tanum House hotel, later renamed Thorp Hotel, was destroyed by fire in 1938. (Photo ca. 1915)]]
{{multiple image
| direction = vertical
| width = 200
| header = Commercial Buildings<br />in Thorp
| image1 = ThorpWA-2ca1930.jpg
| alt1 = The Red and White Stores of Thorp, Washington.
| caption1 = Red & White Store (Photo ca. 1930)
| image2 = ThorpFCPorterDryGoods.jpg
| alt2 = F. C. Porter Dry Goods of Thorp, Washington. 1915
| caption2 = F. C. Porter Dry Goods (Photo ca. 1915)
| image3 = ThorpWA-3ca1915.jpg
| alt3 = Thorp Mercantile Company and general store in Thorp, Washington. 1915
| caption3 = Thorp Mercantile Company & General Store. (Photo ca. 1915)
| image4 = ThorpWAca1935.jpg
| alt4 = Thorp Garage, Thorp, Washington. 1935
| caption4 = Thorp Garage with Thorp Hotel (formerly Tanum House) in distance. (Photo ca. 1935)
}}

===Boomtown and beyond===
Through the first few decades of the 20th century, the town's economy remained steady with the population reaching its peak at around 400 people.<ref name="registrationform"/> Eugene B. Brain wrote of the flourishing town of Thorp, as it was poised to enter into its [[boomtown]] era, in ''The Coast'' magazine:

<blockquote>"The people of Thorp are prosperous and well-to-do. The business interests are represented by two general stores, a fine hotel, drug store, restaurant, livery, meat market, blacksmith shop, saw mill, flouring mill, numerous fruit packers and shippers and other pursuits [...] with a bright present, a prosperous and large future lies before the town. Thorp is bound to grow and with its enterprising and progressive residents a magnificent town is assured--a town of wealth and importance for Kittitas County."<ref name="eugene"/></blockquote>

Then in the late 1920s and 1930s, Thorp experienced a remarkable economic boost despite the Great Depression that had descended upon the nation.<ref name="registrationform"/>

This period of growth and prosperity was led by an influx of [[lumber|timber]] workers from the Taneum Canyon, where the [[Boise Cascade|Cascade Logging Company]] maintained a portable [[logging]] camp.<ref name="daily19890818"/> In 1928, Thorp became one of the headquarters for the Bureau of Reclamation's Kittitas Division of the Yakima Project which focused on construction of the Highline Canal, an event that brought yet more activity to the town.<ref name="registrationform"/><ref>''Daily Record'' (Ellensburg, Washington), "Write interesting story of the building of the High Line," 1953-07-06, pp. 2.</ref>

This coincided with the establishment of Camp Taneum as Company 4771 of the [[Civilian Conservation Corps]] at nearby Taneum Canyon, bringing as many as 189 young men from as far away as [[New York state|New York]] to work at the camp, many of whom frequented the town of Thorp for shopping and entertainment. Camp Taneum was disbanded in July 1938, and its enrollees transferred to Fort Snelling, Minnesota, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and Little Rock, Arkansas for reassignment.<ref name="daily19730508"/><ref>''Daily Record'' (Ellensburg, Washington), "Looking back - July 8, 1938," 1968-07-08, pp. 4.</ref>

The boost in the economy brought workers into the town, spawning the need for social venues which, with the absence of liquor during the Prohibition era, made Ellison's Hall a great attraction. Located at the corner of Railroad Street (Thorp Highway) and First Street, Ellison's offered lively [[social club|smokers]] on Saturday nights.<ref name="daily19890818"/> It was also the home of many parties hosted by the Ladies' Aid Society, and dances featuring local favorites like "Larry's Harmony Aces"<ref>''The Ellensburg Capital'' (Ellensburg, Washington), "New dance hall," 1932-04-08, pp. 2.</ref> and "Pinky's Roamers".<ref>''Daily Record'' (Ellensburg, Washington), "Opening dance! At the Ellison hall," 1932-04-08, pp. 4.</ref>

On the morning of May 24, 1938, a serious fire burned several small businesses to the ground, including the Thorp Hotel, and a mercantile along with the clubhouse on the second floor above it which was home to the Thorp [[Independent Order of Odd Fellows|Odd Fellows]] and [[International Association of Rebekah Assemblies|Rebekahs]] lodges.<ref name="capital19380527">''The Ellensburg Capital'' (Ellensburg, Washington), "Blaze at Thorp destroys two buildings," 1938-05-27, pp. 1.</ref>

The Thorp Hotel had been operated as the "Tanum House" {{sic}} first by J. F. Duncan<ref name="eugene"/> and then by Frank and Callie Mattox.<ref>''Daily Record'' (Ellensburg, Washington), "Mrs. C. Mattox dies in Tacoma," 1947-05-21, pp. 1.</ref> The name was changed sometime in the 1920s, and subsequently operated by Harrison and Nancy Barrett from 1924 to 1930.<ref>''Daily Record'' (Ellensburg, Washington), "Mr. and Mrs. H. Barrett are wed for 50 years," 1958-02-18, pp. 5.</ref> At the time of the fire it was operated by Ray Long.<ref name="capital19380527"/><ref>[http://content.statelib.wa.gov/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/ellensburg&CISOPTR=2212&CISOBOX=1&REC=5 Washington State Library, Washington Rural Heritage, Source BBS373.] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120708130642/http://content.statelib.wa.gov/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/ellensburg&CISOPTR=2212&CISOBOX=1&REC=5 |date=2012-07-08 }} . Retrieved 2011-09-25.</ref>

None of the businesses destroyed in the 1938 fire were rebuilt, and the business district of the town was again struck by fire on the afternoon of August 16, 1943, when another commercial building was burned. The blaze threatened a serious conflagration, and was extinguished by state forestry crews with the assistance of a pumper from Ellensburg.<ref name="daily19430817">''Daily Record'' (Ellensburg, Washington), "Blaze destroys Thorp building," 1943-08-17, pp. 1.</ref>

The realization that the fire might have been more serious, coupled with the previous fires in the town, gave impetus to a movement that had been underway at Thorp for some time regarding the purchase of fire equipment. An emergency meeting of the town residents was held on the evening of August 19, 1943, to discuss the town's response to the problem.<ref name="daily19430817"/> Kittitas County Fire District No. 1 was organized in that same year at Thorp, and is the oldest fire protection district in the state. The [[volunteer fire department]]'s small fire house was topped with the large bell that originally hung in the [[bell tower|belfry]] of the old Thorp school house. The bell is now an artifact at the current fire station which was recently built adjacent to the old one. The original fire house was subsequently sold and has been converted to an artist's studio and residence.<ref name="daily19890818"/>

The boomtown days began to subside with the departure of the canal workers and the winding down of nearby logging operations. The local economy greatly suffered with many businesses closing never to reopen, and the boom era had essentially come to a close by the end of World War II.{{Citation needed|date=September 2011}}

The Northern Pacific Railroad depot at Thorp was officially closed on July 1, 1952. The Northern Pacific cited a steady decline in shipments and competition from trucks as the reason for the closure. The last shipment of freight moved from Thorp via the Northern Pacific line was on May 9, 1952.<ref>''Daily Record'' (Ellensburg, Washington), "Depot at Thorp closed by N.P.," 1952-06-30, pp. 1.</ref>

In 1967, ground was broken at the site of the 1938 fire by the Ellensburg Telephone Company which acquired the land to build a local telephone exchange office for the Thorp area. The building, which cost $25,000 to complete, was cut into service in May 1968, and is still in use. The exchange office was originally equipped to handle 400 subscribers.<ref>''Daily Record'' (Ellensburg, Washington), "Thorp gets telephone building," 1967-05-31, pp. 3.</ref>

The construction of a two-lane steel [[truss bridge]] over the Yakima River west of Thorp in 1936, prepared the way for the designation of the Thorp Highway, from State Route 10 ([[Washington State Route 10|SR 10]]) to [[US 97]], as SSH 3M ([[List of Primary State Highways in Washington|Secondary State Highway]] 3M) in 1937. In 1953, the highway through Thorp was deleted from the state highway system.<ref>[http://bridgehunter.com/wa/kittitas/84686000000000/ Bridgehunter, North Thorp Highway Bridge.] Retrieved 2011-09-23.</ref><ref>WikiProject Washington State Highways, "When each route was added to the state highway system."</ref>

The location of [[U.S. Route 10]] (now [[State Route 10]]) north of Thorp in 1926,<ref>[http://www.usends.com/10-19/010/010.html US Highway Endpoints, Photos, Maps, and History.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091205152242/http://www.usends.com/10-19/010/010.html |date=2009-12-05 }}. Retrieved 2011-09-23.</ref> and the eventual opening of [[Interstate 90]] in 1968,<ref>''Spokesman-Review'' (Spokane), "Interstate opens near Ellensburg," 1968-11-21, pp. 1.</ref> all played vital roles in the changing population and economic conditions that shaped the small community.

In 1980, Interstate 90 from [[Seattle]] to Thorp was designated the ''Mountains to Sound Greenway'' to protect its outstanding scenic and cultural resources.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.mtsgreenway.org | title= Mountains To Sound Greenway (Washington) | accessdate=2008-08-24}}</ref>

[[File:ThorpThorpCemetery.jpg|left|thumb|Thorp Cemetery is said to be haunted by the ghost of a young Indian woman who met a tragic death around the year 1890.]]

===Thorp Cemetery===
The Thorp Cemetery is located about a mile south of the town along Thorp Cemetery Road. Herman Page, a farmer who came to Thorp from New York, gave land for the [[cemetery]] and he is buried there. Markers denote [[graves]] dated as early as 1890, however Herman Page started Page's Grove, a 10-acre timber culture, and claimed his 160-acre homestead as early as 1875.<ref name="Cemeteryneedstax">''Daily Record'' (Ellensburg, Washington), "Cemetery needs tax support," 1970-11-02, pp. 16.</ref>

The title was transferred to the Thorp [[Methodist Episcopal Church]] in the late 1880s, and it was subsequently operated by the Thorp Odd Fellows Lodge until 1940 when the lodge folded.<ref name="Cemeteryneedstax"/> In 1962, it was placed under the management of Kittitas County Cemetery District No. 1.<ref>[http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wakcgs/KC_Cemeteries.html RootsWeb, Kittitas County Cemeteries.] Retrieved 2011-09-21.</ref>

Local legend holds that the cemetery is [[Haunted house|haunted]] by the ghost of a young Indian woman by the name of Susie, who was tragically [[lynching|lynched]] around the year 1890 at Thorp, by persons unknown in the area. Documents held by the Kittitas County Genealogical Society confirm her death as "caused by hanging by unknown person," listing her father as Salmon La Sac.<ref>[http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wakcgs/KC_Deaths_MZ.html RootsWeb, Kittitas County Deaths, 1882-1907]. Retrieved 2011-10-12.</ref> It is reported that she has been seen riding a white [[horse]], and weeping sorrowfully among the [[headstone|tombstones]] on [[moonlight|moonlit]] nights. The cemetery is often listed among "haunted places" in Washington state.<ref>[http://unearthlyrealms.com/reports/haunting-reports/422-wa-thorp-thorp-cemetery Unearthly Realms, Thorp Cemetery] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425061857/http://unearthlyrealms.com/reports/haunting-reports/422-wa-thorp-thorp-cemetery |date=2012-04-25 }}. Retrieved 2011-10-11.</ref><ref>''Daily Record'' (Ellensburg, Washington), "Haunted Halloween," 2009-10-31, pp. 4.</ref><ref>[http://niketalk.yuku.com/topic/11156/Washington-s-Haunted-places-list-scary-stuff Washington's Haunted Places] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425061904/http://niketalk.yuku.com/topic/11156/Washington-s-Haunted-places-list-scary-stuff |date=2012-04-25 }}. Retrieved 2011-10-11.</ref>

The cemetery is restful and well cared for, and remains an active place of burial for departed loved ones of the Thorp community. Visitors, especially those fascinated by the legend of the Indian girl and her ghost, are encouraged to show respect for those resting there, and for the rights and privacy of visiting families.

{|border="1" cellpadding="5" width="200px" align="right"
|-
! scope="col" | '''Thorp Church of Christ<br />Charter Roll of 1895'''<ref name="christian1"/>
|-
| <small>Myra Barnett, Robert Barnett, Retta Barnett, Eldora Briggs, William Briggs, Lena Burns, Frances Childs, Mary Childs, Hannah Childs, Warren Childs, George DeShazer, Nancy DeShazer, Allie Ellison, Eugene Ellison, Maud Ellison, Ruth Ellison, John Ellison, Lewis Ellison, Deborah George, Ellis George, Dee Goodwin, Lillian Goodwin, Olive Goodwin, Martha Mattox, William Mattox, Jennie Osborn, Florence Snyder, Dora Stultz, Philip Stultz and Laura Turner.</small>
|}

===Churches===
Several Thorp families that came from [[Polk County, Oregon]], had a heritage in the [[Restoration Movement|Stone-Campbell Movement]]. Although they had been meeting as a group since 1890, the Thorp [[Christian churches and churches of Christ|Church of Christ]] was not formed until 1895.  The primary movers in launching the new [[Church (congregation)|congregation]] were Mary Childs and Sarah Goodwin.  Their work was successful, but Sarah Goodwin is not listed on the [[Charter Roll|charter roll]] of 1895 because she had already passed to her eternal reward by the time the church was fully established.<ref name="christian1">[http://ncbible.org/nwh/wakittitas.html Pioneer History, Churches of Christ and Christian Churches in the Pacific Northwest, Kittitas County, Washington.] Retrieved 2011-09-21.</ref>

The first services were held at the Thorp school house, with a permanent church structure being erected in 1897. Early [[Minister (Christianity)|ministers]] signed one-year contracts to serve the community with most moving on to other congregations after only a short period of time.<ref name="christian1"/>

The town of Thorp was also the home of the Thorp [[Methodist Episcopal Church]] for many years, however that congregation was disbanded sometime in the 1930s. The [[steeple (architecture)|steeple]] on the Methodist Episcopal church was cut off, and it served variously as a [[The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry|Grange]] hall, clubhouse and the Rodeo Renegades square dance hall.<ref>''Daily Record'' (Ellensburg, Washington), "Wilson-Schwab wedding vows affirmed," 1976-07-19, pp. 2.</ref>

In 1949, Teddy Leavitt formed a short-lived [[Bible college]] at Thorp, which was affiliated with the Thorp Church of Christ. The church structure fell victim to fire on April 13, 1950,<ref>''Daily Record'' (Ellensburg, Washington), "Long-time Thorp resident reminisces about city," 1976-07-19, pp. 2.</ref> and as a result the college was relocated to [[Selah, Washington]], where it continued as the Central Washington Bible College until 1977.<ref name="christian1"/><ref>[http://www.cr-cc.org/history/Appendix%20F.%20Bible%20Rock%20Camp%20&%20Central%20Washington%20School%20of%20the%20Bible.pdf Teddy Leavitt, A Man of Great Faith.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402211947/http://www.cr-cc.org/history/Appendix%20F.%20Bible%20Rock%20Camp%20%26%20Central%20Washington%20School%20of%20the%20Bible.pdf |date=2012-04-02 }} Retrieved 2011-09-21.</ref> After the 1950 blaze, the Thorp Church of Christ was quickly rebuilt in the same location.<ref name="daily19890818"/>

The Thorp Church of Christ became the Thorp Community Church in 1981. It is located near the intersection of Goodwin Road and First Street in Thorp, and continues to minister to the spiritual needs of the townspeople.<ref name="christian1"/>

==Transportation==
Reachable via Exit 101 (Thorp, Thorp Highway) on [[Interstate 90]], Thorp can also be accessed from [[Washington State Route 10|State Route 10]] (formerly [[U.S. Route 10]]) via the Thorp Highway at milepost 8.98.

The main line of the [[Northern Pacific Railroad]] used to run through the town of Thorp, and it was considered an important shipping point at one time. Currently the [[BNSF Railway|Burlington Northern-Santa Fe]] uses the rail line through the town, but the train no longer makes stops.

==Education==
{{Infobox NRHP
| name = Thorp Grade School
| nrhp_type = nrhp
| image =   ThorpWA-5.jpg
| caption = Thorp Grade School (Photo 2009)
| location = Thorp, Washington
| locmapin = Washington
| area =
| built = 1936
| architect = John W. Maloney
| architecture = Colonial Revival
| designated_nrhp_type = July 16, 2009
| refnum = 09000541
}}

{{main|Thorp School District}}

Public schools are operated by Thorp School District No. 400. The district includes one junior/senior high school (Thorp High School), and one elementary school.

==Points of interest==
* '''Thorp Community Day''' -- Thorp Community Day is an annual celebration taking place in early October, coinciding with the autumn harvest. The event begins with a pancake breakfast at the Thorp Fire Station, and a parade through the town. It culminates with various community-oriented activities including the Fall Market at the Thorp Tractor Company, which generally attracts local vendors featuring anything from handcrafted furniture, clothing, jewelry, art, antiques and fresh local produce. The Harvest Carnival, held at the historic Thorp Grade School building, offers old-fashioned games such as apple bobbing, the ring toss and pumpkin bowling. Proceeds from carnival ticket sales go to support student activities at Thorp High School. An open house at the historic Thorp Mill is also a highlight of the celebration, which also includes live entertainment from local musicians.
* '''Iron Horse State Park''' - Part of the Washington State Park System, Iron Horse State Park follows the path of the now defunct Milwaukee Road between the Cascade Mountains and Yakima River Valley, between Cedar Falls on the west and the Columbia River on the east. Access is on Thorp Depot Road near Interstate 90 exit 101 at Thorp.
* '''The Thorp Mill''' - One of Kittitas County's oldest landmarks, the historic grist mill is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and offers a unique perspective on the history of Thorp and the surrounding area.
* '''Thorp Grade School''' - Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the building was erected in 1936 and continues to serve the educational needs of the children of the town of Thorp. During hours of operation, visitors can check in at the district administrative offices in the modern building next door. A look inside the old school house reveals finely crafted hardwood floors, intact mouldings and a wood paneled gymnasium.
* '''Northern Pacific Depot''' - The Northern Pacific train depot was originally located adjacent to the railroad tracks near the corner of Thorp Highway and Second Streets. It was subsequently moved to its current location along Thorp Highway near the east entrance to the town.
* '''Old Thorp Fire Station''' - Fire District No. 1 was established in 1943, and is the oldest fire protection district in the state. The old fire station is located near the corner of Main Street and Thorp Highway adjacent to the new fire station. The building was recently sold and converted to a residence.
* '''Old Thorp Post Office''' - Located near the corner of Main Street on the Thorp Highway, closeby the old fire station, the old Thorp Post Office operated until the 1990s when a new structure was built a few blocks away. The old post office is now an artist studio called Thorp Collective.
* '''F. C. Porter Store''' - A start-of-the-20th century dry goods store on the corner of Thorp Highway and Second Streets, this building now houses a printing business. One of the oldest surviving commercial structures in the area, it originally opened around 1895 as J. E. Veach Dry Goods and was the first store established at Thorp. It was subsequently acquired by the Porter family, who expanded the building around 1912 to include integrated living quarters in the back, which was common in small-town businesses of the era. It is a classic example of late 19th-century false-front commercial wood-frame architecture.

==Notable people==
* [[Margaret Leonard]], state legislator<ref>''Spokesman-Review'' (Spokane, Washington), "New councilwoman Mrs. Leonard works hard at job," 1970-01-18, pp. 17.</ref><ref>Washington State Historical Society, Olympia: Washington State Archives (1983), "Margaret Johnson, Oral Interview," Accession No. WWSLOHPH1-14kh, Women in Washington Legislative Oral History Project, Kathryn Hinsch (interviewer).</ref>

==See also==
* [[Thorp High School (Thorp, Washington)|Thorp High School]]
* [[Thorp Mill]] - Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
* [[Thorp Grade School]] - Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
* [[Thorp Mill#Thorp Mill Town Historical Preservation Society|Thorp Mill Town Historical Preservation Society]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Kittitas County, Washington]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{commons category}}

==External links==
* [http://www.thorp.org/ Thorp Mill Town Historical Preservation Society]
* [http://www.thorpschools.org/ Thorp School District No. 400]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20111026055256/http://digital.lib.cwu.edu/cgi-bin/library?site=localhost&a=p&p=about&c=thorpmil&l=en&w=utf-8 CWU Brooks Library, Thorp Historical Photograph Collection] A collection of photographs dating from the late 19th century to the early 20th century consisting of various historical images of town of Thorp.

{{Kittitas County, Washington}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Census-designated places in Kittitas County, Washington]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Yakima River]]