Clarkston,Wa

and surrounding area

It is a small town in eastern Washington state. The population of the town is about 7,500. The neighboring towns of Asotin,Wa and Lewiston,Id have a population of about 1,000 and 30,000, respectively. Clarkston consists of 1 square mile along the Snake River. Asotin County's total population was 21,178 in 2005. However, Asotin County covers about 641 square miles, with Clarkston as the largest town. Another important thing to note is that Clarkston Heights, which borders on Clarkston, although it is not an incorporated part of Clarkston, it has around the same amount of people living there as in the whole of incorporated Clarkston, if not more.

In Asotin County, 94% of the population is White (non-hispanic), 2.4% is American Indian, 2% is hispanic, 1.8% is two or mare races, and .6% other races. These statistics show that there is little diversity. In order to expose the students to other cultures, there is an exchange program that brings high school students from Europe, Asia, and the Pacific Islands to Clarkston, where they stay for up to a year before returning to their home country. In the 2007-2008 school year, there is at least 8 exchange students.

Basic Background and History on the Area

The Nez Perce were in what is now Asotin County long before Lewis and Clark came through on their famous expedition to the Pacific Ocean in 1805. However, the area remained "Indian Territory" into the 1860's.

There were a few attempts at white settlements in the 1860's, but activity rose in 1877 when some settlers put down roots near present day Anatone. Anatone has never had a population exceeding 100. Present day Asotin was actually two separate city, Asotin and Assotin City, that were incorporated into one city in 1886-1887. Asotin and Anatone both reached their peaked population around 1900 and have not fluctuated too much since, with Asotin around 1,000. Asotin County was carved out of eastern Garfield County, and became official on November 12, 1883. Asotin County escaped being destroyed by fire, which was a common fate in the 19th century. However, Asotin County does have a recurring problem with flooding.

The population steadily increased in the 1880's and 1890's, with agriculture being the main occupation. When an 18-mile canal was constructed in 1896, from Asotin Creek to Jawbone Flats, future growth in Asotin County was ensured. The population boomed in Jawbone Flats, from about 15 people in 1896 to over 2,000 by 1903. The Lewiston-Clarkston bridge was opened on June 24, 1899. After much debate, Jawbone Flats was renamed Clarkston and was incorporated on August 4, 1902. During Prohibition, moonshine making was common in Asotin County. Asotin County was easily isolated from technology, with horses instead of cars into the 1930's and electricity not getting to the remotest parts of the county until the 1940's. Agriculture continued being important through the 1950's.

Congress authorized the Lower Snake River Project in 1945, which would make navigation to the Pacific Ocean possible. The construction on the four dams began in the early 1960's and was completed in 1973. However, water did not begin filling in the Lower Granite Dam until February of 1975. The dam has provided an economic boost for Asotin County because of the Port of Clarkston.