National Register Listings in
Yakima County, Washington

Brackett, E. William, House Brooker-Taylor House Buckeye Ranch House Bumping Lake Cabin No. 16 Bumping Lake Resort Capitol Theatre Carbonneau Mansion Card, Rupert, House Carmichael, Elizabeth Loudon, House Carmichael-Loudon House Cornell Farmstead Dills, Harrison, House Donald House Donald-Wapato Bridge Edgar Rock Lodge Fort Simcoe State Park Gendron, O.J., Ranch Gilbert, H. M., House Gleed, James, Barn Goodman, Daniel, House Gothen Creek Ranger Station Grandview Herald Building Grandview High School Grandview Road-Yellowstone Trail Grandview State Bank Greene, James, House Howard, A. E., House Howay-Dykstra House Irish, William N., House Kamiakin's Gardens Knuppenburg, James, House LaFramboise Farmstead Larson, A. E., Building Larson-Hellieson House Lindsey, William, House Lund Building Mabton High School Masonic Temple Mattoon Cabin McAllister, Alexander, House Miller, Alexander, House Miller, John J., House Mineau, Francis, House Moore, Edward B., House Morse House Old North Yakima Historic District Perrin, Winfield, House Potter, H. W., House Powell House Richey, James, House Rosedell Sawyer, W. P., House And Orchard Sharp, James, House St. Joseph's Mission Sweet, Reuben, House Teapot Dome Service Station Toppenish-Zillah Bridge U. S. Post Office and Courthouse Union Pacific Freight Building US Post Office-Sunnyside Main US Post Office-Toppenish Main Watt, William, House West, Dr. Edmond, House Wilcox, Charles, House Yakima Indian Agency Building Yakima Valley Transportation Company Young Women's Christian Association Building Young, Fred and Elizabeth, House
The Washington State Capitol Building in Olympia was designed by architects from the New York firm of York and Sawyer, who also designed the Michigan State Capitol and the New York State Education Building.
Yakima County, located in the state of Washington, has a rich and complex history that spans thousands of years. The area was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Yakama, who relied on the bountiful resources of the Yakima River and surrounding lands for their livelihoods.

In the early 19th century, European explorers and fur traders began to venture into the Yakima Valley. The influx of settlers soon followed, leading to conflicts with the native tribes. The area became embroiled in the Yakama Indian Wars of the 1850s, which ultimately ended with the signing of the Treaty of Yakima in 1855. This treaty established the Yakama Reservation and set the stage for future relations between the two peoples.

The discovery of gold in the Yakima region in the late 19th century brought a wave of hopeful prospectors looking to strike it rich. This led to a population boom and the establishment of several mining towns, including Naches, Liberty, and Roslyn. However, these mining communities eventually declined as the gold supply dwindled.

Agriculture became the backbone of Yakima County's economy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. With an abundance of fertile soil and water from the Yakima River, the region proved to be ideal for growing a variety of crops. Yakima County became known as the "Fruit Bowl of the Nation" due to its vast orchards and production of crops such as apples, cherries, and hops. Today, agriculture continues to be a significant industry in the county, contributing to its economic and cultural heritage.

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Yakima County, Washington.

  • 1805: The Lewis and Clark Expedition explores the Yakima Valley.
  • 1847: The Hudson Bay Company establishes a trading post near present-day Union Gap.
  • 1853: The United States government negotiates the Yakima Indian Treaty, establishing the Yakama Nation reservation.
  • 1865: The town of Yakima is founded.
  • 1879: The Northern Pacific Railway arrives in Yakima, spurring growth and development.
  • 1886: The Washington State Fair is first held in Yakima.
  • 1914: The Yakima Valley Irrigation Project is completed, bringing water to the region's agricultural land.
  • 1941: The United States enters World War II, and the Yakima Valley becomes an important training ground for soldiers.
  • 1972: Mount St. Helens erupts, causing ashfall in Yakima.
  • 1980: Mount St. Helens erupts again, but Yakima only experiences minimal ashfall.
  • 1993: The Yakima Indian Reservation is renamed the Yakama Nation reservation.
  • 2002: Yakima County celebrates its 150th anniversary.
  • 2019: Yakima Valley is known for its agriculture, wine production, and outdoor recreational opportunities.