Thank you for visiting this free genealogical site about the history of Douglas County, Washington. We hope you find helpful clues at this site while you are researching your Douglas County ancestors. Keep in mind, this website is a constant work in progress so do visit again if you haven't yet found the information you wanted. New information will be added as it becomes available so be sure to check the What's New page for updates. If you have information you think would be helpful to others who use this website, please contact us by using the links at the bottom of any page.
I am your Webmistress and Coordinator for the Douglas County, Washington GenWeb (WAGenWeb) site. I was born in Chelan County and raised in Douglas County, however, I currently live in Arizona while the majority of my family is still in Chelan County. If I can assist you in your search for Douglas County ancestors, I will do what I can. All you need to do is ask and I will let you know whether or not I am able to help.
As this project is completely volunteer driven, your help is needed to populate this website with your Douglas County historical photos, family histories, and document images. We welcome your contributions of transcribed records and will be happy to make them publicy available on this site: census, marriage, deeds, wills, bible records, obituaries, biographies, newspaper clippings, etc. Every single little bit of information will be appreciated.
PLEASE:
Shannon (Hill) Lanning
WAGenWeb Douglas County Coordinator
Douglas county was created from part of Lincoln County on November 28, 1883 and is named after Stephen A. Douglas, an American politician and Illinois lawyer as well as opponent of Abraham Lincoln's in the 1860 presidential race. The county seat is in the town of Waterville. The largest settlement in the county is East Wenatchee which sits just across the Columbia River from Wenatchee in Chelan County. Douglas county is predominantly rural and covers 1,849 square miles of which 29 square miles are water.
The earliest routes through what would become Douglas County were trails used by Indians traveling to and from the Columbia River. Humans in East Wenatchee have been traced back about 12,000 years to the Paleolithic period after an abundance of spear points of Ice Age Clovis man were discovered.
Click on a photo or a link for more information and photos
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The Douglas County Seat of Waterville has the highest elevation of any incorporated town in Washington state, at 2,625 feet. Initially known for being a cattle town, the harsh winter of 1889-1890 wiped out the majority of cows, and they switched to growing wheat, which is still a thriving industry today.
Three artificial lakes on the Columbia River were created by backwater from dams in Douglas County: Lake Entiat (Rocky Reach Dam), Lake Pateros (Wells Dam), and Rufus Woods Lake (Chief Joseph Dam). Each of these lakes provide recreation and bring tourism dollars to the county.
East Wenatchee made international news in 1931 when stunt pilot Clyde Pangborn set a world record by completing the first nonstop transPacific flight from Japan to East Wenatchee over the Pacific Ocean. Pangborn Memorial Airport was named in his honor.
The Apple Blossom Festival began after a New Zealand woman emigrated to the USA and moved to Wenatchee in 1914. She proposed a "blossom day" and the rest is history. The first queen and princesses were crowned in 1920, the same year women won the right to vote.
Click here for more information on Douglas County's long and varied history.
County Coordinator:
Shannon (Hill) Lanning
State Coordinator:
Mike Sweeney
Asst State Coordinator:
Colleen Pustola
If you have information, questions, comments, or any problems with this site, please do not hesitate to contact the County Coordinator. We are here to help.
