A Brief History of Walla Walla County   

                            Submitted by Celia Tomlin  

• 1853, March 3 : Territory of Washington created; Isaac I. Stevens appointed territorial governor.
• 1854, April 16 : Walla Walla county organized; covered entire eastern portion of the present state; plus all of Idaho and parts of Oregon and Montana.
• 1856, Christmas : Colonel Steptoe finished first buildings for Fort Walla Walla; located near present Colville Street on Mill Creek.
• 1859, March 15 : First County Commissioners meeting
• 1859, Nov 15 : Name of seat of government changed from Steptoville to Walla Walla.
• 1859 : Charter of Whitman College granted this year.
• 1860: November First newspaper between Missouri and the Cascades debuted, Washington Statesman. First public school opened; A. J. Milner, teacher
• 1862: July 6 First marriage recorded for Lt. Henry McCann and Josephine L. Forrest.
• 1865: January First Congregational Church organized; also first in territory
• 1866: October First fair organized by Agricultural Society, H. P. Isaacs, president.
• 1869: July First bank begun by A.H. Reynolds; Baker-Boyer Bank opened in November
• 1870: July Completed telegraph line between Walla Walla and Portland

           from W. D. Lyman's History of Old Walla Walla County.     

Source: The Walla Walla Story: Washington Centennial Edition: An Illustrated Description of the History and Resources of the Valley They Liked So Well They Named It Twice! A 1988 edition of the 1953 book compiled and written by Vance Orchard editor for the Walla Walla County Centennial Committee; including selected material from contributors.

Submitted by Celia Tomlin to the Walla Walla County WAGENWEB.