- Curlew, Washington
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Curlew is an unincorporated community located in northwestern Ferry County, Washington, United States, between Malo and Danville on State Route 21. The BNSF Railway ran through the town. The historic Ansorge Hotel is located in Curlew.
Geography
Curlew is located at 48°53′08″N 118°35′54″W / 48.88556°N 118.59833°W, at the confluence of Long Alec Creek and the Kettle River. Its elevation is 1800 feet above sea level.[1]
Most popular site on Kettle river in summer is the Old Swimming Hole near the center of town. Curlew was a pick up point for moonshine that was dropped in the Kettle river. The tradition is still celebrated on the first Sunday in June each year during the Curlew Barrel Derby Days. A barrel is set adrift in the Kettle River at the Canadian border and local citizens bet on when it will reach town.[2]
Early Days
In 1896 two traders Guy S. Helphry and J. Walters set up a general store at an old ferry crossing near the junction of Curlew Creek and Kettle River. The site around the store grew into a collection of log buildings and other stores. By 1901 a bridge was put in across the Kettle River and a community had developed which had a population of 200. The community contained two general stores, two saloons, a hotel, two livery stable, a dry goods store and several other businesses. In 1898 a post office had been established and the town was named "Curlew". Miners, railroad workers, natives, and others passed through the region. Nearby mines such as Drummer, Lancaster and Panama grew. Curlew never really expanded beyond those early boom years.[3]
References
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ "FerryCounty.com Barrel Derby Days". FerryCounty.com. 1998-07-21. http://www.ferrycounty.com/barrelderbydays/index.html. Retrieved 2009-02-20.
- ^ N.L. Barlee (2004), Gold Creeks and Ghost Towns of Northeastern Washington. Hancock House Publishers.
Municipalities and communities of Ferry County, Washington City 
CDP Communities Indian reservation Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
Coordinates: 48°53′08″N 118°35′54″W / 48.88556°N 118.59833°W
Categories:- Unincorporated communities in Washington (state)
- Populated places in Ferry County, Washington
- Washington (state) geography stubs
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