Town of Naches Yakima County, Washington
Mapped Location
Town of Naches: The mapped location is an approximation and should not be used for navigation or wayfinding.
Information
General information on Town of Naches
- Feature Type: Incorporated
Official, historical, colloquial and alternative toponyms for Town of Naches
A brief list of names that this geographic feature has been named
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Town of Naches | Official |
| Naches | Official |
Origin Notes and History of Town of Naches
References to Town of Naches that document the origin of its place name
NACHES, an Indian name used for a pass through the Cascade Range, for a river, town, canyon and valley. The spelling has assumed such forms as "Nachchese" in Theodore Winthrop's The Canoe and the Saddle, 1853, (date of journey); as "Wachess" by J. Patton Anderson in James G. Swan's Northwest Coast, 1857; as "Nahcheess" on James Tilton's Map of Part of Washington Territory, 1859. The form of 'Naches', in present use, first appeared on Preston's Map of Oregon and Washington West of the Cascade Mountains, 1856. The Government benchmark at Naches Pass shows an elevation of 4,988 feet. (J. H. Williams' edition of Winthrop's The Canoe and the Saddle, note on page 124.) The Wilkes Expedition, 1841, called the river "Spipen," a tributary of the Yakima River. (Atlas with volume XXIII, Hydrography, chart 67.) Pierre C. Pambrun of Fort Walla Walla and Cornelius Rogers are credited with an early exploration of Naches Pass. ( Oregon Spectator, May 12, 1849, quoted by H. H. Bancroft, Works, Volume XXXI., page 63, note 40.) The river was crossed by Captain George B. McClellan on August 20, 1853. (Pacific Railroad Reports, Volume I., pages 377-389.) A famous company of pioneers, James Biles, Captain, containing such well known families as Longmire, Himes and Byles crossed Naches Pass in 1853. The meaning of the Indian word Naches has not been ascertained, The pioneers in 1920 were making efforts to retain this name instead of "McClellan Pass" which arose with the construction of a state highway.
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Last updated: 2024-05-29