Meskill, Washington
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Meskill, Washington
|settlement_type = Unincorporated community
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|pushpin_map = Washington#USA
|pushpin_label = Meskill
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = United States
|subdivision_type1 = State
|subdivision_name1 = Washington
|subdivision_type2 = County
|subdivision_name2 = Lewis
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|established_date = 1905
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|timezone = Pacific (PST)
|utc_offset = -8
|timezone_DST = PDT
|utc_offset_DST = -7
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|elevation_m = 78
|coordinates = {{coord|46|38|17|N|123|10|15|W|type:city_region:US-WA_source:GNIS-enwiki|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type = zip code
|postal_code = 98532
|area_code = 360
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Meskill is an unincorporated community off Washington State Route 6 in Lewis County, Washington. The town is located near Rainbow Falls State Park, and rests between Ceres and Dryad.{{GNIS|1511145}} The Willapa Hills Trail bisects the area.
History
The site was originally owned by Francis Donahue and the town was named Donahue Spur in 1902. The name of Meskill, taken from the Meskill Lumber Company, would be bestowed in 1905 to the post office, which lasted until 1920.{{cite book|last=Meany|first=Edmond S.|title=Origin of Washington geographic names|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015027074981;view=1up;seq=181|year=1923|publisher=University of Washington Press|location=Seattle|page=165}}{{cite web | url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?state=WA | title=Post Offices| publisher=Jim Forte Postal History | accessdate=19 August 2016}}{{cite news |title=Discontinue Meskill P.O. |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1920/04-23/page-28/ |access-date=14 December 2021 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |issue=46 |date=April 23, 1920 |volume=37 |page=6}}
The mill burned down in 1921 nearly destroying the town. The lumber plant was never rebuilt.{{cite news |title=The Meskill Mill Destroyed By Fire |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1921/07-29/ |access-date=14 December 2021 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |issue=8 |date=July 29, 1921 |volume=39 |page=1}} Though founded as a timber community, the town began a rock quarry in 1908 that helped provide the base for expanding railroad lines and to build a macadam road in the county.{{cite news |title=Meskill Quarry To Start |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1908/10-02/ |access-date=14 December 2021 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |issue=15 |date=October 2, 1908 |volume=26 |page=1}} Inmates from local penitentiaries would work at the site and the town would often have to deal with escape attempts.{{cite news |title=Escapes Are Not So Many |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1911/06-22/page-11/ |access-date=14 December 2021 |work=The Chehalis-Bee Nugget |date=June 22, 1911 |page=2}}
Government and politics
=Politics=
Meskill is recognized as being majority Republican and conservative.
The results for the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election for the Meskill voting district were as follows:{{cite web|title=Lewis County 2020 Election |url=https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20201103/lewis/precincts-60513.html |website=Results.Vote.WA |access-date=July 25, 2021}}
- Donald J. Trump (Republican) - 84 (71.19%)
- Joe Biden (Democrat) - 31 (26.27%)
- Jo Jorgensen (Libertarian) - 3 (2.54%)
References
{{reflist}}
{{Lewis County, Washington}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Populated places in Lewis County, Washington
Category:Unincorporated communities in Lewis County, Washington
Category:Unincorporated communities in Washington (state)
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