Wenatchee is the city with the largest population in Chelan County in the state of Washington. It also houses the county seat.
The name ” Wenatchee” is derived from the Sahaptin language spoken by the Yakima Indians. This dialect defines the term as “river flowing from a canyon.” It originally referred to the village where the Wenatchi people lived which was located at the confluence of the Columbia and Wenatchee rivers.
Yakima is another interesting word. One theory about the name of this city is that it is based on an old legend that an Indian chief’s daughter broke the tribal rules and ran away. She then settled along the river called Yakama. So it follows that the most widely accepted meaning of Yakima is “runaway.”
Where did these Native American people come from? Archaeologists and tradition suggest that they came from Siberia and first settled in the Puget Sound area, where they adapted to the local environment. The tribes included the Suquamish, Snoqualmie and Nisqually.
Many federally recognized tribes still live in the state of Washington today. Their traditions and history have greatly impacted the culture. They operate successful businesses, such as seafood processing and casinos. The Puyallup Tribe is the largest and has more than 4000 members.
And now for the name “Washington State.” The original name was Columbia Territory. It was changed to Washington Territory in 1853. In 1889 it became a state called Washington.
That’s it for today’s history lesson.
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