Menu
- Home
- Search▼
- List▼
- Add▼
- My Relate▼
- Admin▼
ViewsWatchers |
Connell is a city in Franklin County, Washington, United States. The population was 5,441 at the 2020 census. [edit] History
Prior to 1883 the area now known as Connell was used by ranchers as open range for cattle and horses. The community was established in 1883 as a junction between the Northern Pacific Railroad and the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company. The new town was called Palouse Junction by Jacob Cornelius Connell, a railroad official and resident. Palouse Junction was unique on the Ainsworth—Spokane line, in that it was not on a river. It was also the gateway to the Palouse via the OR&N's line to Washtucna. Water for trains and for the town was from public wells dug by the railroad. At some time between 1886 and 1900, the town was renamed to Connell.
The Northern Pacific Railroad ceased service to the station in 1890, but the Union Pacific Railroad took over the station in 1901, and the town began to grow again. A school district was formed sometime between 1900 and 1904. In 1902 the Franklin County Bank was Incorporated in Connell, and the Connell Land and Improvement Company was established. Also in that year, the county allowed a franchisee to begin piping in water for the town (Although this was never very successful, and the following year a good well hit water at 268 feet). In 1903, lots on the west side of the tracks were sold, and a new commercial district began to grow, and a number of existing buildings were even moved to these new lots. By this time the town rivaled Pasco in importance in Franklin County. Unfortunately, much of the business district was destroyed by fire in July 1905. The destroyed sections were quickly rebuilt using brick. Connell was officially incorporated on November 28, 1910. Dryland wheat farming was the lifeblood of Connell through most of the twentieth century. [edit] TodayThe primary industrial base is food processing, agricultural chemicals, and the Coyote Ridge Corrections Center, a minimum and medium-security correctional facility that is capable of holding 2600 offenders. The community is also home to the North Franklin School District where there is a high school, junior high, grade school and administration offices. In 1998 the city approved a "water system plan" that would include the purchase of additional water rights to secure water for future growth in residential, commercial and industrial activities. By 2007 the water system plan was completed. New waterlines had been installed to replace aging pipes, reservoirs were upgraded and additional wells were brought into the system. During the last ten years, the city has rebuilt Columbia Avenue, the main thoroughfare, and reconstructed its industrial streets, and received a grant award to reconstruct a portion of Clark Street. This roadway connects the downtown to Highway 260 on the west side of town, and serves the junior and senior high schools and administration buildings for the school district.[1] Several businesses have left the city (Akins Food, B&H clothing, Tru-Value Hardware and Les Schwab Tire) and very few new businesses have been established. [edit] Research Tips
|
||||||||||||||
