Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-03-12
WASHINGTON'S NAMES
History ana Meaning of the Most
Important Names OF Washing.

|
Aberdeen - in Scotland, is the
town at the mouth" which is quite
appropriate to our Aberdeen that i.
near the mouth of the Chehalis river
Acamas-gets its its name from the
Camas root which has long been tn,
favorite food of the Indians. TIL,
plant is the Camassia Edulis; camassif
q meaning "sweet fruit"
Admiralty Inlet - was the name
given by Vancouver to that part o
the Sound from the Narrows to the
Straits of Fuca. 1t was named in
honor of the British Admiralty.
Agate-which is said to get its name
from the river Achates abounds in
this state.
| Ainslie-is surname meaning
"hedge meadow" after the mill
proprietor.
Alki-is the Indian for "by-and- by
Alma-is Christian name meaning
"soul."
Almira-is a Christian name mean.
ing "a princess"
Almota-is corruption of the Nez
Perce word "allamotin," and means
Observation-Disclosures"
Alpha-"a," is the first letter of the
Greek alphabet.
Alpowa-is a Nez Perce word and
means the "mouth of Spring Creek
The Indian name for the creek is
"Alpaha," which means "Spring
Creek" and the name was given be-
cause of the many springs there. See
Pataha."
Alta Vista-is descriptive name
meaning" high view."
American Lake-was so named be.
cause of the first American settlement
around the lake.
Aquarium-from Aqua" meaning
water, is descriptive name.
Arcadia" land of arches" was inn
ported from the East.
Arctic-is probably corruption OF
"Arctic" meaning the "great BEAR"
Asotin-is an Indian word meaning
"eel creek"
Axford-the ford Of the Axe" river
is also English, Axe means "water."
Bainbridge Island-was named by
the Wilkes expedition in 1841, after
the U. s. Brig, Bainbridge, which was
named after Commodore William
Bainbridge.
Baker-this mountain was first
seen by Lieut.. Baker who sailed with
Vancouver.
Battery Point-now called Alki
Point, was so named by the Coast
Survey of 1856.
Bellingham Bay-was so named by
Vancouver in honor of Lord Belling-
ham. The name is said to mean
"pretty meadow home"
Block House-is descriptive. Built
by Territorial volunteers under
"Block House" James Smith, as he
was called.
Boisfort-was named from the
character of the wood there. 1t
means strong wood"
Bucoda-was named by taking the
first two letters of the names OF
the three owners of the place, Buckley,
Coulter and Davis.
Budd's Inlet-was named by Wilkes
in 1S41.
Cape Disappointment-was named
by Mears, who tried to find the
mouth of a river discovered by Heceta
and marked on his map. Mears
reached the mouth of the Columbia
in July, 177S, but finally concluded ii
was bay and that no river was there
So he called it Deception Bay and the
northern promontory he called Cape
Disappointment. Four years later
Captain Robert Gray renamed the
Cape, calling it in honor of John
Hancock, Cape Hancock, by which
name it is known on some maps.
Cape Flattery-was 80 called by
Captsin Cook in 1778, because his af
fairs then looked Aattering.
Cathlamet-is the name of q tribe
OF Indians, o river and a town. II
comes from the word "calamet'
meaning "stone," because the river
has a stony bed. Kslams is thought
to be corruption of the same word.
Embellishments "sand," and the
name was first given to the Indians
about the rivers mouth because of the
sand there. The name was afterward.
applied to the river, county and town
The Indians pronounced it "tse-ha
lis"
Chinook-now means jargon form
ally used by both Indians and whites
1t is the name of an Indian tribe.
Chuck-means water" hence w
have Skookum Chuch, Chuckanut, etc
Clallam-is said TO be corruption
of the Indian name for themselye'
nusklaim," meaning "strong peo
ple." Mr.. Eels thinks it may meal
"clam man."
Clarke-was the explorer who cam
overland with Lewis. His name
given to one Of the chief branches o
the Columbia, and to a county. Th
name means q clerk"