Wauconda, Washington
Encyclopedia
Wauconda is a small unincorporated community
in Okanogan County, Washington, United States
. Once a boom town, it has dwindled almost to nothing; it is now under single ownership.
, discovered gold in the area and decided to name the mine after their hometown. Four mines, the Oregonian Mine and three Wauconda Mines, eventually operated in the area, quickly swelling the area's population to over 300. By 1900 the town had a general store, and by 1901 it had a post office, although the location was two miles west of the original camp. At its peak there were about 1000 residents.
In the early 1900s the output of the mines declined and they were eventually closed. When the state built Highway 20 on a route that bypassed the town, the town was relocated to be on the new road. The abandoned former town location is now a ghost town
.
Present-day Wauconda is much smaller than the old mining boomtown
. Its small commercial district has a post office, gas station, general store, and restaurant, all with a single private owner. In 2008, owner Daphne Fletcher placed the town's commercial properties, along with a residence, up for sale with an asking price of $1,125,000. In March 2010, Fletcher put the combined properties on the eBay
online auction website, promoting the sale as a "town for auction". A couple from Healesville, Victoria
in Australia
won the auction with a purchase price of $370,601, but failed to complete the transaction due to financial and health concerns. Two weeks later, the town was sold to a couple from Bothell, Washington
for $360,000.
, near Wauconda Pass
and the Okanogan National Forest
. It is near the headwaters of a fork of Granite Creek, which empties into the Sanpoil River
at nearby Republic, Washington
.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Okanogan County, Washington, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Once a boom town, it has dwindled almost to nothing; it is now under single ownership.
History
Wauconda was founded in 1898 as a mining community. Three brothers from Wauconda, IllinoisWauconda, Illinois
Wauconda is a village in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The population was 9,448 at the 2000 census, estimated to be 12,614 in 2006, and is projected to reach 13,811 by 2011. It is the site of the Wauconda Bog Nature Preserve, a National Natural Landmark...
, discovered gold in the area and decided to name the mine after their hometown. Four mines, the Oregonian Mine and three Wauconda Mines, eventually operated in the area, quickly swelling the area's population to over 300. By 1900 the town had a general store, and by 1901 it had a post office, although the location was two miles west of the original camp. At its peak there were about 1000 residents.
In the early 1900s the output of the mines declined and they were eventually closed. When the state built Highway 20 on a route that bypassed the town, the town was relocated to be on the new road. The abandoned former town location is now a ghost town
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
.
Present-day Wauconda is much smaller than the old mining boomtown
Boomtown
A boomtown is a community that experiences sudden and rapid population and economic growth. The growth is normally attributed to the nearby discovery of a precious resource such as gold, silver, or oil, although the term can also be applied to communities growing very rapidly for different reasons,...
. Its small commercial district has a post office, gas station, general store, and restaurant, all with a single private owner. In 2008, owner Daphne Fletcher placed the town's commercial properties, along with a residence, up for sale with an asking price of $1,125,000. In March 2010, Fletcher put the combined properties on the eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
online auction website, promoting the sale as a "town for auction". A couple from Healesville, Victoria
Healesville, Victoria
Healesville is a town in Victoria, Australia, 52 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Yarra Ranges...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
won the auction with a purchase price of $370,601, but failed to complete the transaction due to financial and health concerns. Two weeks later, the town was sold to a couple from Bothell, Washington
Bothell, Washington
Bothell is a city located in King and Snohomish Counties in the state of Washington. It is part of the Seattle metropolitan area. The population was 33,505 as of the 2010 census...
for $360,000.
Geography
Wauconda is located at 48°43′33"N 119°0′49"W (48.7257163, -119.0136516), on a plateau about 23 miles east of Tonasket, WashingtonTonasket, Washington
Tonasket is a city in Okanogan County, Washington, United States. The population was 994 at the 2000 census and increased 3.8% to 1,032 at the 2010 census.-History:Tonasket was officially incorporated on December 16, 1927...
, near Wauconda Pass
Wauconda Pass
Wauconda Pass is a high mountain pass in the Cascades in the state of Washington.It is traversed by State Route 20....
and the Okanogan National Forest
Okanogan National Forest
The Okanogan National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located in northern and western Okanogan County in north-central Washington State, United States...
. It is near the headwaters of a fork of Granite Creek, which empties into the Sanpoil River
Sanpoil River
The Sanpoil River is a tributary of the Columbia River, in the U.S. state of Washington. The term Sanpoil is from the Okanagan term [snpʕʷílx], meaning "people of the gray country", or "gray as far as one can see".-Course:...
at nearby Republic, Washington
Republic, Washington
Republic is a city in Ferry County, Washington, United States. The population was 1,073 at the 2010 census, a 12.5% increase over the 2000 Census. It is the county seat of Ferry County.-History:...
.