In 1902, Washtucna was a meager hamlet with a population of less than 50. It soon grew to a prosperous city with a total population of 300. The city had no less than 55 buildings. Today, Washtucna is a lively community of residents who love to live and work outdoors. To learn more about the city, you can read about its history.
The town's name is of Indian origin, and was originally applied to the area before it was settled. There is no known English translation for the word, but a resident of the valley for more than 100 years has tried to find out. According to him, the name was derived from an Indian chief. The town has a telephone service, a splendid waterworks system, and three springs.
The first post office in Washtucna was established in 1882. A section house was built there in 1886. The town was platted by George W. Bassett in 1894, but his plat was not filed for record until 1899. Two separate companies bought the two lots. The population of Washtucna has been steadily growing ever since.