White Salmon, Washington

Welcome to White Salmon, Washington

White Salmon was home to the Klickitat Tribe (now part of the Yakama Nation) before non-natives arrived. Lewis and Clark named the White Salmon River, as they observed the white-fleshed salmon being caught and dried by the natives at the mouth of the river. The town of White Salmon was named after these salmon as well. The first non-natives to settle in White Salmon were Erastus and Mary Joslyn in 1853.  Erastus and Mary purchased land from the Klickitat Tribe.  The Klickitats helped them build their farm just east of the White Salmon River and protected them during the Yakama Indian War. White Salmon was officially incorporated on June 3, 1907.  Within the same year, non-natives (white immigrants) quickly settled the region by making land claims. Today, White Salmon’s population is around 2500. Learn more about White Salmon’s History and Historic Places.