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About Lewis County
Lewis County is located in Washington state, United States. As of July 2011, the population was 75,901. The county seat is Chehalis, and the largest city is Centralia.
Lewis County was created on December 19, 1845, by the provisional government of Oregon Territory and is named after explorer Meriwether Lewis. The county is known for sharing many characteristics – especially political leanings – with eastern Washington instead of western Washington, where Lewis County is located. Lewis County voted for Republican George W. Bush by almost a 2-to-1 margin, in sharp contrast to the fairly Democratic surrounding areas.
History is important to both visitors and residents of Lewis County. The Lewis County Historical Museum in Chehalis invites you to honor the people, ideas, and events that laid the foundation for our lives today. The museum features a scale-model railroad exhibit showcasing the railroad history of Lewis County, a hands-on children’s area, a research library including books and records on local history and an extensive collection of photographs and newspapers.
Also, the Veterans Memorial Museum, founded in 1995, is dedicated to the men and women who have served our nation in the armed forces during peacetime and war. The new facility was completed in July 2005, and features a 9,000-square-foot main gallery with more than 85 displays including uniforms, artifacts, military vehicles, a large military history library, and video recordings of veterans’ stories. A 3,000-square-foot event and conference center is also available for reunions, conferences, seminars and receptions.
The Vintage Motorcycle Museum, located in the historic Hotel Washington in Chehalis, is home to original and fully restored pre-1916 motorcycles and an assortment of antique bicycles. This private museum’s showcases are filled with memorabilia and historical photographs. Lewis County Centennial Businesses include Security State Bank in Chehalis and Lincoln Creek Lumber in Centralia.
Centralia, Washington
Discover a wealth of activities, resources and places to see whether you are visiting us for the first time or are among our returning friends. Centralia was founded in 1875 by George Washington, the son of a black slave and a jack-of-all-trades who journeyed to the Pacific Northwest to create a new life.
Chehalis, Washington
Chehalis is a community working together to maintain a high quality of life. They are a vital and growing, historic rural community of caring, hard-working, family-oriented people working together for the well being of ourselves and our future generation. They will direct our daily activities toward realizing our vision of the future of Chehalis.
The City of Chehalis was incorporated on November 23, 1883, and operates under the laws of the State of Washington applicable to a non-charter code city with a council-manager form of government.