Ritzville is a city in Adams County, Washington, United States. The population was 1,736 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Adams County.
The first settler in what would become Ritzville was William McKay in 1880. Philip Ritz, for whom the town would be named after, had settled in the area two years earlier. By December of 1880, Ritzville's town-site had been platted by John W. Sprague on behalf of his company, The Northern Pacific Rail...
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Ritzville is a city in Adams County, Washington, United States. The population was 1,736 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Adams County.
The first settler in what would become Ritzville was William McKay in 1880. Philip Ritz, for whom the town would be named after, had settled in the area two years earlier. By December of 1880, Ritzville's town-site had been platted by John W. Sprague on behalf of his company, The Northern Pacific Railway. In 1881, McKay built the first house on the townsite. The Northern Pacific grade was under construction in the vicinity and McKay's home was used as a makeshift hotel for the workers and associated transients.
With the railroad came a new wave of settlers to the area. In the summer of 1881, McKay erected the first store and the railroad built a depot nearby, which also served as a hotel, theater and meeting hall. At that time the fledgeling village had a population of around 50 and the school consisted of a lean-to against a house. The...
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