Adna, Washington Explained

Official Name:Adna, Washington
Settlement Type:Unincorporated community
Pushpin Map:Washington#USA
Pushpin Label:Adna
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Washington
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Lewis
Established Date:1894
Timezone:Pacific (PST)
Utc Offset:-8
Timezone Dst:PDT
Utc Offset Dst:-7
Elevation M:56
Elevation Ft:184
Postal Code Type:zip code
Postal Code:98522, 98532
Area Code:360

Adna is an unincorporated community located in Lewis County, Washington.

Etymology

An early resident, J.G. Browning named the town "Willoway" for the saying "Where there's a will, there's a way", the favorite saying of his wife, Edna. In 1892, the town's name was changed by the railroad to Pamona to distinguish it from the Willapa townsite. However, the town was required to change the name again as another Pomona, Washington existed.

Two different versions for arriving at the current, official name are recorded. Historical archives indicate that the moniker was chosen as "Edna", after Edna Browning, with the first letter subsequently changed because a post office, Edna, was already in use.[1] Other research has the town renamed by a railway superintendent on behalf of a family member, Adna Marian, in 1894.[2]

History

During the Great Coastal Gale of 2007, downtown Adna was inundated with rushing floodwaters approximately 4.5feet high. Batting cages at the high school were used as a command center during the flood.[3]

Geography

Adna is located next to the Chehalis River and is 6miles southwest of Chehalis. The town of Littell is 1.5 miles to the east. The town straddles Washington State Route 6.

Parks and recreation

Situated next to Adna High School is Back Memorial County Park. The grounds were donated by the Back family in 1978 and the 5acres grounds have hosted a softball tournament that raises scholarships in memory of a local coach.[4] [5] The park was temporarily used by the high school football team in the early 1980s when the stadium was being rebuilt.[6] It is home to ballfields and a small running track.[7]

To the southeast of the community is Rose County Park. Locally shortened to Rose Park, the area is 21acres and contains picnic facilities, playgrounds, and a 0.4miles hiking path that was outfitted as a fitness trail.[8] [9] Both parks are under the oversight of the Lewis County Parks and Recreation Department and maintenance for Back Memorial is handled by the local Lions Club.[10]

A paved parking lot and trailhead are located in Adna for access to the Willapa Hills Trail.[11]

Government and politics

Politics

Adna is recognized as being majority Republican and conservative.

The 2020 election included votes for candidates of the Libertarian Party and there were 10 votes for write-in candidates.

Education

Adna is home to the Adna School District, which includes two schools, Adna Elementary and Adna Middle/High School.[13] One of the first schools to serve Adna was built in 1893 and was known as the Bell Tower School. The high school football field was constructed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in the 1930s on the site of the original Adna High School.

Sports

, the high school girls' softball team has won the state championship 11 times, including back-to-back titles twice, in 1994-1995 and 2023-2024.[14] Other title years include 2011, 2015, and 2019.[15]

The Adna football team won the state championship in 1989.[6] The boys' baseball team won the Central 2B League state title in 2015.[16]

Infrastructure

A broadband project, authorized due to a $12 million Washington State Broadband Office grant given to the Lewis County PUD, is to be installed in the Bunker Creek area around Adna. The placement of fiber-optic cable and other components will stretch along and across State Route 6 and is expected to begin in 2024 and completed in 2026.[17]

The post office is located in the Adna Grocery building.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lewis County Towns, Adna . jtenlen.drizzlehosting.com . Lewis Co. WA GenWeb Project.
  2. Book: Washington State Place Names . University of Washington Press . Phillips, James W. . 1997 . 4 . 0-295-95498-1 . 8th.
  3. News: Schwartz . Eric . A Tour of Recovery . May 21, 2024 . The Chronicle . March 21, 2008.
  4. News: Olson . Erik . Adna man does his part to keep park grass short . February 8, 2024 . The Chronicle . April 24, 2006.
  5. News: X-Tourney Kicks Off Saturday at Back Park . February 8, 2024 . The Chronicle . July 17, 2009.
  6. News: VanTuyl . Aaron . New stadium on the line in Adna bond . February 8, 2024 . The Chronicle . April 28, 2006.
  7. Web site: Back Memorial County Park . Discover Lewis County . February 8, 2024.
  8. News: The Chronicle staff . Centralia church completes park restoration in honor of 9/11 victims . February 8, 2024 . The Chronicle . September 11, 2023.
  9. Web site: Rose Park . Discover Lewis County . February 8, 2024.
  10. Web site: Parks & Venues . Lewis County Parks and Recreation Department . February 8, 2024.
  11. Web site: Willapa Hills State Park Trail . parks.state.wa.us. Washington State Parks.
  12. Web site: Lewis County 2020 Election . Results.Vote.WA . July 23, 2021.
  13. Web site: Home . adnaschools.org.
  14. News: Wilhelm . Dylan . Back-to-back: Pirates repeat as state champions . May 28, 2024 . The Chronicle . May 25, 2024.
  15. News: VanTuyl . Aaron . A Decade in Review: Looking Back at the Best of the 2010s . April 2, 2024 . The Chronicle . December 31, 2019.
  16. News: VanTuyl . Aaron . 2018 Baseball/Softball: Spring is Lewis County's Championship Season . April 3, 2024 . The Chronicle . March 22, 2018.
  17. News: Zylstra . Matthew . PUD Awarded Nearly $12 Million for Broadband in Western Lewis County to Serve Nearly 2,000 Customers . June 21, 2023 . The Chronicle . May 17, 2023.