Marble, Washington Explained

Official Name:Marble, Washington
Pushpin Map:Washington
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Washington
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Stevens
Timezone:Pacific (PST)
Utc Offset:-8
Timezone Dst:PDT
Utc Offset Dst:-7
Elevation Ft:1520
Coordinates:48.8492°N -117.9017°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:99157
Area Code:509
Blank Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank Info:1522700

Marble is an unincorporated community in Stevens County, in the U.S. state of Washington.

History

A post office called Marble was established in 1897, and remained in operation until 1943.[1] The community was named for marble near the original town site.[2]

In the early 1990s, Barry and Ann Byrd founded the Marble Fellowship Community Church in the then-ghost town of Marble. It attracted newcomers from around the western United States. Residents were concerned that the newcomers at Marble were part of a cult.[3] The church is associated with Christian Identity, an interpretation of Christianity considered by the Southern Poverty Law Center to be racist, anti-Semitic and white nationalist.[4] [5] The church's annual God and Country Celebration attracts influential figures from the radical right, many with clear ties to racist, anti-Semitic and white nationalist groups from the local, state and national levels.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Post Offices . Jim Forte Postal History . August 14, 2016.
  2. Book: Meany, Edmond S. . Origin of Washington geographic names . 1923 . University of Washington Press . Seattle . 158.
  3. News: Religious group says fear of cult unjustified . October 26, 2021 . The Seattle Times . Associated Press . April 12, 1992 . AP1992.
  4. Web site: Christian Identity . www.splcenter.org . Southern Poverty Law Center . October 26, 2021.
  5. News: Sottile . Leah . Bundyville: The Remnant Chapter Four: The Preacher and the Politician . October 26, 2021 . Longreads . Oregon Public Broadcasting . July 2019 . Sottile2019.