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Beverly, Washington

Coordinates: 46°50′05″N 119°55′49″W / 46.83472°N 119.93028°W / 46.83472; -119.93028
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Beverly, Washington
Beverly Railroad Bridge over the Columbia River at Beverly
Beverly, Washington is located in Washington (state)
Beverly, Washington
Beverly, Washington
Coordinates: 46°50′05″N 119°55′49″W / 46.83472°N 119.93028°W / 46.83472; -119.93028
CountryUnited States
StateWashington
CountyGrant
Elevation574 ft (175 m)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
99321
Area code509
GNIS feature ID2631207[1]

Beverly, Washington, United States, is a small unincorporated community along the banks of the Columbia River in central Washington state. The community, which consists of a few hundred residents, is a few miles downriver from Wanapum Dam and is nestled at the base of Sentinel Gap, a water gap in the Saddle Mountains that predates the Columbia River. The population as of 2020 was 266.[2]

History

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Beverly was named around 1905 by H.R. Williams, after Beverly, Massachusetts.[3]

Beverly played host to hundreds of railroad workers from 1905-1920s when the Milwaukee Railroad was being built. The Milwaukee constructed the million-dollar Beverly Railroad Bridge across the Columbia just north of Beverly, which was completed in 1909. Supplies to build the bridge were shipped via steamboat from points upstream, and were hauled in on other rail lines. The bridge took nearly two years to complete.[citation needed]

Beverly's early success depended partially on steep grades on the railroad, which meant helper locomotives were required to drive the trains. Colorful brochures were printed and distributed back east by companies touting Beverly's long growing season and sheltered location.

In 1977, the Milwaukee Road filed bankruptcy, and in the early 1980s Washington State removed the rail from east of Beverly to a junction near Royal City.[citation needed] However, the hundred-year-old black iron bridge still stands today crossing the river.

During World War II and continuing up to the 1980s, thousands of rail cars moved through Beverly en route to the nearby Hanford facility. During that time the station in Beverly (now vacated) was remodeled and enhanced. Sometime in the late 1990s to early 2000s, the train station was demolished.[citation needed]

Climate

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According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Beverly has a semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Beverly, Washington
  2. ^ "Census Bureau profile: Beverly, Washington". United States Census Bureau. May 2023. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  3. ^ Majors, Harry M. (1975). Exploring Washington. Van Winkle Publishing Co. p. 134. ISBN 978-0-918664-00-6.
  4. ^ Climate Summary for Beverly, Washington