[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 53 (Thursday, April 22, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E636]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING WALLA WALLA COUNTY'S 150TH BIRTHDAY

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                     HON. GEORGE R. NETHERCUTT, JR.

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 22, 2004

  Mr. NETHERCUTT. Mr. Speaker, today I come before the House of 
Representatives to pay tribute to Walla Walla County on its 150th 
birthday. Nestled in the valley of the Blue Mountains, Walla Walla 
County anchors the southern end of the 5th Congressional District of 
Washington State.
  During their exploration of the Louisiana Purchase, Meriwether Lewis 
and William Clark passed through Walla Walla County on the Nez Perce 
trail on their return trip East. In the 1800s, numerous settlements, 
forts, and trading posts were established in the region by fur-traders. 
The Walla Walla Valley was also home to a diverse Native American 
population including the Walla Walla, Yakama, Nez Perce, Umatilla and 
Cayuse tribes. In fact, the name Walla Walla is of Indian origin and 
means ``many waters.''
  The 1st Washington Territorial Legislature created Walla Walla County 
on April 25, 1854. After the Washington Territory was established in 
1853, Walla Walla County was established a year later and stretched 
from the crest of the Cascades to the crest of the Rockies, an area now 
represented by 13 congressional districts. Today, Walla Walla County is 
home to many wonderful towns, including Walla Walla, Waitsburg, 
Prescott, Burbank, Dixie, Touchet, Lowden, Wallula, and College Place.
  Walla Walla is known for its gorgeous scenery, expansive farmlands, 
miles of beautiful forests, and historic cityscape. Although the area 
is famous for its sweet onions, Walla Walla farms produce vast amounts 
of wheat, barley, apples, asparagus, alfalfa, carrots, cherries, corn, 
garbanzo beans, and green peas. More recently, Walla Walla has become 
one of the fastest growing wine producing regions in the country.
  Walla Walla County is a wonderful place to live. It offers year-round 
cultural events including theater, musical performances, art displays, 
and wonderful festivals. The county is also home to three institutions 
of higher learning: Walla Walla College, Walla Walla Community College, 
and Whitman College, all of which add greatly to the vitality of the 
area. The city of Walla Walla is also home to what Sunset magazine 
named as the ``Best Main Street in the West.''
  If you haven't made vacation plans or visited Walla Walla and its 
surrounding area before, this is surely the time to come to Washington 
and join us in celebrating Walla Walla County's 150th birthday. Walla 
Walla County is one of the most beautiful places in America, and I am 
proud to say I represent this area and the people who call it home.

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