Tag Archive: Washington

According to Itypetravel, Okanogan County is located in the north central part of Washington State and is the largest county in the state by area. It is bordered by Canada to the north, Douglas and Grant Counties to the east, Kittitas County to the south, and Chelan and Ferry Counties to the west. The county was officially established in 1888 and was named after a Native American tribe called “Okanogan” which means “rendezvous” or “meeting place.” The area has a rich history that dates back thousands of years with evidence of Native American tribes inhabiting this land since as early as 8500 B.C. These tribes included the Okanogan, Colville, Methow, Palus, Spokane, Wenatchee and Yakama tribes who were known for their fishing, hunting and gathering practices. In 1811, David Thompson of the North West Company became the first white man to explore this region when he visited what is now known as Omak Lake in Okanogan County. After Washington became a territory in 1853, settlers began to move into what is now Okanogan County. The first permanent settlement was located along Similkameen River near present day Oroville. In 1862 gold was discovered on Antoine Creek which brought an influx of miners into the region looking for their fortune; however many left disappointed due to low yields from their prospecting efforts. In 1872 cattlemen started arriving in search of fertile land with plenty of water on which they could graze their herds; many of these cattlemen settled along what would later become known as Conconully Road which runs through present day Okanogan County from Omak all the way up to Canada’s border at Osoyoos Lake. The area saw a boom in population growth during this time due mostly to these new settlers coming into the region looking for work or land ownership opportunities. Today, Okanogan County has a population of approximately 41,000 people spread out over its 5,315 square miles making it one of Washington State’s least densely populated counties; however it still remains an important part of Washington’s economy thanks largely due its thriving agricultural industry which produces apples, cherries and other fruits while also producing hay for livestock feed throughout much of eastern Washington State. Okanogan County, Washington is home to several school districts that serve its diverse population of students. The Okanogan School District is the largest district in the county, encompassing over 600 square miles and serving more than 2,500 students. This district includes schools in Brewster, Pateros, Tonasket, Oroville and Omak. The district offers a variety of educational programs including Advanced Placement (AP) courses and a comprehensive Career & Technical Education (CTE) program. There are also several alternative education programs available including online learning opportunities and a special education program for students with disabilities. The Omak School District is the second largest school district in Okanogan County with approximately 1,600 students enrolled at its four elementary schools and one middle school. This district offers a comprehensive curriculum for all grade levels including an Early Childhood Education program for pre-kindergarteners. The Omak School District also has high levels of parent involvement with many parents volunteering in classrooms or attending parent-teacher conferences as well as various other activities throughout the year. The Tonasket School District serves roughly 900 students from kindergarten through 12th grade at its two elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. This district focuses on creating an environment that encourages student achievement while providing a safe learning environment for all children regardless of their background or abilities. In addition to traditional classes such as math and science, the Tonasket School District offers many extracurricular activities such as sports teams and music programs to give students an opportunity to explore their interests outside of the classroom setting. The Bridgeport School District serves about 500 students from kindergarten through 12th grade at its one elementary school and one high school located just outside of Brewster in Bridgeport, Washington. This district has made great strides in recent years towards providing quality education for all of its students by focusing on individualized instruction and offering a variety of after-school activities such as sports teams and clubs to give their students an opportunity to explore different interests outside of the classroom setting. Finally, the Pateros School District serves approximately 500 students from kindergarten through 12th grade at its two elementary schools located near Pateros Lake just south of Brewster in Okanogan County. The Pateros School District is dedicated to creating a safe learning environment that encourages student achievement while allowing all children regardless of their background or abilities to reach their full potentials academically. In addition to core academic classes, the Pateros School District also offers a variety of extracurricular activities such as music programs and sports teams to give their students an opportunity to explore different interests outside of the classroom setting. Check andyeducation for schools and education in Washington.