Southwest Washington

Southwest Washington is a beautiful area in the U.S. state of Washington. It covers six counties in Western Washington. This region stretches south of Olympia and Thurston County, all the way to the border with Oregon at Vancouver. It also lies to the west of the Yakima Indian Reservation. This part of Washington has many natural wonders and places to explore.

Cities

Southwest Washington has many interesting cities and towns. Some of these places are Camas, Centralia, Chehalis, Kelso, Longview, South Bend, Vancouver, Washougal, Woodland, and Ridgefield. Each city has its own special charm and history.

Culture

The Southwest Washington Fair happens every year in the city of Chehalis.

Long ago, in the early 1900s, this area had a small baseball league called the Southwest Washington League.

The Sou'wester is a magazine made by the Pacific County Historical Society.

Education

The Southwest Washington State College Committee study in the late 1960s helped create The Evergreen State College in Olympia.

Washington State University Vancouver is in Vancouver. It is the only four-year research university in Southwest Washington.

Healthcare

PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver is the biggest hospital in the area. It helps people stay healthy and feel better when they are sick.

Transportation

Southwest Washington has important roads that help people travel. The main north-to-south roads are U.S. Route 101 along the Pacific Coast and Interstate 5, which connects Seattle to Portland, Oregon. There are also east-to-west roads linking these, such as State Route 4 by the Columbia River, State Route 6 between Raymond and Chehalis, and U.S. Route 12, which goes over White Pass.