Cathlamet is a town located along the Ocean Beach Highway in Wahkiakum County, Washington, United States, where it is the county seat. Take a look below for 15 fascinating and awesome facts about Cathlamet, Washington, United States.

1. The population was 532 at the 2010 census, though it has an additional rural population outside of the town limits.

2. Cathlamet was the largest, or one of the largest, villages of Columbia River Indians west of the Cascade Mountains, and the home of the Kathlamet people.

3. Cathlamet was sighted in 1792 by Lt. W.R. Broughton, while verifying Capt. Robert Gray’s reported exploration of the Columbia River.

4. This village of cedar houses included 300-400 inhabitants when visited by Lewis and Clark.

5. In 1846, James Birnie became the first permanent white settler at Cathlamet, moving there after a career with the Hudson’s Bay Company.

6. He set up a trading post, remnants of which were reported still standing in 1906. “Birnie named the area Birnie’s Retreat.

7. The name was later changed to Cathlamet in 1851.

8. Cathlamet was officially incorporated on February 18, 1907.

9. In 1938, the Julia Butler Hansen Bridge was built to carry what is now State Route 409 across the Columbia River’s Cathlamet Channel to Puget Island.

10. Cathlamet is located at 46°12′14″N 123°23′2″W (46.203767, -123.383838).

11. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.50 square miles (1.29 km2), of which, 0.49 square miles (1.27 km2) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2) is water.

12. Cathlamet is connected across the Columbia River to Westport, Oregon via SR 409 and the county-operated Wahkiakum County Ferry.

13. Cathlamet is home to all schools, K-12, of the Wahkiakum School District. The district of about 430 students pulls students from Cathlamet, Upper Elochoman, Lower Elochoman, East Cathlamet, Puget Island, and Skamokawa Valley.

14. Every third Saturday in July, Cathlamet celebrates Bald Eagle Day. This is an all day event that closes down Main Street for a parade and street fair.

15. Films shot in Cathlamet include Come See the Paradise (1990), Snow Falling on Cedars (1999) and Men of Honor (2000).