Black Hills (Washington)

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Black Hills
Olympia bh aug05.jpg
Black Hills behind the state capitol building in Olympia
Highest point
Peak Capitol Peak
Elevation 2,664 ft (812 m)
Coordinates 46°58′22″N123°08′11″W / 46.97278°N 123.13639°W / 46.97278; -123.13639
Geography
USA Washington relief location map.jpg
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
Black Hills
Location of the Black Hills
CountryUnited States
State Washington
Region Western Washington
Range coordinates 46°59′14″N123°08′16″W / 46.9873190°N 123.1376480°W / 46.9873190; -123.1376480 [1]
Parent range Willapa Hills

The Black Hills are a small range of hills in Thurston and Grays Harbor counties of Washington. They are widely considered a subset of the Willapa Hills; [2] however, the line parent of the Black Hills is Rock Peak, in the Olympic Mountains. [3]

The tallest peak in the range is Capitol Peak with a 2,664-foot (812 m) height.

The Black Hills takes its name from the Black River. [4] A former variant name was "Black Mountains". [5]

The Capitol State Forest has roughly the same boundaries as the Black Hills.

The high school A.G. West Black Hills, Tumwater, Washington, is named for the hills, as is the local soccer club the Blackhills Football Club. Capital Medical Center on the west side of Olympia was named Black Hills Community Hospital from its opening in 1985 until 1991. [6] [7]

See also

References

  1. "Black Hills". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  2. "Geologic Provinces Of Washington: Willapa Hills". Washington Geological Survey. Washington Department of Natural Resources. The Willapa Hills province includes the Black Hills, Doty Hills, and the adjacent broad valleys that open up to the Pacific Ocean.
  3. "Larch Mountain". Peakbagger. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  4. "Thurston County Place Names: A Heritage Guide" (PDF). Thurston County Historical Commission. 1992. p. 5. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  5. "Indian Tribes of Washington Territory" (map). Washington Secretary of State. 1876 [1876]. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  6. "Black Hills Community Hospital". Region X hospital mortality information. Department of Health and Human Services. 1989. p. 179.
  7. "Our History". MultiCare. Retrieved June 16, 2025.