Ocosta, Washington

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Ocosta, Washington
CDP
View from ISS Expedition 71, Ocosta, Washington, April 13, 2024 (ISS071-E-7792) (cropped).jpg
Ocosta seen from ISS Expedition 71, April 2024
Ocosta, Washington
Country United States
State Washington
County Grays Harbor
Time zone UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
  Summer (DST) UTC-7 (PDT)
GNIS feature ID2807186 [1]

Ocosta is an unincorporated community and Census-designated place in Grays Harbor County, in the U.S. state of Washington. [1]

History

Map of Ocosta Harbor, c. 1892 Map of Ocosta Harbor, circa 1892.jpg
Map of Ocosta Harbor, c.1892

The town, originally called Ocosta-by-the-sea, was the product of a disagreement between Aberdeen, WA and the Northern Pacific Railroad. In those days, it was common for the NP to accept a cash incentive from a town that wished to connect to the system. Aberdeen refused to pay, and the NP established the town in an attempt to bypass the city.

The town was reached in 1892; however, Ocosta's harbor was found to be unsuitable, and the NP instead struck a deal with Aberdeen to build a spur into the city. When the 1893 financial panic occurred, the Northern Pacific ultimately halted progress, and the city of Aberdeen finished the spur, using rails from a sunken barque. [2]

A post office called Ocosta was established in 1890, and remained in operation until 1943. [3] The community was named for the nearby ocean coast. [4] The ZIP Code for Ocosta is 98520. [5]

References

  1. 1 2 "Ocosta Census Designated Place". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  2. Davidson, Mike (June 20, 2001). "History of Railroads in Grays Harbor". Washington Genealogy. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  3. "Post Offices". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  4. Meany, Edmond S. (1923). Origin of Washington geographic names. Seattle: University of Washington Press. p. 195.
  5. "Ocosta WA ZIP Code". zipdatamaps.com. 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2023.

46°53′19″N124°02′19″W / 46.88861°N 124.03861°W / 46.88861; -124.03861