Moses Lake,
Washington was originally named Neppel when it was founded in
1910. The name was changed at the time of its incorporation in 1938, at the vote
of 302 residents, for the great Indian
Chief Moses. Moses Lake did not experience any significant growth until the
1940’s when the U. S. Army established a Bomber Training Base. In 1948 this
establishment was renamed
Larson Air Force Base and became a multi-million dollar military
installation. By 1950 the population of Moses Lake had suddenly increased to
1,679. According to the
2000 US Census, the population had increased to 14,953 residents.
Moses Lake is referred to as “The Commercial Hub
of the Columbia River Basin”, due to its location
on north/south
State Highway 17 and
Federal Interstate 90.
The Grant County International Airport is located four miles North of Moses
Lake. Formerly known as Larsen Air Force Base, it is one of the largest airports
in the United States; it covers 47,000 acres and has 5 runways.
Moses Lake, on which the town lies, is made up of three main arms that are
over 18 miles long and up to one mile wide. It is the largest, natural body of
fresh water in Grant County. Moses Lake has over 120 miles of shoreline and
covers 6,500 acres. The renowned natural sand dunes at Moses ORV Park, attract
international quad-jumping tourists and are a haven for recreational vehicles.
In June, 2008, the first annual Moses Lake Water Sports Festival will declare
that Moses Lake is the water sports capital of the Northwest.
In 2000, Moses Lake had a
median family income of $42,096 and owner occupied housing was at 63%. There
is a large number of vacation and seasonal housing in Moses Lake due to the
large number of outdoor recreational activities offered in the city and
surrounding area. Moses Lake, Washington boasts its own hospital, named
Samaritan Hospital;
Big Bend Community College is also located in Moses Lake.
Moses Lake, WA is located in
Grant County, Washington, 146 miles east of
Seattle WA. This Eastern Central region of Washington State, including the
City of Moses Lake, is the
Pacific Northwest's 'geologic wonderland'.
Prehistoric lava flows and ice
age floods bequeathed a spectacular landscape containing one of world’s
largest waterfalls, named
Dry Falls. Dry Falls is 400 feet high and 3.5 miles wide. The
Grand Coulee Dam,
built across the Columbia River in 1933, is still the largest concrete dam in
North America.
Moses Lake, Washington is
“Washington’s Great Escape”. Numerous large fresh water lakes, mud flats,
parks, a water park, and campgrounds offer every manner of outdoor recreation
and nature appreciation. Bird watching is a world-class activity here.
The National Audubon Society has a 180-member chapter in Moses Lake where
they sponsor an Annual Christmas Bird Count and Annual Bald Eagle Count.
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