Curlew, Washington — River Town Near the Border

Curlew sits along the Kettle River in northern Ferry County, close enough to Canada that the international boundary is part of ordinary geography.

Mining, ranching and transportation all used the river valley's limited flat ground. Rail lines later connected the district with Republic and British Columbia.

When rail service disappeared, parts of the old corridor found new recreational uses.

The border adds another rhythm. Trade, family connections and travel can all be affected by customs rules and exchange rates decided far from the Kettle River.

Curlew remains a small inhabited center for rural country where the next town can be a meaningful drive away.

The river provides the corridor.

Canada provides the edge.