Interactive coverage

Whitman County service map

County context for Colfax.

Loading the service-area map.

Colfax, Washington — Town Put Its River in Concrete

Colfax began beside the Palouse River because water could power mills.

Then the river kept flooding downtown.

A sawmill and grist mill helped establish the settlement as farms transformed the surrounding Palouse into wheat country.

Floods repeatedly damaged the growing town, including major events in 1893, 1910 and 1948.

Eventually engineers responded by deepening, straightening and armoring the channel through town.

Residents initially resisted the cost, but construction in the twentieth century turned part of the Palouse River into something halfway between a stream and civic infrastructure.

Colfax later embraced the oddity with events carrying the “Concrete River” name.

The river made the town possible.

Then the town spent decades teaching it boundaries.

Local Resources

Whitman County legal resources

These records are associated with Whitman County. Unless a record is specifically labelled as located in this community, confirm the correct office, jurisdiction, and service area directly; a county association or postal address is not proof of city or countywide authority.

Courts
4
County Offices
4
Law Enforcement
3
Attorney & Legal Office References
3

Courts

4 listed

County-associated references

  • Whitman County District Court

    District Court

    Whitman County reference
    400 N Main St, Suite 130, Colfax WA 99111
    509-397-6260

    Research reference

    Reference only — confirm directly.

  • Whitman County District Court - Pullman Branch

    District Division

    Whitman County reference
    325 SE Paradise St, Pullman WA 99163-2631
    509-332-2065

    Research reference

    Reference only — confirm directly.

  • Whitman County Juvenile Court

    Juvenile Court

    Whitman County reference
    400 N Main St Ste 201, Colfax WA 99111-2031
    509-397-5300

    Research reference

    Reference only — confirm directly.

  • Whitman County Superior Court

    Superior Court

    Whitman County reference
    400 N Main St Suite 210, Colfax WA 99111-2020
    509-397-6244

    Research reference

    Reference only — confirm directly.

County Offices

4 listed

County-associated references

  • Whitman County Assessor

    Assessor

    Whitman County reference

    Address not published

    County office website

    Reference only — confirm directly.

  • Whitman County Auditor

    Auditor / Recorder

    Whitman County reference

    Address not published

    County office website

    Reference only — confirm directly.

  • Whitman County Clerk

    Court Clerk

    Whitman County reference

    Address not published

    County office website

    Reference only — confirm directly.

  • Whitman County Treasurer

    Treasurer

    Whitman County reference

    Address not published

    County office website

    Reference only — confirm directly.

Law Enforcement

3 listed

County-associated references

  • Colfax Police Department

    police department

    Whitman County reference

    Address not published

    Agency website

    Reference only — confirm directly.

  • Pullman Police Department

    police department

    Whitman County reference

    Address not published

    Agency website

    Reference only — confirm directly.

  • Whitman County Sheriff's Office

    county sheriff

    Whitman County reference

    Address not published

    Agency website

    Reference only — confirm directly.

Attorney & Legal Office References

3 listed

Located in Colfax

14 reference records shown. Confirm time-sensitive addresses, hours, procedures, jurisdiction, and intake requirements directly with the organization.