The city of La Center turned 114 years old in 2023, and, to celebrate, city staff unveiled a plan to improve the community for the next century.
La Center’s history includes multiple names from Podunk to Timmen’s Landing before the community finally settled on La Center.
The community began establishing itself around the river back in the 1800s. By 1870, the East Fork of the Lewis River experienced consistent commerce traffic by sternwheeler boats. That year, the Swallow, a 45-foot steam-powered sternwheeler, started running up and down the river, stopping at each homestead to trade dry goods and groceries for cash, butter, eggs and honey, according to John Caldbick in his Historylink.org essay on La Center. The Swallow’s trips ended in 1874, when the boat capsized and sank after hitting a floating snag, the essay states.
Other sternwheelers included the Mascot and Walker. Neighboring city Woodland is familiar with The Mascot as Steamboat Landing at Hoffman Plaza includes a statue of the small stern-wheel boat.
In 1871, John Timmen founded the town of Podunk, later changing the name to Timmen’s Landing in 1874.
According to Caldbick’s history essay, “For reasons that are no longer apparent, the site of present-day La Center was first known as ‘Podunk,’ a name that may not then have had the negative connotations it has today.”
Current La Center Mayor Thomas Strobehn expanded on his city’s history at a presentation about the planned downtown expansion on Dec. 16.
“The area began to grow with people and riches from the abundant timber that was harvested,” he said. “By 1907, the forests that surrounded the town were being depleted, and the writing was on the wall: Tough times were coming to the area. In 1909, the residents decided to incorporate and change the name of the town, and La Center was born.”
La Center residents voted to incorporate the town in 1909, and incorporation status was granted on Aug. 27, 1909, Caldbick’s essay states.
The town was included in the 1910 federal census, and La Center’s population was recorded at 288. By 1920, the town only had 167 residents, and the town was described as a “sleepy and rural community.”
“Between 1910 and 1950 the population of Clark County more than tripled, from approximately 26,000 to over 85,000,” Caldbick’s essay states. “In that same period, the population of La Center dropped by more than 40 percent.”
By 1970, La Center hit 300 people. With a lack of industry, the community resorted to gambling to generate revenue.
“By the ’80s, the town was in dire straits again,” said Strobehn. “But this time bankruptcy loomed. It was in 1985 that gambling was legalized, bringing new life to the area. For the next 30 years, the city of La Center enjoyed the hustle of people coming to gamble. The roads were paved, neighborhoods were built and the coffers were full. Yes, it was great to be in La Center.”
When the ilani Casino and Resort opened, the city’s revenue was cut in half, Strobehn said.
As La Center looks for business-based tax revenue once again, the downtown 2.0 expansion unveiled on Dec. 16 is Strobehn’s attempt to revive not only city revenues, but also improve the quality of life for residents.
To learn more about the city’s expansion plans for the downtown, visit thereflector.com/stories/la-center-downtown-20-unveiled-at-council-re treat,331144.
