Malden, Washington
In the 1870s, settlers coming west began to homestead in the Malden area in Whitman County, Washington. It was an ideal location, close to Rosalia and Pine City where goods and services were available and the land was wide open for farming.
In 1909, the railroad came through the area, and soon a railroad yard with shops and a roundhouse was built on land that had been donated to the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, more casual referred to as the "Milwaukee Road". At this new and thriving hub, engines were serviced and repaired and workers shift changes took place. These railroad workers became the first residents of the fledgling town that would become Malden, named after the C, M, & SP president's hometown of Malden, Massachusetts.
Business proprietors were drawn to this new hub and on December 20, 1909, Malden was officially incorporated as a town. In its peak years, between 1918 and 1922, Malden was recognized as one of the largest, most populated towns in Whitman County. The roughly 2,000 residents had the most modern conveniences such as banks, a post office, druggist, hotels, markets, and general merchandise shops, churches, schools, and even a jail.
Unfortunately, as trains became better equipped and could travel longer distances, the railroad moved its operations out of Malden. By the end of the 1920s, the town's population had experienced a significant shift-- from 798 in 1910 to 1,005 in 1920 and by 1930, it was down to only 375 residents remained. As of 2019, about 200 people reside in Malden.
On September 7, 2020, the Babb Road wildfire grew quickly out of control when high winds fanned the flames straight for Malden. The fire tore through the towns of Malden and Pine City about as fast as people could be evacuated. It was estimated that 80% of the town was wiped out by the flames, including the post office, city hall, library, and 112 homes. The devastation is immeasurable.
©2019-2025 E. Deasy unless otherwise noted.