Bingen, Washington

Klickitat County

The City of Bingen is located along the Columbia River in western Klickitat County, on Washington State Highway 14. The neighboring communities of Bingen and White Salmon overlook the Columbia River south of Mount Adams. Because Bingen is a sister city to Bingen, Germany, both Bingen and White Salmon have several buildings of Germanic design; one is the Glockenspiel Tower in White Salmon.

Sheltered on the north, and the east by the high bluffs, Bingen has a gentle slope from the bluffs to the river. Visible to the north is the snowy crown of Mt. Adams, second highest peak in the Northwest; to the south looms Oregon's towering Mt. Hood; and the mighty Columbia washes past its doorways. Here a toll bridge crosses to Hood River, linking Washington and Oregon at this point. Fruit growing and lumbering are important in the town's prosperity.

There is Columbia River access at the Bingen Marina, which is owned and operated by the Port of Klickitat. The Port of Klickitat in Bingen is the main shipping point for the surrounding area.

The slogan, "all roads lead to Bingen" is literally true. Just as the transportation facilities, -- the rail and water - make Bingen the Entrance Gate to the Famous Fruit Belt, the White Salmon Valley, so do all the roads from the valley lead to the town.

Two of the area’s largest employers, SDS Lumber Company and Underwood Fruit, are located in Bingen.

Bingen continues to thrive and adapt as it has moved into the 21st century. Over the next several years many changes and updates to the community are planned including a new fire hall, downtown revitalization and a civic complex to include a new community center and city hall.

City Services

City of Bingen
114 W. Steuben,
P.O. Box 607,
Bingen WA 98605
Phone: 509-493-2122
Fax: 509-493-1391
E-mail: bingen@gorge.net

Fire: 9-1-1 (emergencies only)
Fire non-emergency: 509-493-3811
Police non-emergency: 509-493-1177
Water, sewer: 509-493-1348
Electricity (PUD Klickitat): 509-773-5891
Garbage (Bingen Garbage Service): 509-493-3930
Streets/road dept.: 509-493-1348
Wastewater treatment plant: 509-493-3787

Facts about the area

The population of Bingen was listed in the U.S. 2000 Census as 672. The 2000 census listed the population for Klickitat County at 19,161.

The amount of land area in Bingen is 1.686 sq. kilometers. The amount of surface water is 0.217 sq kilometers.

The mean average temperature in the month of January is 30 degrees and in July, 78.

The distance to the Washington state capital is 115 miles. (as the crow flies).
The distance from Bingen to Washington DC is 2396 miles.
Bingen is positioned 45.71 degrees north of the equator and 121.46 degrees west of the prime meridian.

History of Bingen

In 1892, Theodor Suksdorf, with his brother, Phillip, platted the townsite of Bingen, named for Bingen-on-the-Rhine, Germany. In 1924 the Town of Bingen was incorporated and Mr. Suksdorf served as its first mayor. He later platted and added to the town the other additions which now comprise it.

Theodor Suksdorf was born on February 25, 1854 in Germany. He was brought to this country by his parents at the age of 4 years. In 1889 he married Louise Carstens and to this union were born four children, Alfred, Hentha, Walter and Elsie.Suksdorf died in 1948 in his home in Bingen, Washington.

Another pioneering family in this area were the Jewetts who bought land here in the 1870's. The Jewett family settled in the now White Salmon area and a feud began between the Suksdorf and Jewett families which, some say, started the over location of the post office. Theodor Suksdorf was the postmaster of the Bingen Post Office, established two miles south east of White Salmon. The first White Salmon Post Office was established in 1873 and was located at Warner's Landing on the Columbia river, one half mile east of Bingen, south of Mt. Adams Forest Products. The last postmaster was Douglass Suksdorf.In 1880 the White Salmon postoffice was moved to the C.M. Wolford store in white Salmon. Jacob Hunsaker was the first postmaster. From 1880 to 1896 Bingen residents had to climb the hill to get their mail.

The two families disagreed on almost every issue and so the area became two separate towns with the Suksdorfs settling in Bingen (which they named after Bingen on the Rhine in Germany) and the Jewetts, up on the bluff, retaining the name White Salmon for their town.

The bitterness remained for many years and a marker is left in the name of the railroad station. Since neither town would accede in the matter, it became the only railroad station in the United States to bear the name of two towns - "Bingen-White Salmon."

For more History of Bingen

West on SR 14 is the Broughton Log Flume, which was the last operating log flume in the country. The 9-mile flume, which closed in 1987, floated lumber from Willard to Underwood, a drop of 1,000 feet.

The flume was the setting for a scene in Disney's movie 1967 "Charlie, The Lonesome Cougar." It depicted Charlie the Cougar taking a toboggan ride on a log down the flume.

Gorge Heritage Museum

202 East Humboldt,
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 394
Bingen, Washington 98605
Phone: (509) 493-3228
Fax: (509) 493-4309

Historic and Native American artifacts from western Klickitat County , the area between Mt. Adams and the Columbia River , are displayed. A country store is featured, plus antiques, logging and farming tools, pioneer clothing, and household utensils. There is an photo collection of early settlers and Native Americans. The museum is housed in the former Bingen Congregational Church, dedicated in 1912. Special exhibits this year include the construction of Condit Dam, the Eyrie House and Jewitt Farm historic resorts, and a timber display featuring SD&S and Broughton Mills and the log flume. Resale of local books of historical value.

Hours of Operation: Late May -Sept, Thur-Sun 11-4:30.
Admissions: $2 adults; $1 children $5 Family.
Contact: David Gruen
Email: trantow@gorge.net

The Bingen School Inn
Humboldt & Cedar St,
Bingen WA 98605
(509) 493 - 3363
http://www.bsi-cgoc.com/

Built in 1938, the Bingen Grade School served Bingen and White Salmon into the late 70's. John Newman purchased the school in 1988 and remodeled the school into a hostel-type inn. With both private and hostel-like dorm rooms, his intent was to find space for everyone while maintaining a comfortable, affordable, relaxed atmosphere. The Bingen School Inn now caters to the outdoor enthusiasts who frequent the Columbia River Gorge during the year.

Bingen Haus
706 W Steuben
Bingen WA 98605
(509) 493 - 4888
http://www.bingenhaus.com/history.html

Bingen Haus was built in 1860 by Erastus and Mary Joslyn, early pioneers. During the years they lived in the area, the Joslyns raised fruit and vegetables for the inhabitants of the gold rush boom towns of Oregon and Idaho, including the fledgling town called Portland. Early visitors came up the Columbia river by sternwheeler river boat. Eratus Joslyn named the White Salmon River, taught the native inhabitants and held Sunday worship services for them. The Joslyns also provided travelers a free room for the night. The second owners were the Theodor Suksdorfs, who lavishly expanded Bingen Haus.

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