Walla Walla, Washington

Walla Walla ( WAH-lə WAH-lə) is a city in and the county seat of Walla Walla County, Washington, United States. It is one of the largest cities in Southeastern Washington with a population of 34,060 at the 2020 census, estimated to have decreased to 33,339 as of 2023. The combined population of the city and its two suburbs, the town of College Place and unincorporated Walla Walla East, is about 45,500. Walla Walla is located near the Palouse and Blue Mountains, approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) from the Oregon border to the south. The city lies within the historic territory of several Indigenous Northwest Plateau peoples, among which were the Walawalałáma (Walla Walla). The settlement's name, Walla Walla, is derived from a Nez Perce word for "place of many waters". The Lewis and Clark Expedition reached the Walla Walla Valley in 1806 and were followed by a trading post founded by the Hudson's Bay Company in 1818. The Whitman Mission was established in 1836 and closed after a massacre at the site in 1847. The modern settlement of Walla Walla was founded as Steptoeville in 1856 around Fort Walla Walla and incorporated as a city on January 11, 1862. Walla Walla became the most populous city in Washington Territory but was later eclipsed in the 1880s, remaining a regional hub. Walla Walla is home to the Washington State Penitentiary, Whitman College, and Marcus Whitman Hotel. The surrounding area has a significant agricultural industry, including a wine-growing region with over 120 wineries. The city is located on U.S. Route 12, a major regional highway, and has a commercial airport.