Chesaw in Okanogan County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)
Chesaw
Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, June 15, 2017
1. Chesaw Marker
Prior to mineral entry in 1896, a Chinese man named Chee Saw and his Indian wife lived on an Indian trail on Myers Creek. The site soon became a mining center with about 250 inhabitants and was named Chesaw after its long time resident. Chesaw had a store, post office, assay office, several saloons, land commission office, several log buildings, and a three story hotel. The area opened to homesteading in 1900, and along with it came a flood of land-hungry people.' A beautiful new school was built in 1906 and several more businesses sprang up, even a fair grounds. By 1914 mining all but died out. In the ensuing years, drought, war, and automobiles altered the size of the town and farms. The big school house was abandoned in 1943, and Chesaw held school in the Fields school building until 1946. Chesaw is still a thriving community that really comes alive every July 4th with its annual rodeo.
Erected by Okanogan County Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Settlements & Settlers • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1896.
Location. 48° 56.7′ N, 119° 3.083′ W. Marker is in Chesaw, Washington, in Okanogan County. It is on Chesaw Road (County Road 9480) south of
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Washington’s Okanogan Highlands. It is also in the American Mountain West and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, the Cascade Range, the Pacific Rim, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 6 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Chesaw 4th of July Rodeo (within shouting distance of this marker); The Hee-Hee Stone Legend (approx. 4.9 miles away); Old Molson (approx. 7.1 miles away); The Story of Molson (approx. 7.2 miles away); The Molson School (approx. 7.2 miles away); Bodie (approx. 10.4 miles away).
Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, June 15, 2017
2. Chesaw Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on June 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 8, 2026, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. This page has been viewed 8 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 8, 2026, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
