WASHINGTON STATE - Before the first European sails appeared on the horizon or the first fur traders crossed the Rockies, the land we now call Washington State was a bustling tapestry of nations. Far from being an "untouched wilderness," it was a sophisticated network of permanent villages, seasonal camps, and vast trade routes that had been managed for over 10,000 years.
Determining the exact number of people living in Washington prior to the colonial conquest is a challenge for modern historians. However, by combining archaeological evidence, oral traditions, and early journals from explorers, we can construct a picture of a region that was among the most densely populated in North America.
A Region of Unmatched Density
While inland North America often required vast territories to support small groups, the unique geography of Washington provided an "affluent" environment. The combination of the Pacific Ocean, the Salish Sea, and the Columbia River system created a salmon-based economy that allowed for high population density without the need for large-scale agriculture.
The Population Estimates
Scholars generally divide pre-contact estimates into two schools of thought:
- The Traditional View: Early 20th-century anthropologists estimated the population of the entire Pacific Northwest at roughly 100,000. Under this model, Washington’s portion would have been approximately 30,000 to 50,000.
- The Modern Revisionist View: Recent scholars argue that early estimates ignored the massive toll of "virgin soil" epidemics that arrived before official headcounts. Modern estimates for pre-contact Washington often range from 125,000 to over 200,000 people.
Geography and People
The population was not distributed evenly; it followed the flow of water.
The Coast and the Salish Sea
The most densely populated areas were the shores of Puget Sound (the Salish Sea) and the Olympic Peninsula. Tribes such as the Duwamish, Suquamish, Quinault, and Makah lived in large cedar longhouses. A single village could house hundreds of people, supported by a seemingly endless supply of salmon, shellfish, and whale.
The Great River: The Columbia
The Columbia River served as a massive "highway" of trade. Near the site of the modern-day Dalles and Celilo Falls, thousands of people from different nations would gather seasonally. The Chinookan-speaking peoples controlled the lower river, acting as the primary brokers of trade between the coast and the interior.
The Plateau Tribes
East of the Cascades, the Yakama, Nez Perce, and Colville tribes lived in a landscape of high desert and river valleys. While the population density was lower than on the coast, these nations managed vast territories, utilizing a "seasonal round" to harvest camas bulbs, huckleberries, and salmon.
The "Silent" Conquest: The Role of Disease
One reason early colonial records show lower numbers is that the "conquest" began biologically. Smallpox, measles, and influenza often traveled along indigenous trade routes far ahead of white settlers.
- The 1770s Smallpox Outbreak: Carried by Spanish and British maritime explorers, this first wave likely killed 30% to 50% of the coastal population before Lewis and Clark ever set foot in the region.
- The 1830s Epidemics: By the time the Oregon Trail brought thousands of settlers in the 1840s, the indigenous populations had already been decimated by waves of "fever and ague" (likely malaria) and measles.
When settlers arrived, they often found abandoned village sites and overgrown clearings. They interpreted this as "empty land," unaware that they were looking at the remains of a civilization that had recently suffered a demographic collapse comparable to the Black Death in Europe.
Legacy and Continuity
The colonial conquest led to the forced relocation of many tribes to reservations through treaties like the Treaty of Point Elliott (1855) and the Treaty of Walla Walla. However, the story of Washington’s first people did not end there.
Today, Washington is home to 29 federally recognized tribes. From the restoration of the Elwha River to the protection of salmon runs in the Salish Sea, these nations continue to exercise their treaty rights and cultural sovereignty, ensuring that the population that thrived here for millennia remains a foundational part of the state's future.
