The Other Toledo
- Roger Allen Burns
- Feb 17
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 5
In 2021, we packed up and left Claremont, NH, for greener pastures—literally—out west, all the way to Toledo, Washington.
Nestled alongside the winding curves of the Cowlitz River, Toledo might be just a speck on the map with 631 residents in the city limits, but the surrounding 98591 ZIP code tells a bit of a different tale with around 4,400 people calling this area home. If you venture outside city limits like we do, you'll be surrounded by rolling farmland and quiet forests. While the city itself might feel like a tight-knit town, the wider area is home to plenty of folks who, despite technically being “county folk,” still consider themselves part of Toledo.
Pioneering History
Toledo has a history full of pioneers, railroads, and legends that you probably haven’t heard in the history books. A marker in town honors the Oregon Trail, placed in 1916 by the Daughters and Sons of the American Revolution. By the time the late 1800s rolled around, many families who reached Oregon found it was already packed with settlers. As Rich Herman, president of the Northwest Oregon California Trail Association, puts it, they "decided to turn north instead." And lucky for Toledo, some followed the Cowlitz Trail, making their way right through town. Talk about trailblazing.
Oregon Trail marker.
Cowlitz Landing and Captain Kellogg
Long before highways and railroads made life easier, rivers were the lifelines of commerce. In the mid-1800s, Cowlitz Landing, just a few miles from Toledo, was a bustling port, with steamboats carrying goods and passengers up the river, linking the settlers to bigger trade networks. But as with all good things, that trade hub didn't last forever. When railroads came into the picture, Cowlitz Landing faded into obscurity. So much for riverboats and steamboats—railroad tracks were where the action was. Nowadays, I-5, located just a few minutes from Toledo, is the primary commerce lifeline.
Now, some folks will casually say, “We live in the other Toledo,” leading to inevitable curiosity about the name. Captain Oren Kellogg, an early investor in the town and owner of some riverfront land, gave Mrs. Celeste Rochon the honor of naming the town in 1881. She looked out the window, saw the riverboat Toledo docked at the landing, and chose that name, and voilà! The name stuck.
The Cowlitz Today
As for the Cowlitz River—it’s more than just a scenic backdrop. The river begins its journey at the foot of Mount Rainier in the Cascade Mountains, spilling over from Cowlitz Lake. It winds south of Toledo before joining the mighty Columbia River at Longview. I’ve had the pleasure of fishing there a few times, hoping for a trophy coho, steelhead or trout (we’ll leave the big fish tales for later). The river's flow can be a challenge, but locals know how to catch fish if you’re willing to put in the time. It’s the kind of place where you don’t just fish, you earn your catch.
Kuroshio Current Effect!
A unique feature that’s been a pleasant surprise for us? The mild winters. Despite Toledo being 211 miles closer to the North Pole than Claremont, NH, we haven't had to shovel a single flake of snow since moving here. Western Washington enjoys relatively mild winters, thanks to the Pacific Ocean and the warm Kuroshio Current. The Cascade Mountains act as a big fluffy shield, keeping out the bone-chilling Arctic air that hits other northern states. While the rest of the country battles blizzards, we’re out here enjoying green grass in January—all while the mountains nearby are buried in snow. (As a side note, we can see the Cascade range, including Mt. Rainier and Mt. St. Helens from our second-floor deck.)
Come Visit Toledo!
Today, Toledo’s charming main street stands as a reminder of the town’s resilience and ability to adapt. With historic buildings, quirky shops, and Toledo Hardware—a one-stop shop where you can fuel up, grab fishing gear, or stock up on snacks—this town keeps things practical. The schools here are known for strong sportsmanship (and, of course, rivalries), and while the railroad may have bypassed us, we do have something that matters more—high-speed fiber internet. Talk about an upgrade!
From the stunning views to the community spirit, Toledo is a testament to small-town resilience. So, whether you're here for the stories, the fishing, or the surprisingly reliable Wi-Fi, Toledo has a little something for everyone.
Art Murals
