Vader

About Vader

Vader is a city in Lewis County, Washington, United States. The community began in the 1870s and was known under several different names during its early years. Vader was most recognizably known as Little Falls, after a waterfall on nearby Olequa Creek, until an official name change to Vader in 1913. The city's moniker has remained an issue, with unsuccessful votes held in the 21st century to convert back to Little Falls.

Incorporated under the name of Little Falls in 1906, the early town grew largely out of logging and clay manufacturing at the turn of the 20th century, growing to a population that was reported to have reached as high as 5,000 people, despite census records failing to support the numbers. The city became known as Vader, after an American Civil War veteran and resident, in 1913. In the 1910s, several fires decimated the sawmill and factory industries of the community which led to a decades-long decline to Vader's population and economy. By the 2000s, a lack of funding closed the local school and educational district.

In the 21st century, community efforts have been undertaken to rejuvenate the economic conditions of the city. Several projects began to highlight the logging history of Vader as well as showcase historic buildings, such as Old City Jail, and two National Register of Historic Places structures, the Ben Olsen House and Grace Evangelical Church of Vader. Two parks were created and the community has continued to hold an annual May Day Festival, first begun in the 1950s.

According to the 2020 census, Vader's population rebounded to a level not recorded since 1910.

Text: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Vader weather: 7-day forecast

Source: National Weather Service (NOAA).

Live webcams in Vader

Webcams: Windy.com

Living in Vader

Median household income

$64,688

Median home value

$317,200

Median rent

$1,191/mo

Median age

30.9

Map of Vader

Tap any street on the map to see it in Street View below. Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Vader Street View

Drag the image to look around and tap the arrows on the ground to move. If it says there is no imagery, tap a nearby street on the map above.

Vader, WA population

Vader had 629 residents in the 2020 Census.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census.

Vader at a glance

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Gazetteer, ZCTA), USGS GNIS, Wikidata.

Towns near Vader

• Ryderwood4.6 mi SW
• Toledo5.7 mi NE
• Winlock6.2 mi N
• Castle Rock9.5 mi S
• Napavine12.9 mi N
• Lexington15.0 mi S
• Longview Heights15.5 mi S
• Beacon Hill16.2 mi S
• Onalaska16.8 mi NE
• Longview17.9 mi S
• Chehalis17.9 mi N
• Pe Ell19.9 mi NW

Straight-line distance between town centers.

Frequently asked questions about Vader