Mica, Washington

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Mica, Washington
Unincorporated community
Barnatmica.png
Mica, Washington is located in Washington (state)
Mica, Washington
Mica, Washington
Coordinates: 47°33′22″N 117°12′44″W / 47.55611°N 117.21222°W / 47.55611; -117.21222Coordinates: 47°33′22″N 117°12′44″W / 47.55611°N 117.21222°W / 47.55611; -117.21222
CountryUnited States
StateWashington
CountySpokane
Elevation
2,480 ft (760 m)
Population
 • Total563
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
99023
Area code(s)509
GNIS feature ID1512460[1]

Mica is an unincorporated community in Spokane County, Washington, United States. Mica is located along State Route 27 12 miles (19 km) southeast of downtown Spokane. Mica had a post office with ZIP code 99023.[2]

Geography[]

Mica is located along State Route 27 which connects the town with Spokane Valley, a few miles to the north, and the rest of the Spokane area. To the south, State Route 27 connects Mica with numerous other small towns on the Palouse. Mica itself is located on the northern edge of the Palouse farming region, with its gentle rolling hills quickly giving way to the foothills of the Selkirk Mountains. Krell Hill, known locally as Tower Mountain for the television towers it houses, is located just to the northwest of town and Mica Peak just to the east. California Creek, a tributary of Latah Creek, flows from the slopes of Mica Peak and along the southeastern edge of town.

Mica is located in the Freeman School District, with elementary, middle and high schools located a three miles south of the town on State Route 27.

History[]

A post office called Mica was established in 1887, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1975.[3] The community was named for deposits of mica.[4]

Mica's economy has been dominated by brick making since the town's early days. The current factory is owned by Mutual Materials[5] and located on the site of American Fire Brick, founded by Mica pioneers the late 1800s.[6]

The oldest grave in Mica Cemetery dates to 1883.[6]

Due to its location about ten minutes by car from suburban Spokane Valley, Mica and the surrounding area have lost some of their completely rural identity as people have moved in and transformed it somewhat into a bedroom community.[6]

Gallery[]

  • Mica Peak as seen from the eastern edge of Mica from Belmont Road.

  • Brickyard in Mica, where bricks have been made since 1902, as seen from Washington State Route 27.

References[]

  1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Mica, Washington
  2. ^ "ZIP Code Lookup".
  3. ^ "Spokane County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  4. ^ Sullivan, Julie (March 16, 1989). "Architect builds historical interest with trivia". Spokane Chronicle. pp. S9. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  5. ^ "Spokane Journal features Mutual Materials Brick Plant in Mica WA". Mutual Materials. January 12, 2016.
  6. ^ a b c "Story of Mica". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane. April 14, 2007.
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