Othello is a city of 8,500 people about 100 miles southwest of Spokane. Originally a railroad town, it became an agricultural hub in the 1950's when the Columbia Basin Project brought irrigation to the region. Fields once filled with sagebrush began producing wheat, peas, apples and asparagus. But after Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980 and laid six inches of volcanic ash over the region’s fields, farmers found the soil was perfect for producing potatoes. Now trucks roll into Othello daily carrying thousands of pounds of potatoes harvested from area farms, where they are processed, frozen and shipped far and wide. Known as the French fry capital of the world, Othello produces 15% of North America’s frozen potato products. International processors McCain Foods and Simplot employ a third of Othello’s workforce.
As the city’s economy thrives, city leaders are taking steps to encourage more housing development. “We’re struggling with having enough housing,” says Tania Morelos, Othello’s city clerk and a lifelong resident. “That’s been a continuous thing, so we’re working on incentives for developers to build here so we can continue to grow.” In the meantime, Othello maintains a small-town feel with a commitment to investing in its livability. “It’s a close-knit community—a lot of people know each other. It’s the perfect place to raise a family. The schools are professional, all the kids are in sports and people just care.”
Othello is a rural town that has lots of agricultural workers.
Agriculture is one of the largest industry drivers of Othello.
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Outdoor recreation from Little League to Potholes State Park
Othello has invested in its recreation facilities, including upgrading its baseball fields. “The quality of the fields is high enough that we’ve hosted state Little League tournaments for the last two years," says Morelos. The city also recently built a railroad-themed park with state-of-the-art playground equipment and soft-landing surfaces. Basketball courts have been demolished and replaced. A new paved walking trail and splash pad are in the works.
Recreation outside the city includes fishing, boating and camping at Potholes State Park 20 miles northwest of town, where a reservoir sits among ancient dunes. Columbia Basin Wildlife Refuge is about 60 miles away. The 30,000-acre expanse of cliffs and canyons offers hiking, boating and picnicking, and hunting is permitted in some areas.
Othello features lots of newer baseball fields for kids to enjoy.
Potholes state park is a short drive from the city of Othello.
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Older homes in city center, lots for building at Country Ridge Estates
Homes on Main Street tend to be mid-century ranch styles, and have sidewalks, well-tended yards and a sprinkling of mature trees. Farther out are newer subdivisions with contemporary one- and two-story homes, where many of the lots are barren of trees. The median price of Othello homes is $355,000, which is about 30% lower than the national average. Most fall between $230,000 and $500,000, with a few four-bedroom homes over $650,000. There are lots for sale just south of town on Pancho Villa Lane and to the west at Country Ridge Estates, where lots can be over an acre.
Older ranch style homes make up a large majority of homes in Othello.
Othello is starting to see new construction communities being built.
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Sandhill Crane Festival and Main Street events
Every March, 35,000 sandhill cranes settle into the fields and wetlands around Othello for a few weeks before heading to their Alaskan breeding grounds. At this time, Othello puts on the Sandhill Crane Festival for three days of lectures, birding tours, art programs and family activities. “We’re famous for the cranes,” says Morelos. “We get a lot of tourists for the festival, some come down from Seattle." Othello’s roster of annual invents also includes a Fourth of July fireworks show at Lions Park, and a Hallmark-inspired Christmas Miracle on Main Street event.
Othello has a few franchise stores along main street.
There are lots of Mexican restaurants in the town of Othello.
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Main Street offers shopping, dining and family entertainment
Main Street was recently repaved, and the six-lane thoroughfare is lined with taquerias, Chinese restaurants and pizza joints. It’s also home to the Cow Path Bakery, a bowling alley and a three-screen movie theatre. A few other restaurants are scattered throughout town, including the Ironworks Café and Market, which is located in the oldest building in town. Members of the community helped decorate the café prior to its opening by donating old objects from its former life as a machine shop.
Main street has several stores that Othello locals shop at.
Iron Works Cafe is a local favorite in Othello.
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Schools have average scores, Wahitis Elementary stands out
The Othello School District is graded C by Niche. One of its elementary schools, Wahitis Elementary, has been recognized for using direct instruction methods to improve scores. English and math scores at Wahitis are now higher than Washington State averages. The two high schools in the district, Othello High School and Desert Oasis High School, are being merged to address budget constraints.
Wahitis Elementary is one of the highest rated schools in the area.
The Othello school district provides great public education to the residents of Othello.
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Plans to improve walkability, I-90 connects to Spokane
Othello is on flat land, and the city plans to upgrade sidewalks, create pathways and add safety features to make the city more walkable and bikeable. State Route 17 connects Othello to Interstate 90, which runs about 25 miles north of the city. Spokane is about 100 miles northeast, and Spokane International Airport provides service to many major U.S. cities. State Route 26 runs through town and also connects to I-90 to the west.
Othello is surrounded by large agricultural fields.
Othello is a small growing community that produces lots of produce for Washington State.
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Wildfire risks in Adams County and crime rates in Othello
Adams County has a risk of wildfires, which can affect air quality in Othello. The city and Adams County have adopted mitigation plans to address the risk. According to the FBI, crime rates have increased in Othello from 2020 to 2023, with property crime up 37% and violent crime up 63%.
Othello is prone to wild fires particularly in the summer months.
The Othello city hall and police department are located in the heart of downtown.
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Written By
Carol Parish
Photography Contributed By
Brandon Wong
Video By
Melinda Anselmo
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