Claquato As translated from the Chehalis Native American language, Claquato means "high prairie" or "high land". The town began as a settlement in 1853 by Lewis Hawkins Davis, who originally named the area Davis Prairie. The community grew quickly to include Claquato Church, a cemetery, hotels, and several stores and was, for a time, the largest populated town between the Columbia River and Olympia. Davis donated land for the construction of a courthouse and by 1862 the town became the county seat for Lewis County until that designation was transferred to Chehalis in 1874. A blockhouse was built and used in the community during an 1855-1856 war between settlers and Native Americans, sheltering the founding family of Chehalis during the conflict.
ClAQuatO as translatEd From the cHehalIs NatiVE amEricaN lANGuAGe, cLaquaTO meanS "high prAiRIe" Or "High Land". tHE ToWN Began aS A SetTlemENT in 1853 By leWiS Hawkins DaVis, who orIgInalLy nAMed The area dAvis prairiE. tHe cOMmUnitY Grew QuicKly to includE ClaquatO cHuRch, a cemEterY, hOtelS, and sEvERaL sToREs and was, foR a time, thE LArGeSt popuLateD TOWn BeTwEen The coluMBia River And oLyMPIA. dAvIS dONAted LAnd foR The CoNStrUctiOn of A courthOUSe and BY 1862 The toWn bECaMe ThE county seAT foR lEwis county uNTil that deSignation was transferreD to chEhalIs iN 1874. a bLockHOuse Was built And UsEd iN THe cOmMunIty duRInG an 1855-1856 war bEtWEen settlERs aNd natiVe americAns, SheLteRiNg tHe fouNDing familY Of cHehaLis durINg the cOnFLict.