{{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox settlement |official_name = Randle, Washington |image_skyline = |settlement_type = Unincorporated community |nickname = |imagesize = |image_caption = |image_flag = |image_seal = |image_map = |mapsize = |map_caption = |image_map1 = |mapsize1 = |map_caption1 = |pushpin_map = Washington#USA |pushpin_label = Randle |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_type1 = State |subdivision_type2 = County |subdivision_name = United States |subdivision_name1 = Washington |subdivision_name2 = Lewis |established_title = |established_date = |government_type = |leader_title = |leader_name = |area_magnitude = |area_total_km2 = |area_total_sq_mi = |area_land_sq_mi = |area_water_sq_mi = |area_land_km2 = |area_metro_km2 = |area_metro_sq_mi = |area_water_km2 = |population_as_of = |population_footnotes = |population_total = |population_metro = |population_density_km2 = |population_density_sq_mi = |timezone = PST |utc_offset = −8 |timezone_DST = PDT |utc_offset_DST = −7 |postal_code_type = ZIP code |postal_code = 98377 |area_code = 360 |coordinates = {{coord|46|32|07|N|121|57|26|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}} |elevation_m = |elevation_ft = 892 |website = |blank_name = GNIS feature ID |blank_info = 1524864<ref>{{cite gnis|id=1524864|name=Randle}}</ref> |footnotes = }}

'''Randle''' is an unincorporated place in eastern Lewis County, Washington, United States. Randle is located on U.S. Route 12 and is notable as the northeastern access point to the Mount St. Helens Windy Ridge viewpoint, by way of forest service roads that cut through the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

Randle is located next to the Cowlitz River and is about {{convert|4|mi}} north of the Cispus River, a tributary of the Cowlitz. The Cowlitz River winds westward through a rural valley in Randle known locally as "Big Bottom Valley," which is reflective of the fact that the valley floor, in certain areas, is "big". The flat, fertile land is, in places, more than {{convert|3|mi}} wide.

==Etymology== An 1889 petition to open a post office for the community was created by an early settler of the area, James Randles, but it lacked a town name in the paperwork. Due to a clerical decision by the then existing rules of the Washington Territory, the surname of Randles (excluding the "s") was determined as the moniker for the town.<ref name="RCWV">{{cite news |last1=Sexton |first1=Owen |title=Randle's Civil War Veteran Founder Reburied in Town He Established, 102 Years After Death |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/randles-civil-war-veteran-founder-reburied-in-town-he-established-102-years-after-death,322017 |access-date=July 13, 2023 |work=The Chronicle |date=July 10, 2023}}</ref>

==History== thumb|upright=0.7|Cowlitz River ferry, {{Circa|1900}} William Joerk explored in the area around 1882 and the townsite was officially founded in 1902.<ref name=majors>{{Cite book| last = Majors | first = Harry M. | title = Exploring Washington | publisher = Van Winkle Publishing Co | year = 1975 | page = 126 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CoWrPQAACAAJ| isbn = 978-0-918664-00-6}}</ref> One of the first to settle the town was James L. Randles in 1886 who helped deliver mail in the site's infancy and would spearhead the creation of a post office. Randles would pass away in 1920 and be buried in Centralia due to winter conditions at the time of his death. In 2023, his body was ceremoniously reburied next to family members in a Randle cemetery.<ref name="RCWV"/>

In 2021, a charge of sexual assault was filed against the rapper and songwriter, Lil Mosey; the incident, occurring in Randle, was reported to have happened in 2020. A trial and acquittal of the musician took place at the Lewis County courthouse in Chehalis in early 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fitzgerald |first1=Emily |title=Jury Finds Rappers 'Lil Mosey' and 'Band Kid Jay' Not Guilty in Lewis County Rape Case |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/jury-finds-rappers-lil-mosey-and-band-kid-jay-not-guilty-in-lewis-county-rape-case,314865 |access-date=June 15, 2023 |work=The Chronicle |date=March 2, 2023}}</ref>

===Flooding=== During the 2025 Pacific Northwest floods, Randle was inundated with deep flood waters. On Monday, December 8, the Cowlitz River peaked {{convert|5|ft|m|1}} over the waterway's flood stage; in what is referred to as a "double crest", the river rose again on Wednesday, December 10, reaching {{convert|24.17|ft|m|1}}. U.S. Route 12 was underwater and nearby Cora Bridge was closed, further limiting access to the community. Several people, as well as pets, were evacuated from a trailer park.<ref name="FCLCD">{{cite news |title=FLOOD CENTRAL: Lewis County declares emergency; rivers again on the rise |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/tuesday-morning-update-roads-schools-closed-as-flooding-strikes-lewis-county-and-beyond,392418 |access-date=December 11, 2025 |work=The Chronicle |date=December 9, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Uyehara |first1=Kai |title=Washington floods: More than a dozen people rescued from trailer homes, cars |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/washington-floods-more-than-a-dozen-people-rescued-from-trailer-homes-cars/ |access-date=December 11, 2025 |work=The Seattle Times |date=December 10, 2025}}</ref>{{r|PJDLP}}

The highest recorded peak of the Cowlitz River at Randle is {{convert|25.2|ft|m|1}}, set in 2006.<ref name="PJDLP">{{cite news |last1=Sexton |first1=Owen |title='People just don’t listen': Packwood fire chief says over 60 rescues were conducted as Cowlitz River flooded |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/people-just-dont-listen-packwood-fire-chief-says-over-60-rescues-were-conducted-as,392621 |access-date=December 15, 2025 |work=The Chronicle |date=December 11, 2025}}</ref>

== Geography == Randle is the center of the White Pass School District, which, in addition to Randle, covers the small towns of Glenoma, Washington, and Packwood, Washington (its school district jurisdiction includes a vast rural expanse in extreme eastern Lewis County, terminating at the Cascade Mountains and the county border with Yakima County). The community of Randle is located within Census Tract 9719 of Lewis County.

===Climate=== This region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6&nbsp;°F. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Randle has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=262654&cityname=Randle%2C+Washington%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Randle, Washington]</ref>

==Arts and culture== Randle is home to the Randle Ranger Station-Work Center, a complex of rustic buildings built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The North Fork Guard Station No. 1142, another NRHP site, is located near the town.

The Bigfoot 200 ultramarathon ends at the White Pass High School in Randle.

==Economy==

In 2019, Crystal Geyser Water Company purchased property in Randle and proposed the construction of a water bottling plant. The proposal drew extensive opposition from local residents who were concerned about damage to the Cowlitz River watershed and industrialization of the area.<ref>{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Alex |date=June 14, 2019 |title=Crystal Geyser Bottling Proposal Draws Fierce Opposition in Randle |url=http://www.chronline.com/news/crystal-geyser-bottling-proposal-draws-fierce-opposition-in-randle/article_fbfd0bea-8ed2-11e9-9fbe-6b2e3807c3e0.html |work=The Chronicle |accessdate=July 14, 2019}}</ref> In 2022, Lewis County PUD authorized a deal to acquire the property from Crystal Geyser to expand the adjacent campground and wilderness areas along the Cowlitz River.<ref name="ECJ">{{cite news |title=East County Journal |publisher=Devaul Publishing |date=July 6, 2022}}</ref>

==Parks and recreation== The community is located northeast of several recreation areas, including Riffe Lake, Taidnapam Park, and Cowlitz Falls Park which is located on the Cispus River near its junction to the reservoir, Lake Scanewa.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rose |first1=Buddy |title=Coho bring anglers to Lake Scanewa |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/coho-bring-anglers-to-lake-scanewa,236526? |access-date=February 7, 2024 |work=The Chronicle (Centralia, Washington) |date=October 29, 2004}}</ref> The Cowlitz Falls Campground, also known as Leonard “Bud” Allen Park, is a {{convert|110|acre|ha|adj=mid}} park under the control of the Lewis County PUD and is situated near the Cowltiz River, southwest of the town center.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Alex |title=Crystal Geyser Bottling Proposal Draws Fierce Opposition in Randle |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/crystal-geyser-bottling-proposal-draws-fierce-opposition-in-randle,8934? |access-date=April 18, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=June 14, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Leonard "Bud" Allen Park/Cowlitz Falls Campground |url=https://www.lcpud.org/recreation/campground/ |publisher=Lewis County PUD |access-date=April 18, 2024}}</ref>

==Education== The White Pass High School was built in 1951. In 2011, it was demolished and built into a new school.

== Politics == {| class="wikitable" style="float:right; font-size:95%;" |+ Presidential Elections Results |- bgcolor=lightgrey ! Year ! Republican ! Democratic ! Third parties |- | style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''2008'''<ref name="LC2008E">{{cite web|title=November 04, 2008 General Election - Lewis County |url=https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20081104/lewis/precincts-1.html |website=Results.Vote.WA |access-date=December 31, 2025}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''56.6%''' ''492'' | style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|41.3% ''359'' | style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|2.1% ''18'' |- | style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''2012'''<ref name="LC2012E">{{cite web|title=November 06, 2012 General Election - Lewis County |url=https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20121106/lewis/precincts-1.html |website=Results.Vote.WA |access-date=December 31, 2025}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''56.9%''' ''475'' | style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|40.6% ''339'' | style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|2.5% ''21'' |- | style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''2016'''<ref name="LC2016E">{{cite web |title=November 8, 2016 General Election - Lewis County |url=https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20161108/lewis/precincts-1.html |website=Results.Vote.WA |access-date=December 31, 2025}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''61.8%''' ''487'' | style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|30.5% ''240'' | style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|7.7% ''61'' |- | style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''2020'''<ref name="LC2020E">{{cite web|title=November 3, 2020 General Election - Lewis County |url=https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20201103/lewis/precincts-60513.html |website=Results.Vote.WA |access-date=July 21, 2021}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''68.0%''' ''689'' | style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|30.7% ''311'' | style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|1.4% ''14'' |- | style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''2024'''<ref name="LC2024E">{{cite web |title=November 5, 2024 General Election - Lewis County |url=https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20241105/lewis/precincts-162430.html |website=Results.Vote.WA |access-date=December 11, 2025}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''67.4%''' ''662'' | style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|29.3% ''288'' | style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|3.3% ''32'' |- |}

The voting information in the table includes the combined votes cast in the Randle East and Randle West precincts only. As this is an unincorporated community, there are no defined bounds, and the precinct may be incongruous with the census boundaries.

The 2020 election included votes for candidates of the Libertarian Party and Green Party.{{r|LC2020E}} In the 2024 election, there were 5 votes cast for write-in candidates and 19 votes were tallied for Robert F. Kennedy Jr..{{r|LC2024E}}

==Infrastructure== The community is among 8 locations that are part of an EV installation project on the White Pass Scenic Byway. The program will stretch from the White Pass Ski Area to Chehalis and is run in partnership with Lewis County PUD, Twin Transit, state government agencies, and local community efforts. The venture began in 2023 from two grants totaling over $1.8 million.<ref>{{cite news |author1=The Chronicle staff |title=Construction Begins on U.S. Highway 12 Electric Vehicle Charging Station Network |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/construction-begins-on-us-highway-12-electric-vehicle-charging-station-network,315141 |access-date=June 21, 2023 |work=The Chronicle |date=March 7, 2023}}</ref>

The Timberland Regional Library system built a new 3,400-square-foot public library in Randle that formally opened to the public in January 2025. It replaced a previous library location in a rented space.<ref>{{cite news |author1=The Chronicle staff |title=New Timberland Regional Library in Randle to celebrate grand opening on Jan. 11 |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/new-timberland-regional-library-in-randle-to-celebrate-grand-opening-on-jan-11,372622 |access-date=January 10, 2025 |work=The Chronicle |date=December 27, 2024}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{Lewis County, Washington}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Populated places in Lewis County, Washington Category:Unincorporated communities in Lewis County, Washington Category:Unincorporated communities in Washington (state)