Saint Urban, Washington

Saint Urban is an unincorporated community in Lewis County, Washington, United States. It is located approximately 3 miles northeast of Winlock.

History
The town's existence began as two families, who were German and Swiss immigrants, settled the area in approximately 1889. They named the new community after a small village of the same name in Switzerland. The central hub of the community was located at the intersection of Military Road and Sargent Road and at its height of prosperity, consisted of a small store, a Catholic church, a school and a Grange hall. As of 2022, only the Grange hall and church remain.

Historic buildings and sites
The St. Urban Church, originally called the Assumption Catholic Church was dedicated on August 15, 1891, the day of the Feast of the Assumption. By the early 2000's the church building had become dilapidated and had been decommissioned, though the cemetery was still maintained. The Archdiocese of Seattle was contemplating destroying the building. A group of former residents and their descendants, concerned about the loss of a historic landmark, formed the St. Urban Settlement Foundation in an effort to save the church. Volunteers worked towards the restoration effort that culminated in the reopening of the building with a ceremony on August 15, 2010. The church is considered the first, and last, original public building of the early St. Urban community.

Education
The first school in St. Urban was built on property owned by Frederick Schlittler, approximately 1/4 mile north of the main intersection of the town. A new school district, 37, was assigned on January 8, 1884. The original school was replaced with a somewhat larger building, c. 1908, and was located diagonally across the St. Urban intersection from the church.