Ilwaco is a city in Pacific County, Washington, at the mouth of the Columbia River on the Long Beach Peninsula, where the river meets the Pacific Ocean. With a population of about 1,100, it is a small coastal town whose identity is rooted in the water. Founded in 1890, Ilwaco grew as a logging and fishing community and was home to the Ilwaco Railway and Navigation Company, a narrow-gauge line that once ran up the Long Beach Peninsula. Today the town remains a working fishing port, with commercial and charter fleets operating from its harbor, alongside a growing arts community. The town's harbor is the economic and social heart of the community, with charter boats, seafood operations, and a growing collection of galleries and studios clustered near the waterfront. Ilwaco's position between the river and the ocean gives it a distinctive coastal identity within Pacific County. Ilwaco serves as the gateway to Cape Disappointment State Park, which offers lighthouses, beaches, and the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center overlooking the river's mouth. Black Lake provides freshwater trout and bass fishing, and the Long Beach Peninsula's ocean beaches stretch north from town. The nearby Lewis and Clark National Historical Park and Willapa National Wildlife Refuge add to the area's natural and historical resources. For residents, Ilwaco offers practical coastal living with a working harbor, a small downtown, and immediate access to state-park and beach recreation. It appeals to fishermen, artists, and anyone drawn to the quieter southern end of Washington's Long Beach Peninsula, with its seasonal rhythms shaped by both the fishing industry and summer tourism.