Naselle is a census-designated place in Pacific County, Washington, in the southwestern corner of the state near the Oregon border. The community lies about 23 miles from the mouth of the Columbia River, placing it within reach of both the river's lower estuary and the Pacific coast. Its population was recorded at 421 in the 2020 census, reflecting a small, rural settlement set among the evergreen Willapa Hills, a low range that characterizes this part of southwestern Washington. The community takes its name from the Nisal people, a Chinookan tribe that formerly lived along the river, and the Naselle River itself runs through the valley on its way west into Willapa Bay and then the Pacific Ocean. This setting — river valley, forested hills, and nearby bay — has long shaped the local economy and way of life, from the timber industry to fishing and farming. Naselle's location on State Route 4 places it along the corridor between the Columbia River communities to the east and the coastal towns of the Long Beach Peninsula to the west. Naselle is served by the Naselle-Grays River Valley School District, a small district of about 318 students operating two schools, which serves the community and surrounding areas of both Pacific and Wahkiakum counties. The district is a focal point of community life, as is typical in rural Washington. For residents, Naselle offers a quiet, close-knit existence surrounded by forests and water, with the services of larger towns such as Longview and Astoria within reach and the natural beauty of Willapa Bay and the Pacific shoreline close at hand.