Frequently Asked Questions
What is Castle Rock's history?
Castle Rock is centered primarily on the donation land claim of Eliza and William Huntington, who settled here in 1852. The city was platted December 12, 1888 and incorporated in 1890. Castle Rock was named after a large volcanic rock formation, which rises 190 feet high. The rock formation, resembling a castle, became a geographic landmark to early river travelers. The city has preserved this site and visitors can hike to the top of ‘The Rock’. The site is located at the intersection of Huntington Avenue South and Front Avenue. Historical markers are located at the base.
Castle Rock received recognition from the Lieutenant Governor’s office for being one of the oldest territories in the State of Washington. The city was platted December 1888 and incorporated in 1890. For further information, see the Secretary of State website.
What is there to do in Castle Rock?
Many outdoor activities are in the area such as: hiking, bicycling, fishing, boating, hunting, and motorcycle racing. In addition, the community hosts the annual Castle Rock Fair held in July, and the Festival of Lights held in December.
What utility services are provided by the city and how do I sign up for such services?
The city provides water, sewer and stormwater utility services for residents within the city limits. A few areas outside the city limits are also served by the city. Each new utility customer is required to pay a deposit and sign a service agreement prior to receiving service. Once this is done, a public works employee will go to the property and read the meter and turn on your service. You will be charged for services from this date forward. Please contact City of Castle Rock Finance Department with questions at (360) 274-8181.
I am new in town. What are the other utility service contact numbers not provided by the city?
| Garbage Pickup | Waste Control, Longview, Washington | (360) 425-4302 |
| Electric Services | PUD of Cowlitz County Longview, Washington | (360) 423-2210 |
| Television Cable | Comcast Longview, Washington | (800) 934-6489 |
| Natural Gas | Cascade Natural Gas Longview, Washington | (360) 423-7470 |
When are utility payments due?
Monthly Billing Procedures: Utility bills are issued on the last business day of the month. Payment is due by 4:30 PM on the 24th of the following month. If the 24th is a non-business day, the due date shifts to the following business day. Delinquent Account Notices will be sent to customers with balances greater than $11.00. The notice will include information about the final due date and balance to pay in order to prevent disconnection of service. A $10.00 rebilling fee has also been assessed to your account and is reflected in the balance shown on the Delinquent Account Notice. A duplicate copy of this notice will also be sent to the property owner, if different than the account holder. If payment is not received by the due date stated on the notice, services will be disconnected. A disconnect/reconnect fee of $40.00 will be assessed if payment is received after the due date. Any disputes of the amount due must be in writing, by the customer, within ten (10) days from the date of the Delinquent Account Notice and filed at the Finance Office. NOTE: Any amount shown as a ‘past due’ or ‘previous balance’ on the regular monthly billing statement is subject to immediate disconnect procedures. Per RCW 35.21.290 disconnection of water services is considered a lien against the property.
Payments: You have several payment options available.
In-person (Cash, Check, Money Order) Mail (Check, Money Order) Drop-Box (Check, Money Order) |
Online (Credit Card, ACH/EFT) View/Pay Bills $3.95 CC Convenience Fee per transaction; Maximum Transaction Amount of $350.00 $0.95 ACH/EFT Convenience Fee per transaction; No Maximum Transaction Amount |
I am traveling to the Castle Rock area. What services are available in the city?
Key businesses include the US Post Office, grocery store, pharmacy, hardware store, auto repair/parts, a variety of restaurants (both fast food and sit down), bakery, florists, visitor center, gift shops, lodging, gas stations, clothing, towing services, fish/game licensing, feed store, beauty/barber shops, Red Canoe Credit Union, and Fibre Federal Credit Union. For further information, contact the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce at (360) 274-6603.
How far from Castle Rock are the Mt. St. Helens visitor centers on State Route 504?
Note: Mileage amounts are estimates, from Castle Rock, Interstate 5, Exit 49 area.
| Mt. St. Helens Visitor Center | 5 miles | (360) 274-0962 |
| Johnston Ridge Observatory | 52 miles | (360) 274-2140 |
| Mt. St. Helens Learning Center | 33 miles | (360) 414-3439 |
What church affiliations are in the city?
| NAME | ADDRESS | TELEPHONE |
| Apostolic Lutheran Church | 248 Cowlitz St. W. | (360) 274-7991 |
| Castle Rock Christian Church | 542 Huntington Ave S | (360) 274-6771 |
| Castle Rock Seventh Day Adventist | 7531 Old Pacific Hwy N | (360) 274-6090 |
| First Baptist Church | 211 Front Avenue NW | (360) 274-4113 |
| Church of the Nazarene | 456 Pioneer Avenue NE | (360) 274-6546 |
| St. Mary's Catholic Church | 635 Buland Drive | (360) 274-7404 |
| St. Paul Lutheran Church | 312 First Avenue SW | (360) 274-6604 |
| St. Matthew’s Episcopal | 412 Pioneer Ave NE | (360) 274-9393 |
| Timberlake Church | 1955 Huntington Ave S | (360) 274-7711 |
| Jehovah’s Witness | 115 Studebaker Rd | (360) 274-7289 |
| Castle Rock United Methodist | 241 First Avenue SW | (360) 274-4252 |
Do you have a list of service organizations active in the city?
Community spirit and pride form the foundation of our community. Castle Rock is blessed with many individuals, church groups and community service groups. A listing of community service groups follows:
American
Legion Business Advisory Committee Castle Rock Fraternal
Order of Eagles and Ladies Auxiliary Castle Rock Library Board Castle Rock Lions Club Castle Rock Masonic Lodge Castle Rock School District Castle Rock Women’s
Club |
Chamber
of Commerce Park Board Planning Commission Senior Center Sunnyside Grange Hall #129 Toutle Lake School District |
| *Denotes physical location of building. | |