Washington is a fascinating area with many contrasts: there are farming communities, flat plains and winding rivers on one hand and then there are forests, snow covered mountains and large, modern metropolitan areas such as Seattle and Bellevue on the other.

When it comes to the small, scenic towns and cities scattered across the state, they each have much to offer in the way of beauty and unique attributes. Following is an overview of the top twenty one small cities in Washington State, listed in descending order.

1. Moses Lake

As the name implies, the city of Moses Lake is located right next to Moses Lake. This lake was once small and salty; however, the Grand Coulee Dam built in 1955 changed that aspect. The dam helped the city to develop into a thriving farm community by providing irrigation water for a multitude of crops.

The dam was instrumental in transforming the city from a place where only fishermen, shepherds and cowboys lived to a thriving farm community that today helps to feed other cities across the country.

The Grand Coulee Dam played a key role in helping Moses Lake grow in population and size. However, the construction of a major air force base near the city during World War 2 also contributed to the township’s growth and development.

Although the base closed soon after the war, it reopened in 1948 to continue instilling life into the region. Over time, Moses Lake grew to become an important city in Grant County and it remains a hub for transportation, agriculture and recreational activities to this day.

Today, Moses Lake stands as a bustling community that offers many of the amenities people would expect to find in a large city while still retaining the pristine beauty of a country town. Potholes Wildlife Reservation can be found just south of the city and the area is home to a diverse range of birds and other animal species.

Seep lakes are still common in the area, just as they were before Moses Lake grew from a little town into a small city.

Population wise, Moses Lake has just over 20,000 people, making it the largest “small city” in the county. In addition to agriculture, the city has added manufacturing and advanced technology to its economic base, with the establishment of such corporations as REC Silicon, BMW, Dell, Guardian Industries, Sabey, ConAgra Foods and International Paper.