Forks, Washington
This article is about the place in the United States. In data processing, there are several meanings as plural to fork.
Forks is a city on the western edge of Olympic National Park in the U.S. state of Washington. The city is located near the Quileute Reservation. It was first incorporated on August 28, 1945, and has a population of about 3,120 (as of 2009) in an area of 8.1 square miles. It got its name from its location between the three rivers Sol Duc, Bogachiel and Calawah River. On September 20, 1951, after a long dry spell of 108 days without rain, a forest fire broke out east of Forks and spread rapidly. 28 residences and several other buildings in Forks were destroyed by the fire before it was stopped by rain and eventually extinguished.
Forks is characterized by woodworking industries. The Forks Timber Museum provides a glimpse into the history of the forestry and timber industry in the region. Forks is also a popular starting point for exploring Olympic National Park. Washington State Road 110, the La Push Road, heads toward La Push and Rialto Beach, making it less than a half-hour drive to the Pacific Ocean. Nine miles south of Forks is the small Bogachiel State Park.
The city achieved international notoriety through the books in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight vampire series, as Meyer sets the five novels in the series (Until Dawn, Until Noon, Until Dusk, Until Nightfall, and Until First Sunbeam - The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner) in Forks. Due to the huge success of the book series and the resulting feature films, Forks has become a popular destination for Twilight fans.
Climate
| Monthly average temperatures and precipitation for Forks (Washington)
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Economy and infrastructure
Chamber of Commerce
The Forks Chamber of Commerce is located at the south end of town on the highway. It represents all of its affiliated businesses and restaurants in Forks. Tourists can get information about Forks and purchase some souvenirs here.
Traffic
Highway 101 runs through the city from north to south and is the only connection to and from Forks. Northbound, Port Angeles is about an hour's drive away. The nearest major city to the south on Highway 101 is Aberdeen. Forks is connected to the Quileute Reservation via Washington State Route 110.
Forks airport is used mostly for small private planes, but is also the fastest connection to Seattle for medical emergencies.
Twilight
The Twilight books and movies have become a significant economic factor for Forks. Many shops offer souvenirs and fan articles. Twilight tours with buses through the city are offered. Restaurants and eateries draw attention to themselves with Twilight menus. In 2009 alone, some 70,000 tourists visited Forks and signed the Chamber of Commerce's guest book. In 2010, a documentary film was released called Twilight in Forks, which explores the impact of Twilight on the city of Forks and its residents. In honor of author Stephenie Meyer, the city of Forks celebrates Stephenie Meyer Day annually
