Walla Walla Valley population trends pose challenges

'If you don’t grow, you have a dying community'

By: Erick Bengel

Outlets: Walla Walla Union-Bulletin

Published: January 23, 2026

Words: 3,211

Last Updated: 1 day, 19 hours ago

Gunner Fulmer, chair of the Walla Walla County Board of Commissioners, sees firsthand a deep, decadeslong divide in the Walla Walla Valley.

“I have constituents that come to me all the time and say, ‘Why are we not growing?’” Fulmer said. “Fair question. …

“I also have constituents that come to me and say: ‘Why do we need to grow? I live here because I don’t want to be in a big city. I don’t …

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