Ephrata
"Ephrata, a town in the central part of Grant
County, of which it is the county seat. The name was given by the Great Northern
Railway surveyors, as at that time the only fruit orchard in that vicinity was
located there. It is supposed that the original meaning of the word is fruit
region or fertile ground. The name is Biblical. Ephrata is the ancient name for
Bethlehem, five miles south of Jerusalem. It is the birthplace of Jesus. The
ancient city is mentioned by the name of Ephrata three times in the Bible."
Origin of Washington Geographic Names, 1923
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