Sundale began as a railroad town on the Spokane, Portland & Seattle (SP&S) Railway. It's descriptive name was chosen by L.W. Hill and C.M. Levy, officials of the SP&S. Today Sundale supports a large fruit orchard.

A 1913 map (Geo. A. Ogle & Co.) of Klickitat County shows "Sundale Sta.", located on the Seattle, Spokane, and Portland line.

From the Tacoma Public Library's "Washington Place Names database (2019) :

"Sundale began as a railroad station 25 miles east-by-south of Goldendale on the Columbia River in southeast Klickitat County. The name was chosen by L.W. Hill and C.M. Levy, officials of Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway."

From the Tacoma Public Library's "Washington Place Names" database (2001) :

"Chapman Creek ... Chapman Creek rises near the Oak Grove district in east central Klickitat County and flows southeasterly 10 miles to the Columbia River at Sundale. It was named for Eldon Chapman, postmaster of Six Prong (a historic community within Klickitat County) in the early 1900s."

Robert Hitchman wrote in "Place Names of Washington" (1985, Washington State Historical Society):

"Chapman Creek (T3,4N R19,20E) ... The stream of the creek rises near Oak Grove district, east central Klickitat County; flows southeasterly 10 miles to Columbia River at Sundale. It was named for Eldon Chapman, postmaster of Six Prong in the early 1900s."

ERROR --- Eldon Chapman is in error. Chapman Creek was named after Joseph Chapman, who, in 1861 settled on the small creek east of Rock Creek.

The 1868 cadastral survey map (tax map) shows the homestead of Joseph Chapman located along a small creek in T3N R20E, SE part of Section 7 and SW part of Section 8, approximately three miles upstream from where Chapman Creek enters the Columbia River. This creek is now Chapman Creek.

The 1904 publication "An illustrated history of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas counties:" states Chapman Creek was named after Joseph Chapman, who had a homestead on the creek which later became the ranch of "W. B. Walker".

"... In 1861 Joseph Chapman settled and put out an orchard on a place along the Columbia beyond Rock creek. ..."

"... While settlement in the western part of the county had been fairly rapid during the early seventies, few had either the desire or courage to risk their fortunes upon the vast prairie east of Rock creek. That great region was presumed to be fitted only for stock-raising, and upon its broad expanse roamed thousands of cattle, horses and sheep. Stockmen alone claimed the vast range for more than two decades after the com- ing of the whites into southern Washington. Prior to 1871 Joseph Chapman, heretofore referred to, was the only permanent settler east of Rock creek, his ranch and wood-yard being situated near the mouth of the small stream which bears his name. ..."

"... The only Indian trouble in Klickitat during the early years which gave evidence of developing into anything of a serious nature happened in 1866, and this could scarcely be considered anything more serious than a family quarrel. The quarrel occurred at Joseph Chapman's place, on Rock creek, now known as the W. B. Walker ranch. ..."

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management's General Land Office (GLO) Records database (2014) shows Wellington B. Walker being granted title to 160 acres on August 30, 1872, in T3N R20E, parts of Section 7 and Section 8. Joseph Chapman is not listed in the database (2014) and Eldon V. Chapman is shown being granted title on October 11, 1909, to 160 acres of T4N R22E, Section 12, approximately 16 miles east of Chapman Creek.

• Sundale Tribal "Shared-use" Fishing Access Site ...

"For fisheries management purposes, the 292-mile stretch of the Columbia River that creates the border between Washington and Oregon is divided into six zones. Zones 1-5 are between the mouth of the river and Bonneville Dam, a distance of 145 miles. Oregon and Washington manage the commercial fisheries that occur in these zones. Zone 6 is an exclusive treaty Indian commercial fishing area. This exclusion is for commercial fishing only. Non-commercial sports fishers may still fish in this stretch of the river." [Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission website, 2016]

The Zone 6 sites include 19 Treaty Fishing Access sites (Bonneville, Wyeth, White Salmon, Stanley Rock, Lyle, Dallesport, Celilo, Maryhill, Rufus, Preacher's Eddy, North Shore, LePage Park, Pasture Point, Roosevelt Park, Pine Creek, Threemile Canyon, Alderdale, Crow Butte, and Faler Road), five "In-lieu" sites (Cascade Locks, Wind River, Cooks, Underwood, and Lone Pine), two "Shared-use" sites (Avery and Sundale Park, for both Tribal use and Public use), and four "Unimproved" sites with no services (Goodnoe, Rock Creek, Moonay, and Aldercreek).