If you’re driving down I-90 and the smell of sagebrush suddenly gives way to the scent of fresh onions and lake water, you’ve probably hit the Columbia Basin. Most people passing through ask the same thing: Moses Lake is in what county, exactly?
It’s Grant County.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a weird spot if you aren't from around here. You’ve got this massive, 18-mile-long lake—which, fun fact, is actually a bunch of interconnected "horns"—sitting right in the middle of what looks like a desert. But that desert is one of the most productive agricultural spots on the planet.
Why Grant County Actually Matters
Grant County is huge. We’re talking over 2,700 square miles of land. To put that in perspective, it’s the fourth-largest county in Washington by land area, but it’s mostly wide-open space. While the county seat is technically Ephrata (a smaller town just up the road), Moses Lake is the real heavyweight. It’s the largest city in the county and the commercial heart of the region.
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Back in the early 1900s, this place was basically a dust bowl. The town wasn't even called Moses Lake; it was a tiny settlement named Neppel. It only became the "fastest growing community in Washington" after two things happened: the Grand Coulee Dam started pumping water into the basin and the military built the Moses Lake Army Air Base (which later became Larson Air Force Base).
Suddenly, that dry sagebrush turned into a patchwork of potatoes, onions, and apples. If you’ve ever eaten a McDonald’s fry, there’s a massive chance the potato was grown right here in Grant County and processed in a local plant like J.R. Simplot or Lamb Weston.
A Quick Snapshot of the Stats
- County Name: Grant County (named after Ulysses S. Grant, obviously).
- Population: Around 100,000 for the whole county, with Moses Lake sitting at roughly 26,000.
- Climate: Semi-arid. You’ll get 300 days of sunshine, which is why the "Surf ‘n Slide" water park in town is always packed.
- Economic Drivers: Agriculture is the big one, but data centers (Microsoft, etc.) and aerospace are moving in because the electricity here is dirt cheap thanks to the dams.
Life on the Lake and Beyond
If you’re visiting, you aren't just here to look at a map. The "Lake" in Moses Lake is a weird, man-made miracle. It was originally just a creek, but a massive sand-dune dam (and later, actual engineering) turned it into this sprawling waterway.
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The locals sort of live and breathe the water. In the summer, it’s all about bass fishing and jet skis. In the winter? It's a bit quieter, but you’ll see thousands of migratory birds. The city is right on the Pacific Flyway, so if you’re into bird watching (or hunting), this is basically the Super Bowl.
Is it a good place to live?
People are moving to Grant County in droves lately. Why? Because Seattle is too expensive. In Moses Lake, you can still get a house with a yard without selling a kidney. The median home price has been climbing—it was around $278,000 recently—but compared to the coast, it’s a steal.
There are some quirks, though. The wind can be brutal. Like, "knock your patio furniture into the next zip code" brutal. And since it’s a farming community, you have to be okay with the occasional "smell of money" (manure) or dust from the fields during harvest.
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What’s Happening Right Now (2026 Update)
Grant County isn't just sitting still. As of early 2026, the county just approved a massive $325.5 million budget. They’re finally building a new morgue in Moses Lake on Kittelson Road—long overdue, since they’ve been sharing space with Samaritan Hospital for years.
There’s also a big push in the aerospace sector. The Port of Moses Lake and the Grant County International Airport are huge. They have one of the longest runways in the world. Seriously. It’s so big it was an alternative landing site for the Space Shuttle. Nowadays, you’ll see companies like Mitsubishi or various electric aircraft startups testing their tech in the clear Eastern Washington skies.
How to Get the Most Out of Moses Lake
If you're planning a trip or thinking about a move, here’s the "expert" advice for navigating Grant County:
- Skip the Chain Hotels if You Can: Try to find a spot with lake access. The sunsets over the "horns" of the lake are genuinely world-class.
- Check the Water Quality: Since it's an irrigation-fed lake, sometimes blue-green algae can be an issue in late August. The Grant County Health District keeps a "Healthy Lakes Tracker" online. Use it.
- Drive the Backroads: Take Highway 17 south toward the Potholes Reservoir. The geography there—formed by the Missoula Floods—looks like another planet.
- Visit the Museum: The Moses Lake Museum & Art Center is free and has a legit collection of local history, including stuff about Chief Moses, the Sinkiuse-Columbia leader the lake was named after.
Next Steps for You:
If you're looking for property or just passing through, your next move should be checking the local Grant County GIS map. It’s the best way to see exactly where city limits end and the vast agricultural zones begin. Also, if you’re heading out this weekend, grab a "Discover Pass" for the state parks; you’ll need it for spots like Potholes or Steamboat Rock.