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Porter, WashingtonPhoto: Photo taken by Price around the turn of the 20th century. · Public domain
The Porter handbook

Living in Porter, WA: what to set up and who to call

Porter has no town government of its own, so Grays Harbor County runs its elections and most services, and its children attend Elma School District. Power in Porter comes from PUD No 1 of Grays Harbor County, a political subdivision utility rather than a private company.

Which school will my kid attend?How do I register to vote?ZIP codes
Porter has no town government. It’s a census-designated place in Grays Harbor County, so the county and regional agencies provide most services. This page answers what we can; the same answers appear on Porter’s town page under “Getting set up”.

I’m new in town

What to set up in Porter, and who provides it. Tap an answer for the details and where they come from.

PowerPUD No 1 of Grays Harbor Countypolitical subdivision utility · 12.7¢/kWhMore →Internet3 providers11% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsMore →Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Porter’s trash rules yetMore →SchoolElma School DistrictWhich school depends on grade and addressMore →Register to voteOnlineRules from vote.govMore →ZIP code98541Where people live, not P.O. boxesMore →
Home services

Power, water and internet

Who to call to start service at a new address in Porter.

Electricity

Power comes from PUD No 1 of Grays Harbor County

PUD No 1 of Grays Harbor County (PUD No 1 of Grays Harbor County), a political subdivision utility, serves all of Porter. Its homes paid an average of 12.7¢ per kWh in 2025, about $133 a month (its average across Washington).

Start or move service: ghpud.org · (360) 532-4220

Service territory: HIFLD Electric Retail Service Territories (map dated Aug 2023). Prices and customers: EIA-861, 2025.

Internet

3 home internet providers serve Porter

11% of 99 addresses can get 100/20 Mbps; 0% can get fiber.

ProviderTechnologyAddressesFastest (Mbps)
CenturyLinkDSL82%60/5
T-MobileFixed wireless32%100/20
VerizonFixed wireless15%300/20

FCC National Broadband Map, as of December 2025. Availability as providers report it, not speeds people get.

Trash & recycling

We don’t have Porter’s trash rules yet

Pickup rules, the dump and recycling in Porter.

Trash, recycling and bulk pickupNot on filePorter has no town government of its own, so look for trash and recycling rules on the county’s site.
Schools

Where your child goes to school

Public school districts and the school path by grade.

Porter kids go to
PK–5Elma Elementary Schoolin Elma
6–8Elma Middle Schoolin Elma
9–12Elma High Schoolin Elma

Porter is in Elma School District.

Test scores and every school: see Schools →

U.S. Department of Education, NCES Common Core of Data, 2024–25. Enrollment rules and registration are the district’s.

Government & voting

No town hall: the county runs things

Porter is unincorporated, so Grays Harbor County is the local government.

Local governmentGrays Harbor CountyPorter is a census-designated place: no town hall of its ownCensus
Who runs elections hereGrays Harbor County AuditorElections here are run by Grays Harbor County (county election office). 100 W Broadway, Ste 2, Montesano, WA 98563-3614 · (360) 249-4232 · [email protected]FVAP, Sep 2024
Register to voteOnlineIn Washington you can register online until 8 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (received 8 days before).vote.govCheck your registration and polling placevoter.votewa.govThe state’s voter lookup

Election office: FVAP local election office directory, updated Sep 2024; jurisdictions: EAC EAVS 2024. Registration rules and links: vote.gov, updated Sep 30, 2026.

ZIP codes & area codes

Porter is in ZIP code 98541

ZIP codes where Porter residents live, with the share of the town in each.

ZIPPost office nameShare of PorterZIP’s residents in Porter
98541Elma, WA100%2%
Area code360Wikidata

Census 2020 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, by census block; post office names: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). ZIPs created since 2020 are missing.

Everyday places

Getting around, the ER and the library

One line each; the subject pages have the rest.

Nearest emergency roomSummit Pacific Medical Center6.6 miles awayGet a library cardTimberland Regional LibraryNearest branch: Elma Timberland Library, 119 N. First Street · (360) 482-3737

ER: CMS hospital data. Library: IMLS Public Libraries Survey, FY2024.

Questions about living in Porter

Who provides electricity in Porter?

PUD No 1 of Grays Harbor County (PUD No 1 of Grays Harbor County), a political subdivision utility. Its homes paid about 12.7¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA).

What internet providers serve Porter?

CenturyLink, T-Mobile, Verizon (FCC, as of December 2025).

What ZIP codes are in Porter?

98541. Census 2020 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas.

What school district is Porter in?

Elma School District.

How do I register to vote in Porter?

In Washington you can register online until 8 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (received 8 days before). Elections here are run by the Grays Harbor County Auditor. Check your registration at voter.votewa.gov.

Sources & dates

Every answer above names its source. Here they are with their dates.

  • Power: HIFLD Electric Retail Service Territories (map Aug 2023); EIA-861 final 2025.
  • Trash: OpenStreetMap, Geofabrik extract of Oct 9, 2026. © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
  • ZIP codes: Census 2020 ZCTA relationship files; GeoNames postal codes (CC BY 4.0).
  • Schools: NCES Common Core of Data, 2024–25.
  • Registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 30, 2026 (read Oct 10, 2026). Official sites and area codes: Wikidata.
  • Election office: FVAP local election office directory (fetched Oct 10, 2026; each record dated), EAC EAVS 2024 jurisdictions; registration and lookup links from vote.gov’s state data, checked Oct 10, 2026.
  • Internet: FCC National Broadband Map, as of December 2025.