sentences:  Gold was first discovered in Washington in 1853, as placer deposits in the Yakima Valley.Production from the state never exceeded 50,000 troy ounces per year until the mid-1930s, when large hard rock deposits were developed near the Chelan Lake and Wenatchee deposits in Chelan County, and the Republic deposit in Ferry County.Production through 1965 is estimated to be 2.3 million ounces.