 It was named Omak, supposedly for the Salishan word "Omache"said to mean "good medicine" or "plenty"and referring to the town's favorable climate; although according to William Bright the name comes from the Okanagan placename [umák].Ross sold various items on the present townsite, trying to have his town recognized, and built a cabin in 1907 to provide shelter for his daughter, son and grandchildrenbecoming one of the first white men to settle the area.The town began to develop after the completion of the Okanogan Irrigation Project, which was designed to facilitate farming.