 It reached its peak population in the 1920s at 264, and the community had a number of businesses, including a cotton gin, three general stores, a drugstore, and a blacksmith shop; in addition, six churches and two fraternal orders operated locally.Its decline began in the 1950s as the urbanization of rural areas began across the United States following World War II.By 1950 the population of Vashti stood at 140, which remained stable until 1980.