Chehalis, Washington
| Chehalis, Washington | |
|---|---|
| City | |
 | |
| Nickname(s): the Rose City | |
 Location of Chehalis, Washington | |
| Coordinates: 46°39′36″N 122°57′48″W / 46.66000°N 122.96333°WCoordinates: 46°39′36″N 122°57′48″W / 46.66000°N 122.96333°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Lewis |
| Area[1] | |
| • Total | 5.55 sq mi (14.37 km2) |
| • Land | 5.53 sq mi (14.32 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2) |
| Elevation | 243 ft (74 m) |
| Population (2010)[2] | |
| • Total | 7,259 |
| • Estimate (2014)[3] | 7,261 |
| • Density | 1,312.7/sq mi (506.8/km2) |
| Time zone | Pacific (PST) (UTC-8) |
| • Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) |
| ZIP code | 98532 |
| Area code(s) | 360 |
| FIPS code | 53-11475 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1503929[4] |
| Website | www.ci.chehalis.wa.us |
Chehalis 
i/ʃəˈheɪlᵻs/ (US dict: shə·hā′·lĭs) is a city in Lewis County, Washington, United States. The population was 7,259 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Lewis County.[5]
History
Chehalis began as a settlement around a warehouse beside a railroad track in 1873, when the Northern Pacific Railroad built northward from Kalama to Tacoma, and ignored Claquato, then the county seat three miles to the west. After the Northern Pacific bypassed Claquato, the county seat was moved to Chehalis, leaving Claquato little more than a historical landmark. By 1874, a store was added to the warehouse, and several houses were constructed. The new town was first named Saundersville, for S.S. Saunders, on whose donation land claim it was founded. In 1879, the name was changed to Chehalis, named after the Chehalis people. Chehalis was incorporated on November 23, 1883.
Logging soon began in the nearby forests. Lumber workers of Scandinavian, Anglo-Saxon, and Scots-Irish descent arrived and settled in the neighboring valleys. In 1940, the chief local industries were: dairying, poultry raising, fruit growing, milk condensing, fruit and vegetable packing, brick and tile manufacturing, coal mining, portable house manufacturing, and fern shipping.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.55 square miles (14.37 km2), of which, 5.53 square miles (14.32 km2) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) is water.[1]
The city straddles Interstate 5 at a point almost exactly halfway between Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon. The historic downtown and most of the city's amenities lie on the east side of the freeway, nestled at the base of a small range of forested hills. On the west side of the freeway are parks, farms, and a few subdivisions developed in the hills to the west. A small airport is located immediately west of the freeway towards the northern end of the city. From numerous vantage points in the hills just west of town, one can see Mount Rainier, Mount Adams, and Mount St. Helens—weather permitting. Chehalis is a frequented stop by bicyclists while on the annual Seattle to Portland Bike Ride.
The Chehalis River winds its way through the valley in which the city resides, and is there joined by a tributary, the Newaukum River. Both rivers are prone to flooding during periods of abnormally heavy or persistent rain, and the lowlands from the freeway westward are particularly susceptible to inundation.
Climate
This region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6 °F. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Chehalis has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.[6]
December 3, 2007 floods
Due to flooding from the December 2007 Pacific Northwest storms, a twenty-mile stretch of Interstate 5 in Washington was closed between exits 68 and 88, which runs through Lewis County, for several days. The economic cost of the Interstate 5 closure was roughly $8 million a day. To help drain the water from the roadway, a dike was breached to help drain the Chehalis River. At the height of the storm, 75,000 customers in Washington lost electric service. Many remained without power since the start of the storm. As of December 6, 2007, the flood was blamed for eight deaths.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 1,309 | — | |
| 1900 | 1,775 | 35.6% | |
| 1910 | 4,507 | 153.9% | |
| 1920 | 4,558 | 1.1% | |
| 1930 | 4,907 | 7.7% | |
| 1940 | 4,857 | −1.0% | |
| 1950 | 5,639 | 16.1% | |
| 1960 | 5,199 | −7.8% | |
| 1970 | 5,727 | 10.2% | |
| 1980 | 6,100 | 6.5% | |
| 1990 | 6,527 | 7.0% | |
| 2000 | 7,057 | 8.1% | |
| 2010 | 7,259 | 2.9% | |
| Est. 2014 | 7,261 | [7] | 0.0% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] 2014 Estimate[3] | |||
2010 census
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 7,259 people, 2,868 households, and 1,655 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,312.7 inhabitants per square mile (506.8/km2). There were 3,131 housing units at an average density of 566.2 per square mile (218.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 87.0% White, 1.7% African American, 1.3% Native American, 1.3% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 5.7% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.6% of the population.
There were 2,868 households of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.9% were married couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.3% were non-families. 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 3.02.
The median age in the city was 33.5 years. 24.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 12.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.9% were from 25 to 44; 22.6% were from 45 to 64; and 14.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.2% male and 49.8% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,057 people, 2,671 households, and 1,696 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,259.0 people per square mile (485.7/km²). There were 2,871 housing units at an average density of 512.2 per square mile (197.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.56% White, 1.35% African American, 1.46% Native American, 1.20% Asian, 0.24% Pacific Islander, 3.95% from other races, and 2.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.91% of the population. 18.4% were of German, 11.0% English, 11.0% American and 8.4% Irish ancestry.
There were 2,671 households out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.2% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 102.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,482, and the median income for a family was $41,387. Males had a median income of $32,289 versus $24,414 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,944. About 16.0% of families and 19.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.6% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.
Facts
- The city was known as "The Maple-Leaf City" due to the shape of the convergence of the Chehalis River, tributaries, and railroads.[9]
- Chehalis was mentioned in Season 6 Episode 9 of Grey's Anatomy (New History)
Politics
Chehalis is heavily Republican and conservative, although slightly less so than the county as a whole. The results for the 2004 U.S. Presidential Election were as follows:
- George W. Bush (Republican) - 1,764 (62.05%)
- John F. Kerry (Democrat) - 1,028 (36.16%)
- Ralph Nader (Independent) - 34 (1.20%)
- Other candidates - 17 (0.60%)
Sister city
- Chehalis sister city with Inasa, Shizuoka in Japan, now merged into the city of Hamamatsu, which continues the relationship.[10]
Chehalis forms twin cities with adjacent Centralia. The Chehalis–Centralia Airport (IATA airport code CLS) is located within the Chehalis city bounds.
Notable residents
- Kay Bell, American football player and professional wrestler
- Ralph Towner, acoustic guitarist (b. 1940)
- Orin Smith, Starbucks former CEO
- Izzie Stevens, fictional Grey's Anatomy character
Historic sites
- Claquato Church, the oldest continuously used church in the state
- Post Office
- Westside Neighborhood
- Washington Hotel (1889), current site of the Vintage Motorcycle Museum
References
- 1 2 "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
- 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
- 1 2 "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
- ↑ "Chehalis". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
- ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ↑ Climate Summary for Chehalis, Washington
- ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
- ↑ "The Evergreen State Souvenir by J.O. Hestwood, Chicago: W.B. Conkey Co., 1893, p.38".
- ↑ "Outline of Hamamatsu – Sister Cities". Hamamatsu City. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
External links
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