Colville, Washington
Encyclopedia
Colville is a city in Stevens County, Washington, United States. The population was 4,673 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat
of Stevens County.
near the Kettle Falls
fur trading site in 1825. The Oregon boundary dispute
(or Oregon question) arose as a result of competing British and American claims to the Pacific Northwest of North America in the first half of the 19th century. In 1859, the US Army established a new Fort Colville at Pinkney City, about 1.5 miles NE of the current city of Colville. That fort was abandoned in 1882 and the city was moved to the present location on the Colville River Valley.
Colville, as a town, is claimed to be founded by John U. Hofstetter, was officially incorporated on June 7, 1890.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²), all of it land.
, and 3.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.35% of the population.
There were 2,090 households out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.6% were non-families. 35.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 26.8% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 83.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,988, and the median income for a family was $40,466. Males had a median income of $32,066 versus $21,782 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $18,031. About 10.4% of families and 15.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.9% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.
's novel Susannah's Garden. Ms. Macomber has family in the area, and has visited it many times, providing ample opportunity for researching the setting.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Stevens County.
History
The Hudson's Bay Company established Fort ColvilleFort Colville
The trade center Fort Colville was built by the Hudson's Bay Company at Kettle Falls on the Columbia River, a few miles west of the present site of Colville, Washington in 1825, to replace Spokane House as a regional trading center, as the latter was deemed to be too far from the Columbia River...
near the Kettle Falls
Kettle Falls
Kettle Falls was an ancient and important salmon fishing site on the upper reaches of the Columbia River, in what is today the U.S. state of Washington, near the Canadian border...
fur trading site in 1825. The Oregon boundary dispute
Oregon boundary dispute
The Oregon boundary dispute, or the Oregon Question, arose as a result of competing British and American claims to the Pacific Northwest of North America in the first half of the 19th century. Both the United Kingdom and the United States had territorial and commercial aspirations in the region...
(or Oregon question) arose as a result of competing British and American claims to the Pacific Northwest of North America in the first half of the 19th century. In 1859, the US Army established a new Fort Colville at Pinkney City, about 1.5 miles NE of the current city of Colville. That fort was abandoned in 1882 and the city was moved to the present location on the Colville River Valley.
Colville, as a town, is claimed to be founded by John U. Hofstetter, was officially incorporated on June 7, 1890.
Geography
Colville is located at 48°32′42"N 117°54′3"W (48.545094, −117.900841).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,988 people, 2,090 households, and 1,262 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,079.8 people per square mile (802.4/km²). There were 2,219 housing units at an average density of 925.2 per square mile (357.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.74% White, 0.16% African American, 2.17% Native American, 0.50% Asian, 0.24% Pacific Islander, 0.88% from other racesRace (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 3.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.35% of the population.
There were 2,090 households out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.6% were non-families. 35.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 26.8% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 83.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,988, and the median income for a family was $40,466. Males had a median income of $32,066 versus $21,782 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $18,031. About 10.4% of families and 15.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.9% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
The area is supported by the timber and mining industry, manufacturing, and regional offices of the Washington State Dept. of Natural Resources and U.S. Forest Service. Major private employers incluce Boise Cascade, Stimson, Vaagen Brothers, Hearth and Home, Hewes Marine, Colmac Coil Manufacturing, Colmac Industries, and Washington Dental Service. Lesser industries are cattle, horse, and hay-farming, and more recently tourism to nearby National Forest Land for hunting and fishing, and to local farms, orchards and corn mazes.Trivia
Colville is the setting of Debbie MacomberDebbie Macomber
Debbie Macomber is a best-selling American author of over 150 romance novels and contemporary women's fiction. Over 140 million copies of her books are in print throughout the world, and four have become made-for-TV-movies...
's novel Susannah's Garden. Ms. Macomber has family in the area, and has visited it many times, providing ample opportunity for researching the setting.
External links
- City of Colville
- Colville Chamber of Commerce
- History of Colville at HistoryLinkHistoryLinkHistoryLink is a website that is an encyclopedia of Washington State history. The site has more than 4,500 stories. There are 500 biographies and more than 14,000 images....