Creston, Washington
Encyclopedia
Creston is a town in Lincoln County, Washington, United States
. The population was 236 at the 2010 census.
, as the railroad goes. In the spring of 1890, a town site was platted by H.S. Huson and registered with the state on June 23 of that year. The first structure in town was a small store building moved to the site by Henry Verfurth from the nearby village of Sherman, 5 miles northwest of Creston. A post office was established shortly thereafter whose jurisdiction extended to the Columbia River
on the North and the railroad tracks on the South with ten miles East and West. Henry Verfurth was appointed as postmaster. Following the Panic of 1893
and the bankruptcy of the town site owner, Creston remained dormant until a bumper wheat crop in 1897 gave a boost to the regional economy, bringing thousands of new settlers to the region.
The results of the strong harvest were immediate with new businesses, grain elevators, public buildings, churches and the towns first bank and newspaper. At the same time, the town was given a boost by a new road and ferry connecting it to the rich mineral belts in the nearby Colville Indian Reservation
. Between 1900 and 1903, Creston's population doubled to 102. In August 1902, the last surviving member of the infamous Hole in the Wall Gang
, Harry Tracy
, was shot at a Creston ranch and killed himself there to avoid capture. Creston was officially incorporated on April 20, 1903.
, the county seat.
Creston is located at the foot of Brown's Butte, a gently sloping hill in the heart of what was historically known as the Brent's country, one of the richest farming areas in Lincoln County.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1.1 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 232 people, 115 households, and 64 families residing in the town. The population density
was 524.5 people per square mile (203.6/km²). There were 131 housing units at an average density of 296.2 per square mile (115.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 92.67% White, 0.86% African American, 3.45% Native American, and 3.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.86% of the population.
There were 115 households out of which 20.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples
living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.5% were non-families. 40.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.02 and the average family size was 2.71.
In the town the population was spread out with 19.4% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 21.1% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 26.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $25,417, and the median income for a family was $33,250. Males had a median income of $30,833 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $13,830. About 15.4% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.9% of those under the age of eighteen and 20.0% of those sixty five or over.
The Creston School District
maintains the town's sole K-12 school, though it also draws a considerable amount of students from the Davenport, Harrington, and Wilbur school districts.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 236 at the 2010 census.
History
Creston sprang up with the arrival of the Central Washington Railroad in 1889. It was named so because of its high altitude, because it is the highest town in Washington state between Wenatchee and Spokane, WashingtonSpokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
, as the railroad goes. In the spring of 1890, a town site was platted by H.S. Huson and registered with the state on June 23 of that year. The first structure in town was a small store building moved to the site by Henry Verfurth from the nearby village of Sherman, 5 miles northwest of Creston. A post office was established shortly thereafter whose jurisdiction extended to the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
on the North and the railroad tracks on the South with ten miles East and West. Henry Verfurth was appointed as postmaster. Following the Panic of 1893
Panic of 1893
The Panic of 1893 was a serious economic depression in the United States that began in 1893. Similar to the Panic of 1873, this panic was marked by the collapse of railroad overbuilding and shaky railroad financing which set off a series of bank failures...
and the bankruptcy of the town site owner, Creston remained dormant until a bumper wheat crop in 1897 gave a boost to the regional economy, bringing thousands of new settlers to the region.
The results of the strong harvest were immediate with new businesses, grain elevators, public buildings, churches and the towns first bank and newspaper. At the same time, the town was given a boost by a new road and ferry connecting it to the rich mineral belts in the nearby Colville Indian Reservation
Colville Indian Reservation
The Colville Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation in the north-central part of the U.S. state of Washington, inhabited and managed by the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, which is recognized by the United States of America as an American Indian Tribe...
. Between 1900 and 1903, Creston's population doubled to 102. In August 1902, the last surviving member of the infamous Hole in the Wall Gang
Hole in the Wall Gang
The Hole-in-the-Wall Gang was a gang in the American Wild West, which took its name from the Hole-in-the-Wall Pass in Johnson County, Wyoming, where several outlaw gangs had their hideouts. The Gang was not simply one large organized gang of outlaws, but rather was made up of several separate...
, Harry Tracy
Harry Tracy
Harry Tracy was an outlaw in the closing days of the Old West. His real name was Harry Severns.He is said to have run with Butch Cassidy and the Hole in the Wall Gang, and by the time he'd reached adulthood he was actively taking part in acts of robbery and theft...
, was shot at a Creston ranch and killed himself there to avoid capture. Creston was officially incorporated on April 20, 1903.
Geography
Creston is located at 47°45′29"N 118°31′16"W (47.758146, -118.521118). It is located roughly 30 miles west of DavenportDavenport, Washington
Davenport is a city in Lincoln County, Washington, United States. The population was 1,734 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Lincoln County.-History:Davenport was first settled in 1880, and was named in 1882 for resident J.C. Davenport...
, the county seat.
Creston is located at the foot of Brown's Butte, a gently sloping hill in the heart of what was historically known as the Brent's country, one of the richest farming areas in Lincoln County.
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 town has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1.1 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 232 people, 115 households, and 64 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 524.5 people per square mile (203.6/km²). There were 131 housing units at an average density of 296.2 per square mile (115.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 92.67% White, 0.86% African American, 3.45% Native American, and 3.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.86% of the population.
There were 115 households out of which 20.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.5% were non-families. 40.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.02 and the average family size was 2.71.
In the town the population was spread out with 19.4% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 21.1% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 26.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $25,417, and the median income for a family was $33,250. Males had a median income of $30,833 versus $18,750 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 town was $13,830. About 15.4% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.9% of those under the age of eighteen and 20.0% of those sixty five or over.
The Creston School District
Creston School District
Creston School District is the K-12 school district in the town of Creston, Washington. Due to the small size of the town , the elementary, junior high, and high school are all conveniently located in the same building, therefore, there is basically only one school in the district. The elementary...
maintains the town's sole K-12 school, though it also draws a considerable amount of students from the Davenport, Harrington, and Wilbur school districts.
External links
- http://www.creston.wednet.edu/ Creston School District Website