Klickitat, Washington
Encyclopedia
Klickitat is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Klickitat County, Washington, United States
. The population was 417 at the 2000 census.
Klickitat is an unincorporated town located along the Klickitat River. Once the site of a lumber mill it is now primarily a bedroom community. The closest major town in Washington is Goldendale. There are also several residential areas near Klickitat including, Pitt and Wahkiacus. On the Oregon side the nearest large towns are Hood River and The Dalles.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 2.6 square miles (6.7 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 417 people, 147 households, and 110 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 161.9 people per square mile (62.4/km²). There were 173 housing units at an average density of 67.2/sq mi (25.9/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 92.33% White, 0.24% African American, 3.60% Native American, 0.96% Asian, and 2.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.64% of the population.
There were 147 households out of which 43.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.5% were married couples
living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.5% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.28.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 35.5% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 84.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.9 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $28,750, and the median income for a family was $29,688. Males had a median income of $30,500 versus $16,250 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $11,717. About 27.8% of families and 29.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.5% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.
The first non-native settlers arrived in 1890 seeking land to homestead. The abundance of timber drew in other settlers during the early 1900s. Travel through the Klickitat canyon and up to the plateau was arduous until the completion of a rail line in 1903.[4, p. 47] The rail line eased travel and facilitated the transportation of people, crops, livestock and timber. The lumber mill was the primary employer in town, with the first major mill formed 1909, until 1994 when the mill was permanently closed. The naturally carbonated mineral springs just north of town gave rise to heath spas, a carbonated beverage company, and a large dry ice plant which operated until 1957.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in Klickitat County, Washington, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 417 at the 2000 census.
Klickitat is an unincorporated town located along the Klickitat River. Once the site of a lumber mill it is now primarily a bedroom community. The closest major town in Washington is Goldendale. There are also several residential areas near Klickitat including, Pitt and Wahkiacus. On the Oregon side the nearest large towns are Hood River and The Dalles.
Geography
Klickitat is located at 45°48′59"N 121°9′50"W (45.816412, -121.163790).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 CDP has a total area of 2.6 square miles (6.7 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 417 people, 147 households, and 110 families residing in the CDP. 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 161.9 people per square mile (62.4/km²). There were 173 housing units at an average density of 67.2/sq mi (25.9/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 92.33% White, 0.24% African American, 3.60% Native American, 0.96% Asian, and 2.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.64% of the population.
There were 147 households out of which 43.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.5% 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, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.5% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.28.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 35.5% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 84.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.9 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $28,750, and the median income for a family was $29,688. Males had a median income of $30,500 versus $16,250 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 CDP was $11,717. About 27.8% of families and 29.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.5% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.
History
The site where the town is located was originally called Wrights after one of the original settlers. This was the name given to the rail stop there. The rail stop down the river at milepost 7.2 was named Klickitat and the railroad later switched the two signs when the carbonated beverage company Klickitat Pop (operating near the town) gained fame. On February 7, 1910 the name of the town post office was officially changed to Klickitat.The first non-native settlers arrived in 1890 seeking land to homestead. The abundance of timber drew in other settlers during the early 1900s. Travel through the Klickitat canyon and up to the plateau was arduous until the completion of a rail line in 1903.[4, p. 47] The rail line eased travel and facilitated the transportation of people, crops, livestock and timber. The lumber mill was the primary employer in town, with the first major mill formed 1909, until 1994 when the mill was permanently closed. The naturally carbonated mineral springs just north of town gave rise to heath spas, a carbonated beverage company, and a large dry ice plant which operated until 1957.