Ravensdale, Washington
Encyclopedia
Ravensdale is a census-designated place
(CDP) in King County
, Washington, United States
. The population was 1,101 at the 2010 census. It is in the Pacific Standard Time Zone. The elevation is 623 feet (189.9 m).
Based on per capita income
, one of the more reliable measures of affluence, Ravensdale ranks 50th of 522 areas in the state of Washington to be ranked.
town with a population of about 1,000 residents, most of whom worked for the mining company. Ravensdale was officially incorporated on August 15, 1913. On November 16, 1915 at 1:25 p.m. an explosion occurred at the mine killing thirty-one men, one of the worst coal mining accidents in Washington state history. The NWI mine was closed permanently and many of the immigrant miners left town seeking work elsewhere. A number of coal miners from Ravensdale moved to Ray, Arizona to mine copper.
Over the decades coal mining continued to fuel Ravensdale's economy as new mines were developed operating on the Danville, Landsburg, and McKay coal seams. The Dale Coal Company became one of the more successful from about 1924-1941, followed by the Continental Coal Company from 1942–1944, the Anderson Coal Company from 1943–1948; and Palmer Coking Coal Company from 1937-1975. On January 29, 1955 four miners were lost in the Landsburg mine when a cave-in filled the mine with water, mud and debris. On December 17, 1975 at 2:30 p.m., the Rogers No. 3 mine was dynamited shut by Palmer Coking Coal Company. This was the last underground coal mine in the state of Washington.
References: Washington Geologic Survey Bulletin No. 3 by George Watkin Evans (1912); Washington State Coal Mine Inspector Reports (1887–1975); Ravensdale Reflections by Barbara Nilson (copyright 2004; Washington State Place Names by James Phillips (1972); Voice of the Valley newspaper (December 16, 2008 page 8); State of Washington Fatal Accident Report for 1955 by C.R. Holmes
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 5.1 square miles (13.3 km²), of which, 5.0 square miles (13.0 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (2.14%) is water.
of 2000, there were 816 people, 301 households, and 217 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 162.3 people per square mile (62.6/km²). There were 321 housing units at an average density of 63.8/sq mi (24.6/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 96.08% White, 0.12% African American, 1.23% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.25% Pacific Islander, 0.12% from other races
, and 2.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.23% of the population.
There were 301 households out of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.8% were married couples
living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.19.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 29.9% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 108.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.8 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $44,850, and the median income for a family was $61,741. Males had a median income of $33,182 versus $30,536 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $28,300. About 6.1% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.7% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.
10% of Ravensdale residents aged 25 and older have a bachelors degree.
and accommodates grades 8-9. Current enrollment is 1090 students
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 King County
King County, Washington
King County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. The population in the 2010 census was 1,931,249. King is the most populous county in Washington, and the 14th most populous in the United States....
, 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 1,101 at the 2010 census. It is in the Pacific Standard Time Zone. The elevation is 623 feet (189.9 m).
Based on per capita income
Washington locations by per capita income
Washington is the twelfth richest state in the United States of America, with a per capita income of $22,973 and a personal per capita income of $33,332 .-Washington counties ranked by per capita income:...
, one of the more reliable measures of affluence, Ravensdale ranks 50th of 522 areas in the state of Washington to be ranked.
History
Ravensdale was originally called Leary, after the name of Leary Coal Company in turned named for John Leary, a Seattle coal speculator. The later name came from the flocks of ravens that fed on grain spilled from the boxcars on the Northern Pacific Railroad tracks that ran through the town. Underground coal mining commenced around 1899 by the Seattle and San Francisco Railway and Navigation Company, although coal had been mined in nearby Danville and Landsburg a few years earlier. The coal mines were later acquired by Northwest Improvement Company (NWI), a subsidiary of Northern Pacific. In 1907, Ravensdale, Washington was a coal miningCoal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
town with a population of about 1,000 residents, most of whom worked for the mining company. Ravensdale was officially incorporated on August 15, 1913. On November 16, 1915 at 1:25 p.m. an explosion occurred at the mine killing thirty-one men, one of the worst coal mining accidents in Washington state history. The NWI mine was closed permanently and many of the immigrant miners left town seeking work elsewhere. A number of coal miners from Ravensdale moved to Ray, Arizona to mine copper.
Over the decades coal mining continued to fuel Ravensdale's economy as new mines were developed operating on the Danville, Landsburg, and McKay coal seams. The Dale Coal Company became one of the more successful from about 1924-1941, followed by the Continental Coal Company from 1942–1944, the Anderson Coal Company from 1943–1948; and Palmer Coking Coal Company from 1937-1975. On January 29, 1955 four miners were lost in the Landsburg mine when a cave-in filled the mine with water, mud and debris. On December 17, 1975 at 2:30 p.m., the Rogers No. 3 mine was dynamited shut by Palmer Coking Coal Company. This was the last underground coal mine in the state of Washington.
References: Washington Geologic Survey Bulletin No. 3 by George Watkin Evans (1912); Washington State Coal Mine Inspector Reports (1887–1975); Ravensdale Reflections by Barbara Nilson (copyright 2004; Washington State Place Names by James Phillips (1972); Voice of the Valley newspaper (December 16, 2008 page 8); State of Washington Fatal Accident Report for 1955 by C.R. Holmes
Geography
Ravensdale is located at 47°21′24"N 121°58′39"W (47.356665, -121.977612).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 5.1 square miles (13.3 km²), of which, 5.0 square miles (13.0 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (2.14%) is water.
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 816 people, 301 households, and 217 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 162.3 people per square mile (62.6/km²). There were 321 housing units at an average density of 63.8/sq mi (24.6/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 96.08% White, 0.12% African American, 1.23% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.25% Pacific Islander, 0.12% from other races
Race (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 2.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.23% of the population.
There were 301 households out of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.8% 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, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.19.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 29.9% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 108.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.8 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $44,850, and the median income for a family was $61,741. Males had a median income of $33,182 versus $30,536 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 $28,300. About 6.1% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.7% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.
10% of Ravensdale residents aged 25 and older have a bachelors degree.
Commute
The average commute time for Ravensdale workers is 31 minutes, compared with 26 minutes nationwide.Public schools
Tahoma Junior High School is a public school residing in the Tahoma School DistrictTahoma School District
Tahoma School District is an educational organisation in Maple Valley, Washington, USA.There is one high school, two middle schools, four elementary schools and a parent-partnered school...
and accommodates grades 8-9. Current enrollment is 1090 students