Ridgefield, Washington
Encyclopedia
Ridgefield is a city in the pastoral, rolling-hills countryside of northern Clark County, Washington
, United States. The population was 4,763 at the 2010 census.
Ridgefield is notable for the significant Native American
and Lewis and Clark Expedition
history of the area, but is also the home of the beautiful and verdant Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
, a primary reserve for migrating waterfowl on the Pacific Flyway
, and the somewhat oddly-named Ridgefield High School
"Spudders" (reflecting the area's potato
-farming heritage). The city is home to several annual community events, such as their old-fashioned Fourth of July Celebration, and also holds a bird festival that attracts bird lovers from around the region and beyond.
While the town of Ridgefield is in itself relatively modest in size, the geographic area that is locally also called Ridgefield is quite a bit larger, extending from the Columbia River
to its immediate west, the Lewis River
to the north, several miles past Interstate 5
to the east, and south nearly to Vancouver, Washington
, encompassing both the Clark County Fairgrounds http://www.clarkcofair.com/ and the Amphitheater at Clark County http://www.amphitheateratclarkcounty.com/.
of 1804–1806.
Ridgefield was an important trading center as early as the 1860s, and the city was officially incorporated on August 26, 1909. U-Haul
, an American equipment rental company, had its start in Ridgefield in 1945. The community's ties to the Chinookan
people was commemorated by the construction of a replica of a Cathlapotle plankhouse at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
, which was dedicated March 29, 2005.
and possession of cocaine
. A former city police sergeant, the department's only African American, has sued the city for wrongful termination and additionally filed a federal race discrimination suit on December 1, 2005 . Other controversies include a lawsuit relating to the termination of the former City Manager, (also a defendant in the discrimination suit) and the suspension and resignation of the City's former Chief of Police.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 5.1 square miles (13.2 km²), of which, 5.1 square miles (13.2 km²) of it is land and 0.20% is water.
In the physical lay of the land, (old, pre-Growth Management Act
) Ridgefield is like many towns up and down the Columbia River in that it essentially dead-ends at the river, although in this case it is an offshoot of the Columbia River, Lake River
, that the city runs up to, about three miles (5 km) west of Interstate 5
.
The area is marked, as one would expect, with numerous fields bordered by canyon
s, with ridge
s along them overlooking the canyons in places. The canyons have been and continue to be carved from the land primarily by water erosion
. The land here has been cleared of much of its earlier forests to accommodate the uses of people, first as fields for farming, mostly potatoes and plums for prunes, and growth, especially residential development continues to impact the area.
, and 2.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.77% of the population. 20.4% were of German, 18.9% American, 11.9% English, 6.9% Irish and 6.2% Norwegian ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 739 households out of which 43.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.6% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.6% were non-families. 18.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 29.8% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $46,012, and the median income for a family was $51,121. Males had a median income of $38,125 versus $27,426 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $21,696. About 4.4% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.
.
producer Scott Mosier
once lived here.
Former MLB player Richie Sexson
currently resides here with his wife Kerry.
Clark County, Washington
Clark County is a county located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Washington, across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon.Clark County was the first county of Washington, named after William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition...
, United States. The population was 4,763 at the 2010 census.
Ridgefield is notable for the significant Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
and Lewis and Clark Expedition
Lewis and Clark Expedition
The Lewis and Clark Expedition, or ″Corps of Discovery Expedition" was the first transcontinental expedition to the Pacific Coast by the United States. Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson and led by two Virginia-born veterans of Indian wars in the Ohio Valley, Meriwether Lewis and William...
history of the area, but is also the home of the beautiful and verdant Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
The Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Complex is a wildlife preserve, one of the National Wildlife Refuges operated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service...
, a primary reserve for migrating waterfowl on the Pacific Flyway
Pacific Flyway
The Pacific Flyway is a major north-south route of travel for migratory birds in America, extending from Alaska to Patagonia. Every year, migratory birds travel some or all of this distance both in spring and in fall, following food sources, heading to breeding grounds, or travelling to...
, and the somewhat oddly-named Ridgefield High School
Ridgefield High School (Ridgefield, Washington)
Ridgefield High School, known as RHS, is the single 4-year high school serving the Ridgefield School District in Clark County, Washington. The school is located approximately one mile south of downtown Ridgefield...
"Spudders" (reflecting the area's potato
Potato
The potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae family . The word potato may refer to the plant itself as well as the edible tuber. In the region of the Andes, there are some other closely related cultivated potato species...
-farming heritage). The city is home to several annual community events, such as their old-fashioned Fourth of July Celebration, and also holds a bird festival that attracts bird lovers from around the region and beyond.
While the town of Ridgefield is in itself relatively modest in size, the geographic area that is locally also called Ridgefield is quite a bit larger, extending from 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...
to its immediate west, the Lewis River
Lewis River (Washington)
The Lewis River is a tributary of the Columbia River, about long, in southwestern Washington in the United States. It drains part of the Cascade Range north of the Columbia River. The drainage basin of the Lewis River covers about . The river's mean annual discharge is about . Unlike nearby Lewis...
to the north, several miles past Interstate 5
Interstate 5
Interstate 5 is the main Interstate Highway on the West Coast of the United States, running largely parallel to the Pacific Ocean coastline from Canada to Mexico . It serves some of the largest cities on the U.S...
to the east, and south nearly to Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver is a city on the north bank of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington. Incorporated in 1857, it is the fourth largest city in the state with a 2010 census population of 161,791 as of April 1, 2010...
, encompassing both the Clark County Fairgrounds http://www.clarkcofair.com/ and the Amphitheater at Clark County http://www.amphitheateratclarkcounty.com/.
History
The area has important ties to the Lewis and Clark ExpeditionLewis and Clark Expedition
The Lewis and Clark Expedition, or ″Corps of Discovery Expedition" was the first transcontinental expedition to the Pacific Coast by the United States. Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson and led by two Virginia-born veterans of Indian wars in the Ohio Valley, Meriwether Lewis and William...
of 1804–1806.
Ridgefield was an important trading center as early as the 1860s, and the city was officially incorporated on August 26, 1909. U-Haul
U-Haul
U-Haul International, Inc. is an American equipment rental company, based in Phoenix, Arizona, that has been in operation since 1945. The company was founded by Leonard Shoen U-Haul International, Inc. is an American equipment rental company, based in Phoenix, Arizona, that has been in operation...
, an American equipment rental company, had its start in Ridgefield in 1945. The community's ties to the Chinookan
Chinookan
Chinook refers to several native amercain groups of in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, speaking the Chinookan languages. In the early 19th century, the Chinookan-speaking peoples lived along the lower and middle Columbia River in present-day Oregon and Washington...
people was commemorated by the construction of a replica of a Cathlapotle plankhouse at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
The Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Complex is a wildlife preserve, one of the National Wildlife Refuges operated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service...
, which was dedicated March 29, 2005.
Recent controversy
Recently Ridgefield has received attention for the conduct of the current and former city government officials. One former city councilman was convicted of DUIDUI
DUI is a three letter acronym that may stand for:* Driving under the influence * Democratic Union for Integration — the largest ethnic Albanian party in the Republic of Macedonia* Data Use Identifier...
and possession of cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
. A former city police sergeant, the department's only African American, has sued the city for wrongful termination and additionally filed a federal race discrimination suit on December 1, 2005 . Other controversies include a lawsuit relating to the termination of the former City Manager, (also a defendant in the discrimination suit) and the suspension and resignation of the City's former Chief of Police.
Geography
Ridgefield is located at 45°48′55"N 122°43′40"W (45.815309, -122.727846).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 5.1 square miles (13.2 km²), of which, 5.1 square miles (13.2 km²) of it is land and 0.20% is water.
In the physical lay of the land, (old, pre-Growth Management Act
Washington State Growth Management Act
The Washington State Growth Management Act was adopted because the Washington State Legislature found that uncoordinated and unplanned growth posed a threat to the environment, sustainable economic development and the quality of life in Washington. Known as the GMA, the Act was adopted by the...
) Ridgefield is like many towns up and down the Columbia River in that it essentially dead-ends at the river, although in this case it is an offshoot of the Columbia River, Lake River
Lake River (Washington)
Lake River is an approximately 10-mile long, typically slow-moving waterway that runs parallel to the Columbia River. From Vancouver Lake it flows north to the northern tip of Bachelor Island....
, that the city runs up to, about three miles (5 km) west of Interstate 5
Interstate 5
Interstate 5 is the main Interstate Highway on the West Coast of the United States, running largely parallel to the Pacific Ocean coastline from Canada to Mexico . It serves some of the largest cities on the U.S...
.
The area is marked, as one would expect, with numerous fields bordered by canyon
Canyon
A canyon or gorge is a deep ravine between cliffs often carved from the landscape by a river. Rivers have a natural tendency to reach a baseline elevation, which is the same elevation as the body of water it will eventually drain into. This forms a canyon. Most canyons were formed by a process of...
s, with ridge
Ridge
A ridge is a geological feature consisting of a chain of mountains or hills that form a continuous elevated crest for some distance. Ridges are usually termed hills or mountains as well, depending on size. There are several main types of ridges:...
s along them overlooking the canyons in places. The canyons have been and continue to be carved from the land primarily by water erosion
Erosion
Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
. The land here has been cleared of much of its earlier forests to accommodate the uses of people, first as fields for farming, mostly potatoes and plums for prunes, and growth, especially residential development continues to impact the area.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,147 people, 739 households, and 557 families residing in the city. The population density was 420.8 people per square mile (162.5/km²). There were 777 housing units at an average density of 152.3 per square mile (58.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.16% White, 0.28% African American, 1.12% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.23% 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 2.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.77% of the population. 20.4% were of German, 18.9% American, 11.9% English, 6.9% Irish and 6.2% Norwegian ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 739 households out of which 43.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.6% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.6% were non-families. 18.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 29.8% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $46,012, and the median income for a family was $51,121. Males had a median income of $38,125 versus $27,426 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 $21,696. About 4.4% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The Ridgefield school district has four schools: Union Ridge elementary, South Ridge elementary, View Ridge middle school, and Ridgefield High SchoolRidgefield High School (Ridgefield, Washington)
Ridgefield High School, known as RHS, is the single 4-year high school serving the Ridgefield School District in Clark County, Washington. The school is located approximately one mile south of downtown Ridgefield...
.
Trivia
Famous ClerksClerks
Clerks is a 1994 independent comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith, who also appears in the film as Silent Bob. Starring Brian O'Halloran as Dante Hicks and Jeff Anderson as Randal Graves, it presents a day in the lives of two store clerks and their acquaintances...
producer Scott Mosier
Scott Mosier
Scott A Mosier is an American-Canadian film producer, editor, podcaster and actor best known for his work with director Kevin Smith, with whom he co-hosts the weekly podcast, Smodcast.-Early life:...
once lived here.
Former MLB player Richie Sexson
Richie Sexson
Richmond Lockwood "Big Sexy" Sexson is a former Major League Baseball first baseman who played for five teams from 1997 to 2008...
currently resides here with his wife Kerry.
External links
- Official website
- History of Ridgefield 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....