Rock Island, Washington
Encyclopedia
Rock Island is a city in Douglas County, Washington, United States. It is part of the Wenatchee
–East Wenatchee
Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 863 at the 2000 census.
The site had been previously settled in the late 19th Century and was known as Hammond; early maps sometimes show the city as Hammond P.O. (Post Office) or Power City. In the teacup valley in which Rock Island is currently located, two men, Ingraham and McBride, opened a trading post in the early 1860s. Their patrons were local Native Americans, who often fished that stretch of the Columbia when the fish were running. The two pioneering men would later move their post to the mouth of the Wenatchee River, leaving little trace of their stay.
The most notable figure in Rock Island's founding is James E. Keane. As the first permanent settler to the Rock Island area, James Keane arrived with a crew of men in 1887. Keane planned to build a home and improve the land that he had acquired through the homestead, pre-emption, and desert acts. Four years later, the Great Northern Railroad made its first survey of the area and began construction toward the valley from the east. One half mile upriver from the well-known Rock Island Rapids, Mr. Keane platted a townsite he named Hammond.
Hammond was located nearly 2.5 miles south of the present site of the City of Rock Island due to changes in planning by the Great Northern Railway. Keane moved his townsite to this new area and named it Rock Island, named aptly for the rock islands in the Columbia River
near the site. Between 1891 and 1893, Rock Island became a town of considerable importance for the railroad. The mammoth steel bridge that was built across the Columbia drew many laborers to the area, and the small town boomed. Several stores popped up to meet the needs of the workers, and the Rock Island Sun newspaper began publication.
The site was thought to be the area where the large city of the area would develop as it was located near the Rock Island Rapids and near the bridge which spanned the Columbia River
for the Great Northern Railway. Despite these strategic advantages, the large city in the area would become Wenatchee, just seven miles upriver from the site of present-day Rock Island. In 1893, however, the completion of that first bridge across the Columbia marked the downfall of Rock Island. With few jobs in town to entice them, the employees of the railroad moved away.
In 1930, Rock Island boomed again when the Puget Sound Power and Light Company began construction of a dam just below the Rock Island Rapids. The project was estimated at 10 million dollars and the Rock Island Dam
was to be the first dam on the Columbia River. On November 3, 1930, with the construction of the dam in full swing, Rock Island was officially incorporated as a Washington state town, with a population of 421 residents. The town boomed for a second time in its history as workers for the dam project created temporary villages near the town, but it could not last. When two of the dam's generators began producing power in 1931, and the final spillway was closed in 1932, Rock Island again faced a bust and a loss of residents.
Many Native American pictographs were destroyed with the construction of the Rock Island Dam
. A small sampling of pictographs saved prior to the construction of Rock Island Dam
can be see at the Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center
in nearby Wenatchee. During World War II a silicon smelter would be built in the town of Rock Island closing in 1999. Rock Island was also home to a nearby state park, appearing on maps until the late 1940s.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), of which, 0.6 square miles (1.5 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (6.35%) is water.
, and 2.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 30.59% of the population.
There were 270 households out of which 45.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.3% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.4% were non-families. 18.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.20 and the average family size was 3.66.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 35.7% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,618, and the median income for a family was $34,408. Males had a median income of $24,773 versus $19,602 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,129. About 11.6% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.4% of those under age 18 and 30.4% of those age 65 or over.
Wenatchee, Washington
Wenatchee is located in North Central Washington and is the largest city and county seat of Chelan County, Washington, United States. The population within the city limits in 2010 was 31,925...
–East Wenatchee
East Wenatchee, Washington
East Wenatchee is a city in Douglas County, Washington, United States along the northern banks of the Columbia River. The population at the 2010 census was 13,190, a 129.1% increase over the 2000 census....
Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 863 at the 2000 census.
History
Rock Island was officially incorporated on November 3, 1930. The area of Rock Island was used by Native American tribes for fishing and crossing of the Columbia River due to the nearby Rock Island Rapids prior to settlement of the Washington Territory.The site had been previously settled in the late 19th Century and was known as Hammond; early maps sometimes show the city as Hammond P.O. (Post Office) or Power City. In the teacup valley in which Rock Island is currently located, two men, Ingraham and McBride, opened a trading post in the early 1860s. Their patrons were local Native Americans, who often fished that stretch of the Columbia when the fish were running. The two pioneering men would later move their post to the mouth of the Wenatchee River, leaving little trace of their stay.
The most notable figure in Rock Island's founding is James E. Keane. As the first permanent settler to the Rock Island area, James Keane arrived with a crew of men in 1887. Keane planned to build a home and improve the land that he had acquired through the homestead, pre-emption, and desert acts. Four years later, the Great Northern Railroad made its first survey of the area and began construction toward the valley from the east. One half mile upriver from the well-known Rock Island Rapids, Mr. Keane platted a townsite he named Hammond.
Hammond was located nearly 2.5 miles south of the present site of the City of Rock Island due to changes in planning by the Great Northern Railway. Keane moved his townsite to this new area and named it Rock Island, named aptly for the rock islands in 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...
near the site. Between 1891 and 1893, Rock Island became a town of considerable importance for the railroad. The mammoth steel bridge that was built across the Columbia drew many laborers to the area, and the small town boomed. Several stores popped up to meet the needs of the workers, and the Rock Island Sun newspaper began publication.
The site was thought to be the area where the large city of the area would develop as it was located near the Rock Island Rapids and near the bridge which spanned 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...
for the Great Northern Railway. Despite these strategic advantages, the large city in the area would become Wenatchee, just seven miles upriver from the site of present-day Rock Island. In 1893, however, the completion of that first bridge across the Columbia marked the downfall of Rock Island. With few jobs in town to entice them, the employees of the railroad moved away.
In 1930, Rock Island boomed again when the Puget Sound Power and Light Company began construction of a dam just below the Rock Island Rapids. The project was estimated at 10 million dollars and the Rock Island Dam
Rock Island Dam
Rock Island Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington. Chelan County Public Utility District's Rock Island Dam and Hydro Project was the first dam to span the Columbia, having been built from 1929 to 1933. It is located near the geographical center of...
was to be the first dam on the Columbia River. On November 3, 1930, with the construction of the dam in full swing, Rock Island was officially incorporated as a Washington state town, with a population of 421 residents. The town boomed for a second time in its history as workers for the dam project created temporary villages near the town, but it could not last. When two of the dam's generators began producing power in 1931, and the final spillway was closed in 1932, Rock Island again faced a bust and a loss of residents.
Many Native American pictographs were destroyed with the construction of the Rock Island Dam
Rock Island Dam
Rock Island Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington. Chelan County Public Utility District's Rock Island Dam and Hydro Project was the first dam to span the Columbia, having been built from 1929 to 1933. It is located near the geographical center of...
. A small sampling of pictographs saved prior to the construction of Rock Island Dam
Rock Island Dam
Rock Island Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington. Chelan County Public Utility District's Rock Island Dam and Hydro Project was the first dam to span the Columbia, having been built from 1929 to 1933. It is located near the geographical center of...
can be see at the Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center
Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center
Founded in 1939 by the Columbia River Archaeological Society, the Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center showcases local and regional history, natural sciences and the arts. It is housed in two historic buildings in downtown Wenatchee, Washington, USA, with three floors of unique displays...
in nearby Wenatchee. During World War II a silicon smelter would be built in the town of Rock Island closing in 1999. Rock Island was also home to a nearby state park, appearing on maps until the late 1940s.
Geography
Rock Island is located at 47°22′28"N 120°8′36"W (47.374458, -120.143247).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 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), of which, 0.6 square miles (1.5 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (6.35%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 863 people, 270 households, and 204 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,460.9 people per square mile (564.8/km²). There were 276 housing units at an average density of 467.2 per square mile (180.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 74.16% White, 0.81% African American, 1.51% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 20.39% 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 2.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 30.59% of the population.
There were 270 households out of which 45.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.3% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.4% were non-families. 18.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.20 and the average family size was 3.66.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 35.7% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,618, and the median income for a family was $34,408. Males had a median income of $24,773 versus $19,602 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 $14,129. About 11.6% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.4% of those under age 18 and 30.4% of those age 65 or over.