Westport, Washington
Encyclopedia
Westport is a city in Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States
. The city's population was 2,099 at the 2010 census.
Westport is located on a peninsula on the south side of the entrance to Grays Harbor from the Pacific Ocean
. The public Westport Marina is the largest marina
on the outer coast of the United States's Pacific Northwest
. The marina is home to a large commercial fishing fleet and several recreational charter fishing vessels. A summer-only passenger ferry, discontinued in 2008, previously connected the town to Ocean Shores
, across the mouth of the harbor to the north.
tribe) before Thomas Barker Speake and his family arrived early in the summer of 1857. Westport is also the home to a station for the US Coast Guard.
, less than a degree east.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 4.2 square miles (11.0 km²), of which, 3.6 square miles (9.3 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (14.86%) is water.
of 2000, there were 2,137 people, 983 households, and 547 families residing in the city. The population density
was 592.9 people per square mile (229.2/km²). There were 1,358 housing units at an average density of 376.8 per square mile (145.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.75% White, 0.33% African American, 3.09% Native American, 0.94% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.47% from other races
, and 2.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.99% of the population. 21.7% were of German
, 10.9% English
, 9.6% Irish
, 7.6% Norwegian
, 5.3% American
and 5.1% Swedish ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 983 households out of which 23.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% were married couples
living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.3% were non-families. 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.79.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.0% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 19.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,037, and the median income for a family was $40,037. Males had a median income of $33,173 versus $23,889 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,362. About 9.0% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.4% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The city's population was 2,099 at the 2010 census.
Westport is located on a peninsula on the south side of the entrance to Grays Harbor from the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. The public Westport Marina is the largest marina
Marina
A marina is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats.A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships or cargo from freighters....
on the outer coast of the United States's Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
. The marina is home to a large commercial fishing fleet and several recreational charter fishing vessels. A summer-only passenger ferry, discontinued in 2008, previously connected the town to Ocean Shores
Ocean Shores, Washington
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 3,836 people, 1,789 households, and 1,198 families residing in the city. The population density was 444.7 people per square mile . There were 3,170 housing units at an average density of 367.5 per square mile...
, across the mouth of the harbor to the north.
History
Westport was officially incorporated on June 26, 1914. Names for the area in the past include Peterson's Point, Chehalis City and Ft. Chehalis. The latter name is for a fort established in 1860 before the town was founded. The area was used regularly during the summer by local Native American tribes (most likely the Shoalwater BayWillapa Bay
Willapa Bay is a bay located on the southwest Pacific coast of Washington state in the United States. The Long Beach Peninsula separates Willapa Bay from the greater expanse of the Pacific Ocean. With over of water surface Willapa Bay is the second largest estuary on the United States Pacific coast...
tribe) before Thomas Barker Speake and his family arrived early in the summer of 1857. Westport is also the home to a station for the US Coast Guard.
Geography
Westport is located at 46°53′27"N 124°6′36"W (46.890803, -124.109926). It is the westernmost "Westport" in the world, the nearest competitor being in CaliforniaWestport, California
Westport is an unincorporated community in Mendocino County, California. It is located on the Pacific Ocean north of Fort Bragg, at an elevation of 125 feet ....
, less than a degree east.
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 4.2 square miles (11.0 km²), of which, 3.6 square miles (9.3 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (14.86%) 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 2,137 people, 983 households, and 547 families residing in the city. 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 592.9 people per square mile (229.2/km²). There were 1,358 housing units at an average density of 376.8 per square mile (145.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.75% White, 0.33% African American, 3.09% Native American, 0.94% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.47% 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 2.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.99% of the population. 21.7% were of German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, 10.9% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
, 9.6% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, 7.6% Norwegian
Norwegians
Norwegians constitute both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway. They share a common culture and speak the Norwegian language. Norwegian people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in United States, Canada and Brazil.-History:Towards the end of the 3rd...
, 5.3% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and 5.1% Swedish ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 983 households out of which 23.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% 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, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.3% were non-families. 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.79.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.0% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 19.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,037, and the median income for a family was $40,037. Males had a median income of $33,173 versus $23,889 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 $17,362. About 9.0% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.4% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.