Zillah, Washington
Encyclopedia
Zillah is a city in Yakima County
, Washington, United States
with a population of 2,964 at the 2010 census.
to the arid lower Yakima Valley. Walter Granger, superintendent of the canal company, chose the town site in 1892. The town was named for Miss Zillah Oakes, daughter of Thomas Fletcher Oakes
, who as president of the Northern Pacific Railway
had backed the building of the canal. The town was named after Miss Zillah because she would scream and cry on the way to the new town, while in the trip her father promised to name the town after her if she would stop. Granger housed the headquarters of the Washington Irrigation Company in Zillah, giving it economical advantages for a time. He also made his residency in Zillah becoming its mayor after retiring from the irrigation company. Zillah was officially incorporated on January 5, 1911.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), all land.
of 2000, there were 2,198 people, 792 households, and 591 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,807.9 inhabitants per square mile (695.6/km²). There were 837 housing units at an average density of 688.4 per square mile (264.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 73.25% White, 0.82% African American, 2.14% Native American, 0.77% Asian, 0.36% Pacific Islander, 18.29% from other races, and 4.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 26.07% of the population.
There were 792 households out of which 40.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.3% were non-families. 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.2% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 and up. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $38,214, and the median income for a family was $44,688. Males had a median income of $33,819 versus $23,603 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,415. 13.8% of the population and 9.0% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 16.4% of those under the age of 18 and 16.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Zillah is a bedroom community to Yakima. Business and industry in our district boundaries are: diversified agriculture (including fruit tree orchards, vineyards, dairies, row crops, forage crops, cattle feed lot, vegetable truck gardening, etc.) and agriculture related service industries including several diversified fruit packing and shipping operations, wineries, agriculture management and consulting, veterinarian, and USDA Soil Conservation Service. The Zillah School District is one of the top three employers in the community.
A webpage includes the history of Zillah High School and beginnings of Zillah School District http://www.zillahschools.org/ZHS/zhshistory.htm.
Yakima County, Washington
Yakima County is the second largest county by area in the U.S. state of Washington. It is named after the Yakama tribe of Native Americans. In the 2010 census, its population was 243,231...
, Washington, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with a population of 2,964 at the 2010 census.
History
Zillah was founded in 1891 following the completion of the Sunnyside Canal project, an irrigation scheme delivering water from the Yakima RiverYakima River
The Yakima River is a tributary of the Columbia River in south central and eastern Washington State, named for the indigenous Yakama people. The length of the river from headwaters to mouth is , with an average drop of .-Course:...
to the arid lower Yakima Valley. Walter Granger, superintendent of the canal company, chose the town site in 1892. The town was named for Miss Zillah Oakes, daughter of Thomas Fletcher Oakes
Thomas Fletcher Oakes
Thomas Fletcher Oakes was president of Northern Pacific Railway from 1888 to 1893.He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, July 15, 1843 and died in Seattle, Washington, in 1919....
, who as president of the Northern Pacific Railway
Northern Pacific Railway
The Northern Pacific Railway was a railway that operated in the west along the Canadian border of the United States. Construction began in 1870 and the main line opened all the way from the Great Lakes to the Pacific when former president Ulysses S. Grant drove in the final "golden spike" in...
had backed the building of the canal. The town was named after Miss Zillah because she would scream and cry on the way to the new town, while in the trip her father promised to name the town after her if she would stop. Granger housed the headquarters of the Washington Irrigation Company in Zillah, giving it economical advantages for a time. He also made his residency in Zillah becoming its mayor after retiring from the irrigation company. Zillah was officially incorporated on January 5, 1911.
Geography
Zillah is located at 46°24′13"N 120°15′39"W (46.403561, -120.260696).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 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), all 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 2,198 people, 792 households, and 591 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 1,807.9 inhabitants per square mile (695.6/km²). There were 837 housing units at an average density of 688.4 per square mile (264.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 73.25% White, 0.82% African American, 2.14% Native American, 0.77% Asian, 0.36% Pacific Islander, 18.29% from other races, and 4.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 26.07% of the population.
There were 792 households out of which 40.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.3% were non-families. 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.2% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 and up. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $38,214, and the median income for a family was $44,688. Males had a median income of $33,819 versus $23,603 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 $16,415. 13.8% of the population and 9.0% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 16.4% of those under the age of 18 and 16.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Schools
The Zillah School District http://www.zillahschools.org/ is a small rural district of approximately 1250 students, housed in four buildings in the mid-Yakima Valley. Zillah is one of the smallest districts in area in Yakima County (estimated 44 square miles). The estimated population of the school district boundaries is 4000.Zillah is a bedroom community to Yakima. Business and industry in our district boundaries are: diversified agriculture (including fruit tree orchards, vineyards, dairies, row crops, forage crops, cattle feed lot, vegetable truck gardening, etc.) and agriculture related service industries including several diversified fruit packing and shipping operations, wineries, agriculture management and consulting, veterinarian, and USDA Soil Conservation Service. The Zillah School District is one of the top three employers in the community.
- Hilton Elementary School http://www.zillahschools.org/HES/ houses grades K-3. The current principal is Doug Burge.
- Zillah Intermediate School http://www.zillahschools.org/ZIS/, the newest of the schools, holds grades 4-6. The current principal is Paula (Holden) Dasso.
- Zillah Middle School http://www.zillahschools.org/ZMS/ is for grades 7-8. ZMS was built in 1983. The current principal is Andy Boe.
- Zillah High School (Home of the Leopards) http://www.zillahschools.org/ZHS/ is run by principal Mike Torres and Assistant Principal Rock Winters. It holds grades 9-12.
- Zillah also has an alternative school program http://www.zillahschools.org/ZAP/.
A webpage includes the history of Zillah High School and beginnings of Zillah School District http://www.zillahschools.org/ZHS/zhshistory.htm.
- Zillah High School Streaming Zillah Leopard Athletics on the web (http://www.ZillahSports.com).
- Zillah on SportsFrequencyHigh School Sports Streaming of Zillah High School Sports games (http://zillah.sportsfrequency.com).
Tourist attractions
- Church of God-Zillah — Although the church is fairly conservative and some are unamused by this coincidence (the church was named long before the GodzillaGodzillais a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
movies began), the church embraces it, even putting a wireframe Godzilla float outside. - Teapot Dome Service StationTeapot Dome Service StationThe Teapot Dome Service Station in Zillah, Washington is one example of novelty architecture listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Many such novelties were constructed as roadside attractions as the national highway system in the United States expanded during the 1920s and...
— National Historic SiteNational Historic Sites (United States)National Historic Sites are protected areas of national historic significance in the United States. A National Historic Site usually contains a single historical feature directly associated with its subject...
. - Bonair Winery
Other churches
- Zillah Church of the Nazarene Sunday Worship 10:45 AM
Zillah Church of the Nazarene celebrated their 75th Anniversary in the community in 2007.