Almira, Washington
Encyclopedia
Almira is a town in Lincoln County, Washington, United States
. The population was 284 at the 2010 census.
In the 2004 US presidential election
, Almira cast 62.22% of its vote for Republican
George W. Bush
http://www.uselectionatlas.org/.
) through the area in 1889, Davis was approached by land developers Odgers and Reed who were looking to start a town on the site. The developers and Davis agreed to christen the new town Almira, after Davis' wife's given name
. His farm had previously been called "Davisine".
With the railroad assured, Almira was platted and lots begin to sell quickly. Contractors and businessman began to build temporary buildings for their stores. The railroad reached Almira in the Fall of 1889, where it would serve as the line's temporary terminus before being extended to Coulee City the following summer. Until the road was completed to the Grand Coulee Almira remained the terminus. All trains ran to this point, connections by stage being made to points westward. These factors made the town furiously active but a harsh winter prevented any building boom from taking place, leaving Almira as a collection of temporary shacks until the weather improved.
Despite the end of Almira as a rail terminal, it continued to thrive through 1890 with the establishment of a newspaper and the construction of many new buildings. The town's population was 156. In November 1890, Almira citizens voted for prohibition
and the city temporarily became the only dry town in the Big Bend Country. After the Panic of 1893
, growth in Almira like all across the country, came to a standstill. Most of the undeveloped lots in town were either in foreclosure
or completely worthless. This changed in 1900 when the economy began to improve following several years of prosperous wheat harvests.
The next several years saw Almira grow from a temporary village to a more substantial city. In 1902, the city's population was 289 only counting citizens living on the platted town site.
Almira was visited by fires twice in 1903. The first on March 21 destroyed several buildings including the office of the Almira News. The second fire in October started in the Almira Hotel and was much more destructive, destroying a whole block's worth of buildings. These blocks were rebuilt with more permanent brick buildings which still stand today.
Steps were taken towards incorporation in April 1903 but were initially unsuccessful because of disagreements in the town's incorporation boundaries. The second try was successful and Almira was officially incorporated on February 1, 1904.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.5 square miles (1.3 km2), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 302 people, 121 households, and 79 families residing in the town. The population density
was 580.6 people per square mile (224.2/km2). There were 154 housing units at an average density of 296.1 per square mile (114.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 93.38% White, 0.66% African American, 2.98% Native American, 1.66% Asian, and 1.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.32% of the population.
There were 121 households out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% were married couples
living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.5% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,208, and the median income for a family was $34,107. Males had a median income of $26,429 versus $36,563 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $15,769. About 16.5% of families and 21.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.9% of those under the age of eighteen and 12.8% of those sixty five or over.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 284 at the 2010 census.
In the 2004 US presidential election
United States presidential election, 2004
The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator...
, Almira cast 62.22% of its vote for Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
http://www.uselectionatlas.org/.
History
The area that would become Almira was first settled in the 1880s by Charles C. Davis purchased land and erected a small store to serve the few settlers living in the area. With the eminent construction of the Central Washington Railroad (later acquired by the Northern PacificNorthern 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...
) through the area in 1889, Davis was approached by land developers Odgers and Reed who were looking to start a town on the site. The developers and Davis agreed to christen the new town Almira, after Davis' wife's given name
Given name
A given name, in Western contexts often referred to as a first name, is a personal name that specifies and differentiates between members of a group of individuals, especially in a family, all of whose members usually share the same family name...
. His farm had previously been called "Davisine".
With the railroad assured, Almira was platted and lots begin to sell quickly. Contractors and businessman began to build temporary buildings for their stores. The railroad reached Almira in the Fall of 1889, where it would serve as the line's temporary terminus before being extended to Coulee City the following summer. Until the road was completed to the Grand Coulee Almira remained the terminus. All trains ran to this point, connections by stage being made to points westward. These factors made the town furiously active but a harsh winter prevented any building boom from taking place, leaving Almira as a collection of temporary shacks until the weather improved.
Despite the end of Almira as a rail terminal, it continued to thrive through 1890 with the establishment of a newspaper and the construction of many new buildings. The town's population was 156. In November 1890, Almira citizens voted for prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
and the city temporarily became the only dry town in the Big Bend Country. After the Panic of 1893
Panic of 1893
The Panic of 1893 was a serious economic depression in the United States that began in 1893. Similar to the Panic of 1873, this panic was marked by the collapse of railroad overbuilding and shaky railroad financing which set off a series of bank failures...
, growth in Almira like all across the country, came to a standstill. Most of the undeveloped lots in town were either in foreclosure
Foreclosure
Foreclosure is the legal process by which a mortgage lender , or other lien holder, obtains a termination of a mortgage borrower 's equitable right of redemption, either by court order or by operation of law...
or completely worthless. This changed in 1900 when the economy began to improve following several years of prosperous wheat harvests.
The next several years saw Almira grow from a temporary village to a more substantial city. In 1902, the city's population was 289 only counting citizens living on the platted town site.
Almira was visited by fires twice in 1903. The first on March 21 destroyed several buildings including the office of the Almira News. The second fire in October started in the Almira Hotel and was much more destructive, destroying a whole block's worth of buildings. These blocks were rebuilt with more permanent brick buildings which still stand today.
Steps were taken towards incorporation in April 1903 but were initially unsuccessful because of disagreements in the town's incorporation boundaries. The second try was successful and Almira was officially incorporated on February 1, 1904.
Geography
Almira is located at 47.710419°N 118.941762°W (47.710419, -118.941762).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 town has a total area of 0.5 square miles (1.3 km2), all of it 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 302 people, 121 households, and 79 families residing in the town. 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 580.6 people per square mile (224.2/km2). There were 154 housing units at an average density of 296.1 per square mile (114.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 93.38% White, 0.66% African American, 2.98% Native American, 1.66% Asian, and 1.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.32% of the population.
There were 121 households out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% 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, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.5% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,208, and the median income for a family was $34,107. Males had a median income of $26,429 versus $36,563 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 town was $15,769. About 16.5% of families and 21.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.9% of those under the age of eighteen and 12.8% of those sixty five or over.