Battle Ground, Washington
Encyclopedia
Battle Ground is a city in Clark County
, Washington, United States. The population was 17,571 at the 2010 census. According to the Washington State Office of Financial Management, Battle Ground ranked 4th of 279 eligible incorporated communities in population growth between 2000 and 2005.
were away fighting an uprising
by the Yakima
Indian
tribe. Nervous settlers organized a company of volunteers to guard the undermanned fort. Fearing that the friendly Klickitat Tribe
on the Lewis River
would join the uprising, the volunteers ordered them into the Vancouver Barracks near the fort.
When some of the Klickitats escaped, Captain William Strong, the post commander, led a detachment of volunteers to bring them back. They overtook the Klickitats near the current location of the city, but rather than engaging them in battle, Captain Strong talked them into agreeing to return to the fort peacefully. Somehow during this episode the Klickitat leader, Chief Umtuch, was slain in battle. The circumstances of his death are unclear: some said he was killed by a soldier, others by an accidental gunshot from his own men. In any event, the Klickitats promised to return to the fort after burying their chief, a ceremony that would take several days, so Strong returned without them.
The settlers had been expecting a battle, and when Strong returned empty-handed, they accused him of cowardice. The Klickitats did return as promised, but criticism of Strong continued. The women of the fort awarded him a petticoat
of many colors
in mock celebration of his courage. And the area where the Klickitats were encountered became known as "Strong's Battle Ground", and later simply "Battle Ground."
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 3.6 square miles (9.4 km²), all of it land.
Battle Ground Schools Are Located By Place: The Battle of Captain Strong and Chief Umtuch
Was fought in Tukes Valley.
, and 2.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.14% of the population. 15.4% were of German
, 11.5% United States or American, 9.4% English
, 7.2% Irish
, 6.1% Finnish
, and 5.8% Norwegian
ancestry according to Census 2000. 94.0% spoke English, 3.9% Spanish and 1.6% Russian as their first language.
There were 3,071 households out of which 50.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.6% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.99 and the average family size was 3.43.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 36.2% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 13.5% from 45 to 64, and 7.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,070, and the median income for a family was $49,876. Males had a median income of $41,133 versus $25,215 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,139. About 7.3% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.1% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.
at exit 11 and Interstate 205 at exit 32.
Bus services are provided by the local bus company, C-TRAN
, to Downtown Vancouver
, Delta Park/Vanport MAX Station, Yacolt, and the Vancouver Mall.
. Battle Ground is an almost yearly winner for the Float Best Exemplifying Community Or Civic Involvement And Pride in the Portland Rose Festival
's Grand Floral Parade. In 2006, however, it received the Sweepstakes Award for Most Outstanding Float In The Parade.
Rob Hotchkiss, founding member of the Grammy Award-winning band, Train
, lived in Battle Ground. MLB slugger, Richie Sexson
, hails from neighboring Brush Prairie
, and continues to reside in the Battle Ground area.
Actress and singer Bethany Joy Galeotti
, a star of the TV series One Tree Hill
, resides in Battle Ground with her husband, Enation
drummer Michael Galeotti, when she is not filming in Wilmington, North Carolina
.
, which includes (as of 2010):
Alternative Schools:
Chief Umtuch Primary School, the city's oldest primary school, was demolished in 2007.
School Name Relations
Captain Strong was named after Captain William Strong (See Origin of the name "Battle Ground"). Chief Umtuch was named after Chief Umtuch (See Origin of the name "Battle Ground").
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...
, Washington, United States. The population was 17,571 at the 2010 census. According to the Washington State Office of Financial Management, Battle Ground ranked 4th of 279 eligible incorporated communities in population growth between 2000 and 2005.
Origin of the name "Battle Ground"
The city is ironically named for the absence of a battle. In 1855 many of the soldiers at nearby Fort VancouverFort Vancouver
Fort Vancouver was a 19th century fur trading outpost along the Columbia River that served as the headquarters of the Hudson's Bay Company in the company's Columbia District...
were away fighting an uprising
Yakima War
The Yakima War was a conflict between the United States and the Yakama, a Sahaptian-speaking people on the Northwest Plateau, then Washington Territory and now the southern interior of Eastern Washington, from 1855 to 1858.- Naming :...
by the Yakima
Yakama
The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, or simply Yakama Nation , is a Native American group with nearly 10,000 enrolled members, living in Washington. Their reservation, along the Yakima River, covers an area of approximately 1.2 million acres...
Indian
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...
tribe. Nervous settlers organized a company of volunteers to guard the undermanned fort. Fearing that the friendly Klickitat Tribe
Klickitat Tribe
The Klickitat are a Native American tribe of the Pacific Northwest. A Shahaptian tribe, their eastern neighbors were the Yakama, who speak a closely related language. Their western neighbors were various Salishan and Chinookan tribes...
on 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...
would join the uprising, the volunteers ordered them into the Vancouver Barracks near the fort.
When some of the Klickitats escaped, Captain William Strong, the post commander, led a detachment of volunteers to bring them back. They overtook the Klickitats near the current location of the city, but rather than engaging them in battle, Captain Strong talked them into agreeing to return to the fort peacefully. Somehow during this episode the Klickitat leader, Chief Umtuch, was slain in battle. The circumstances of his death are unclear: some said he was killed by a soldier, others by an accidental gunshot from his own men. In any event, the Klickitats promised to return to the fort after burying their chief, a ceremony that would take several days, so Strong returned without them.
The settlers had been expecting a battle, and when Strong returned empty-handed, they accused him of cowardice. The Klickitats did return as promised, but criticism of Strong continued. The women of the fort awarded him a petticoat
Petticoat
A petticoat or underskirt is an article of clothing for women; specifically an undergarment to be worn under a skirt or a dress. The petticoat is a separate garment hanging from the waist ....
of many colors
Joseph (Hebrew Bible)
Joseph is an important character in the Hebrew bible, where he connects the story of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in Canaan to the subsequent story of the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt....
in mock celebration of his courage. And the area where the Klickitats were encountered became known as "Strong's Battle Ground", and later simply "Battle Ground."
History
Battle Ground was first settled in 1886 by Augustus H. Richter, who platted the town in 1902. Battle Ground was officially incorporated on June 18, 1951. During early settlement in the area large numbers of people populated Fort Vancouver and locations closer to the Columbia.Geography
Battle Ground is located at 45°46′50"N 122°32′22"W (45.780595, -122.539408).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 3.6 square miles (9.4 km²), all of it land.
Battle Ground Schools Are Located By Place: The Battle of Captain Strong and Chief Umtuch
Was fought in Tukes Valley.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,296 people, 3,071 households, and 2,346 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,552.6 people per square mile (986.0/km²). There were 3,196 housing units at an average density of 877.6 per square mile (339.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.81% White, 0.49% African American, 0.86% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 1.72% 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 2.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.14% of the population. 15.4% were of German
German American
German Americans are citizens of the United States of German ancestry and comprise about 51 million people, or 17% of the U.S. population, the country's largest self-reported ancestral group...
, 11.5% United States or American, 9.4% English
English American
English Americans are citizens or residents of the United States whose ancestry originates wholly or partly in England....
, 7.2% Irish
Irish American
Irish Americans are citizens of the United States who can trace their ancestry to Ireland. A total of 36,278,332 Americans—estimated at 11.9% of the total population—reported Irish ancestry in the 2008 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau...
, 6.1% Finnish
Finnish American
Finnish Americans are Americans of Finnish descent, who currently number about 700,000.-History:Some Finns, like the ancestors of John Morton, came to the Swedish colony of New Sweden, that existed in mid-17th century....
, and 5.8% Norwegian
Norwegian American
Norwegian Americans are Americans of Norwegian descent. Norwegian immigrants went to the United States primarily in the later half of the 19th century and the first few decades of the 20th century. There are more than 4.5 million Norwegian Americans according to the most recent U.S. census, and...
ancestry according to Census 2000. 94.0% spoke English, 3.9% Spanish and 1.6% Russian as their first language.
There were 3,071 households out of which 50.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.6% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.99 and the average family size was 3.43.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 36.2% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 13.5% from 45 to 64, and 7.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,070, and the median income for a family was $49,876. Males had a median income of $41,133 versus $25,215 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 $17,139. About 7.3% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.1% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
Battle Ground is accessed from Interstate 5Interstate 5 in Washington
Interstate 5 in Washington is a highway in the U.S. state of Washington that extends from its border with Oregon to its border with Canada...
at exit 11 and Interstate 205 at exit 32.
Bus services are provided by the local bus company, C-TRAN
C-TRAN
The Clark County Public Transit Benefit Area Authority is a public agency serving Clark County, Washington, United States, including the cities of Battle Ground, Camas, Vancouver and Washougal...
, to Downtown Vancouver
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...
, Delta Park/Vanport MAX Station, Yacolt, and the Vancouver Mall.
Community
Every year in the summer Battle Ground puts on Harvest Days. There are a number of community events including parades, street dances, a carnival and chili cook-offCook-off
A cook-off is a cooking competition where the contestants each prepare dishes for judging either by a select group of judges or by the general public...
. Battle Ground is an almost yearly winner for the Float Best Exemplifying Community Or Civic Involvement And Pride in the Portland Rose Festival
Portland Rose Festival
The Portland Rose Festival is an annual civic festival held during the month of June in Portland, Oregon. It is organized by the volunteer non-profit Portland Rose Festival Association with the purpose of promoting the Portland region...
's Grand Floral Parade. In 2006, however, it received the Sweepstakes Award for Most Outstanding Float In The Parade.
Rob Hotchkiss, founding member of the Grammy Award-winning band, Train
Train (band)
Train is an American pop rock band from San Francisco, California, formed in 1994. The band currently comprises a core trio of Patrick Monahan , Jimmy Stafford and Scott Underwood ....
, lived in Battle Ground. MLB slugger, 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...
, hails from neighboring Brush Prairie
Brush Prairie, Washington
Brush Prairie is a census-designated place in Clark County, Washington, United States. The population was 2,384 at the 2000 census.Based on per capita income, one of the more reliable measures of affluence, Brush Prairie ranks 57th of 522 areas in the state of Washington to be...
, and continues to reside in the Battle Ground area.
Actress and singer Bethany Joy Galeotti
Bethany Joy Galeotti
Bethany Joy Galeotti is an American actress, musician, director, writer, and producer.Galeotti is best known for her on screen portrayals of Michelle Bauer Santos on Guiding Light and Haley James Scott on One Tree Hill...
, a star of the TV series One Tree Hill
One Tree Hill (TV series)
One Tree Hill is an American television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003, on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and, since September 27, 2006, the network has been the official broadcaster...
, resides in Battle Ground with her husband, Enation
Enation
Enations are scaly leaflike structures, differing from leaves in their lack of vascular tissue. They are created by some leaf diseases. Also found on some early plants such as Rhynia, where they are hypothesized to aid in photosynthesis....
drummer Michael Galeotti, when she is not filming in Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
.
Education
Battle Ground is served by the Battle Ground School DistrictBattle Ground School District
Battle Ground School District No. 119 is a public school district in Clark County, Washington, USA and serves the communities of Amboy, Battle Ground, Brush Prairie and Yacolt.As of October 2006, the district has an enrollment of 13,103 students....
, which includes (as of 2010):
- Amboy Middle School (Grades 5-8)
- Battle Ground High SchoolBattle Ground High SchoolBattle Ground High School is a public high school in Battle Ground, Washington. It is part of the Battle Ground School District in Clark County, located in the southwest region of the state of Washington. Prairie High School is also a high school in the Battle Ground School District.Battle Ground...
(Grades 9-12) - Captain Strong Elementary School (Grades 1-4)
- Chief Umtuch Middle School (Grades 5-8)
- Daybreak Primary School (Grades 1-4)
- Daybreak Middle School (Grades 5-8)
- Glenwood Heights Primary School (Grades 1-4)
- Laurin Middle School (Grades 5-8)
- Lewisville Middle School (Grades 5-8)
- Maple Grove Middle School (Grades 5-8)
- Maple Grove Primary School (Grades 1-4)
- Pleasant Valley Middle School (Grades 5-8)
- Pleasant Vally Primary School (Grades 1-4)
- Prairie High SchoolPrairie High SchoolPrairie High School may refer to one of these North American schools:*Prairie High School , Canada*Prairie High School , United States*Prairie High School , United States...
(Grades 9-12) - Tukes Valley Primary School (Grades 1-4)
- Tukes Valley Middle School (Grades 5-8)
- Yacolt Primary School (Grades 1-4)
Alternative Schools:
- CASEE (Admin and Summit View) (Summit View – Grades 9-12)
- Community Education
- Homelink/CAM (Homelink – Grades 1-12) (CAM – Grades 5-12)
Chief Umtuch Primary School, the city's oldest primary school, was demolished in 2007.
School Name Relations
Captain Strong was named after Captain William Strong (See Origin of the name "Battle Ground"). Chief Umtuch was named after Chief Umtuch (See Origin of the name "Battle Ground").
Further reading
- Strong, Harry M., The Adventures of a Pioneer Judge & His Family, COLUMBIA Magazine: Winter 2002-03; Vol. 16, No. 4. http://www.wshs.org/wshs/columbia/articles/0402-a1.htm
- Tucker, Louise M., Battle Ground . . . In and Around, 2006. http://www.battlegroundhistorybook.com/Battle_Ground..._In_and_Around/Home.html
External links
- Official site
- History of Battleground 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....
- Battle Ground Businesses and Community Groups
- Battle Ground Chamber of Commerce
- The Reflector Battle Ground's weekly newspaper