Ilwaco, Washington
Encyclopedia
Ilwaco is a city in Pacific County, Washington, United States
. The population was 950 at the 2000 census and decreased to 936 at the 2010 census.
. Ilwaco was officially incorporated on December 16, 1890. A narrow gauge railway, Ilwaco Railway and Navigation Company
, ran for over thirty years.
The railroad ran north up First Street in Ilwaco. A published photo shows the railroad's Ilwaco facilities, including a gallows turntable and elevated watering trough, were located on the southwest corner of the intersection of First and Spruce streets. The depot was built nearby on Spruce Street. A siding was built for the Ilwaco Mill and Lumber Company. A published photo shows the passenger depot on the west side of First Street, at a point 14.8 miles (23.8 km) from the Ilwaco Depot to Nahcotta. The Ilwaco freight depot was in a different building. The freight depot survived to modern times, and has been relocated to became part of the Ilwaco Heritage Museum.
The train ran out on the dock in Ilwaco. Floating logs were stored behind log booms on the west side of the Ilwaco dock. At some point after 1890, First Street had been covered with wooden planks, and remained so until 1916, when it was paved over. By 1915, a published photo shows many more businesses along First Street.
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.1 km²), of which, 2.1 square miles (5.3 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.8 km²) of it (13.08%) is water.
of 2000, there were 950 people, 416 households, and 260 families residing in the city. The population density
was 461.5 people per square mile (178.1/km²). There were 524 housing units at an average density of 254.6 per square mile (98.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.84% White, 0.53% African American, 1.37% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 1.79% from other races
, and 2.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.26% of the population. 15.9% were of German
, 13.6% Finnish, 10.1% English
, 5.8% American
, 5.2% Swedish and 5.1% Norwegian
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 416 households out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.4% were married couples
living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.2% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,632, and the median income for a family was $34,934. Males had a median income of $29,821 versus $21,442 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,138. About 10.3% of families and 16.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.1% of those under age 18 and 16.3% 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 population was 950 at the 2000 census and decreased to 936 at the 2010 census.
History
Ilwaco was first settled by Henry Feister in 1851, and was named for Elwahko Jim, the son in law of Chief ComcomlyChief Comcomly
Chief Comcomly or Concomly was a Native American chief of the Chinookan people. He was the principal chief of the Chinook Confederacy, which extended along the Columbia River from the Cascade Range to the Pacific Ocean....
. Ilwaco was officially incorporated on December 16, 1890. A narrow gauge railway, Ilwaco Railway and Navigation Company
Ilwaco Railway and Navigation Company
The Ilwaco Railway and Navigation Company operated a narrow gauge railroad ran for over forty years from the bar of the Columbia River up the Long Beach Peninsula to Nahcotta, Washington, on Willapa Bay. The line ran entirely in Pacific County, Washington, and had no connection to any outside rail...
, ran for over thirty years.
The railroad ran north up First Street in Ilwaco. A published photo shows the railroad's Ilwaco facilities, including a gallows turntable and elevated watering trough, were located on the southwest corner of the intersection of First and Spruce streets. The depot was built nearby on Spruce Street. A siding was built for the Ilwaco Mill and Lumber Company. A published photo shows the passenger depot on the west side of First Street, at a point 14.8 miles (23.8 km) from the Ilwaco Depot to Nahcotta. The Ilwaco freight depot was in a different building. The freight depot survived to modern times, and has been relocated to became part of the Ilwaco Heritage Museum.
The train ran out on the dock in Ilwaco. Floating logs were stored behind log booms on the west side of the Ilwaco dock. At some point after 1890, First Street had been covered with wooden planks, and remained so until 1916, when it was paved over. By 1915, a published photo shows many more businesses along First Street.
- Ilwaco in 1897
- B.A. Seaborg Cannery, Ilwaco, 1897
- Modern view of First Street in Ilwaco, looking north. The railroad would have run past some of the older buildings in this photograph
- Modern view of fishing fleet at Ilwaco
Geography
Ilwaco is located at 46°18′45"N 124°1′47"W (46.312541, -124.029688) on the Long Beach PeninsulaLong Beach Peninsula
The Long Beach Peninsula is an arm of land in western Washington state. It is bounded on the west by the Pacific Ocean, the south by the Columbia River, and the east by Willapa Bay...
.
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 2.4 square miles (6.1 km²), of which, 2.1 square miles (5.3 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.8 km²) of it (13.08%) 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 950 people, 416 households, and 260 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 461.5 people per square mile (178.1/km²). There were 524 housing units at an average density of 254.6 per square mile (98.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.84% White, 0.53% African American, 1.37% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 1.79% 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 2.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.26% of the population. 15.9% 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....
, 13.6% Finnish, 10.1% 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...
, 5.8% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 5.2% Swedish and 5.1% 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...
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 416 households out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.4% 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, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.2% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,632, and the median income for a family was $34,934. Males had a median income of $29,821 versus $21,442 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 $16,138. About 10.3% of families and 16.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.1% of those under age 18 and 16.3% of those age 65 or over.