Leavenworth, Washington
Encyclopedia
Leavenworth is a city in Chelan County, Washington, United States. It is part of the Wenatchee
–East Wenatchee
Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,965 at the 2010 census. The entire town center is modelled on a Bavaria
n village.
was built by the Great Northern Railway in 1892. The townsite was across the Wenatchee River
from Icicle and was named Leavenworth the same year the rail construction began. Captain Charles Leavenworth, president of the Okanogan Investment Company, purchased the land in the present-day downtown and laid the streets parallel to the new railroad tracks.
The railroad construction was completed during the winter of 1893. Lafayette Lamb and his brother, Chauncery Lamb arrived in 1903 from Iowa
to build the second largest sawmill
in Washington state.
Leavenworth was officially incorporated on September 5, 1906. A small timber community, it became the headquarters of the Great North Railroad in the early 1900s. The railroad relocated to Wenatchee in the 1920s, greatly affecting Leavenworth's economy.
The city struggled until 1962, when the Project LIFE (Leavenworth Improvement For Everyone) Committee was formed to transform the city into a mock Bavaria
n village to revitalize its economy. Owen and Pauline Watson, owners of a business on Front Street, formed the committee after visiting Solvang, California
in 1958 and thought it was an excellent idea for Leavenworth.
Leavenworth is home to the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum, which opened in 1995 and contains more than 5,000 nutcracker
s dating from prehistoric
to modern. Leavenworth's annual Oktoberfest
celebration is claimed to be one of the most attended in the world outside Munich
, Germany. Leavenworth's transformation into a theme town was inspired, and assisted, by Solvang, California
. Later the Washington town of Winthrop
followed Leavenworth's example and adopted a town theme.
In November 2007 Good Morning America
went to Leavenworth for Holiday Gifts for the Globe where GMA helped light up the town for the Christmas Holiday. Leavenworth was also named the Ultimate HolidayTown USA by A&E
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.2 km²), of which, 1.2 square miles (3.2 km²) of it is land and 0.80% is water.
is 1,675.6 people per square mile (645.8/km²). There are 1,107 housing units at an average density of 894.4 per square mile (344.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city is 93.64% White, 0.10% African American, 1.45% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 3.04% from other races
, and 1.35% from two or more races. 6.17% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 899 households out of which 28.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% are married couples living together, 10.9% have a female householder with no husband present, and 39.5% are non-families. 32.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 16.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.31 and the average family size is 2.93.
In the city the population is spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 41 years. For every 100 females there are 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 83.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $35,692, and the median income for a family is $48,347. Males have a median income of $35,165 versus $23,854 for females. The per capita income
for the city is $18,709. 8.3% of the population and 5.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 9.5% of those under the age of 18 and 12.6% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Wenatchee, Washington
Wenatchee is located in North Central Washington and is the largest city and county seat of Chelan County, Washington, United States. The population within the city limits in 2010 was 31,925...
–East Wenatchee
East Wenatchee, Washington
East Wenatchee is a city in Douglas County, Washington, United States along the northern banks of the Columbia River. The population at the 2010 census was 13,190, a 129.1% increase over the 2000 census....
Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,965 at the 2010 census. The entire town center is modelled on a Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
n village.
History
The first route across Stevens PassStevens Pass
Stevens Pass is a mountain pass through the Cascade Mountains located at the border of King County and Chelan County in Washington, United States....
was built by the Great Northern Railway in 1892. The townsite was across the Wenatchee River
Wenatchee River
The Wenatchee River is a river in the U.S. state of Washington, originating at Lake Wenatchee and flowing southeast for , emptying into the Columbia River immediately north of Wenatchee, Washington...
from Icicle and was named Leavenworth the same year the rail construction began. Captain Charles Leavenworth, president of the Okanogan Investment Company, purchased the land in the present-day downtown and laid the streets parallel to the new railroad tracks.
The railroad construction was completed during the winter of 1893. Lafayette Lamb and his brother, Chauncery Lamb arrived in 1903 from Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
to build the second largest sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
in Washington state.
Leavenworth was officially incorporated on September 5, 1906. A small timber community, it became the headquarters of the Great North Railroad in the early 1900s. The railroad relocated to Wenatchee in the 1920s, greatly affecting Leavenworth's economy.
The city struggled until 1962, when the Project LIFE (Leavenworth Improvement For Everyone) Committee was formed to transform the city into a mock Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
n village to revitalize its economy. Owen and Pauline Watson, owners of a business on Front Street, formed the committee after visiting Solvang, California
Solvang, California
Solvang is a city in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. It is one of the communities that make up the Santa Ynez Valley. The population was 5,245 at the 2010 census, down from 5,332 at the 2000 census...
in 1958 and thought it was an excellent idea for Leavenworth.
Leavenworth is home to the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum, which opened in 1995 and contains more than 5,000 nutcracker
Nutcracker
A nutcracker is a mechanical device for cracking nuts. Usually they work on the principle of moments as described in Archimedes' analysis of the lever...
s dating from prehistoric
Prehistory
Prehistory is the span of time before recorded history. Prehistory can refer to the period of human existence before the availability of those written records with which recorded history begins. More broadly, it refers to all the time preceding human existence and the invention of writing...
to modern. Leavenworth's annual Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest, or Wiesn, is a 16–18 day beer festival held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, running from late September to the first weekend in October. It is one of the most famous events in Germany and is the world's largest fair, with more than 5 million people attending every year. The...
celebration is claimed to be one of the most attended in the world outside Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, Germany. Leavenworth's transformation into a theme town was inspired, and assisted, by Solvang, California
Solvang, California
Solvang is a city in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. It is one of the communities that make up the Santa Ynez Valley. The population was 5,245 at the 2010 census, down from 5,332 at the 2000 census...
. Later the Washington town of Winthrop
Winthrop, Washington
Winthrop is a town in Okanogan County, Washington, United States. It is east of Mazama and north of Twisp. The population of the Winthrop area was 1,916 at the 2000 census; however, the incorporated town had a population of 349. The 2010 census showed an increase to 394 within the town limits...
followed Leavenworth's example and adopted a town theme.
In November 2007 Good Morning America
Good Morning America
Good Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
went to Leavenworth for Holiday Gifts for the Globe where GMA helped light up the town for the Christmas Holiday. Leavenworth was also named the Ultimate HolidayTown USA by A&E
A&E Network
The A&E Network is a United States-based cable and satellite television network with headquarters in New York City and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, London, Los Angeles and Stamford. A&E also airs in Canada and Latin America. Initially named the Arts & Entertainment Network, A&E launched...
.
Geography
Leavenworth is located at 47°35′47"N 120°39′55"W (47.596341, -120.665224).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 (3.2 km²), of which, 1.2 square miles (3.2 km²) of it is land and 0.80% is water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there are 2,074 people, 899 households, and 543 families residing in the city. The population densityPopulation 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...
is 1,675.6 people per square mile (645.8/km²). There are 1,107 housing units at an average density of 894.4 per square mile (344.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city is 93.64% White, 0.10% African American, 1.45% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 3.04% 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 1.35% from two or more races. 6.17% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 899 households out of which 28.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% are married couples living together, 10.9% have a female householder with no husband present, and 39.5% are non-families. 32.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 16.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.31 and the average family size is 2.93.
In the city the population is spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 41 years. For every 100 females there are 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 83.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $35,692, and the median income for a family is $48,347. Males have a median income of $35,165 versus $23,854 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 is $18,709. 8.3% of the population and 5.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 9.5% of those under the age of 18 and 12.6% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Transportation
- Leavenworth has AmtrakAmtrakThe National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
rail service at Leavenworth "Icicle" StationIcicle StationLeavenworth "Icicle" Station is a station stop for Amtrak's Empire Builder in Leavenworth, Washington. The station started service on September 25, 2009. The station and parking are owned by the City of Leavenworth, Washington. The track and platforms are owned by BNSF Railway...
which recently re-opened with a new station in September 2009.
- Leavenworth also has a stop for Northwestern TrailwaysNorthwestern TrailwaysNorthwestern Trailways based in Spokane, Washington, USA, is an intercity common carrier of passengers by bus serving Washington and Idaho.-Routes:* Spokane to Seattle/Everett/Tacoma via I-90 and Highway 2 over scenic Stevens Pass....
bus at SR2 & Icicle Road. This bus can be cross-ticketed with Amtrak Thruway. This Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach service operates as redundant service along the Empire Builder route between Seattle and Spokane to add extra capacity and provide service during other times of the day. The route also serves Stevens PassStevens PassStevens Pass is a mountain pass through the Cascade Mountains located at the border of King County and Chelan County in Washington, United States....
, SkykomishSkykomish, WashingtonAs of the census of 2000, there were 214 people, 104 households, and 58 families residing in the town. The population density was 623.2 people per square mile . There were 162 housing units at an average density of 471.8 per square mile...
, and MonroeMonroe, WashingtonMonroe is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. The population as of 17,304 at the 2010 census.-History:The history of Monroe is intertwined with that of the Great Northern Railway which pushed over the Cascade Range at Stevens Pass and worked its way down the Skykomish River...
. The thruway motorcoach service is used when normal rail service encounters disruptions. E.g. a closure of Cascade TunnelCascade TunnelThe Cascade Tunnel refers to two tunnels at Stevens Pass through the Cascade Mountains, approximately to the east of Everett, Washington. The first Cascade Tunnel was a 2.63-mile long single track railroad, built by the Great Northern Railway in 1900 to avoid problems caused by heavy winter...
.
- The Leavenworth Free Trolley that circulates between SR2 & Icicle Road and the Safeway.
- Link Transit has a Dial-a-Ride service. The service requires at least a one day advance notice.
- Leavenworth Taxi also has a shuttle that operates within the greater Leavenworth area. It stops at both the Northwestern TrailwaysNorthwestern TrailwaysNorthwestern Trailways based in Spokane, Washington, USA, is an intercity common carrier of passengers by bus serving Washington and Idaho.-Routes:* Spokane to Seattle/Everett/Tacoma via I-90 and Highway 2 over scenic Stevens Pass....
/Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach bus stop and the Amtrak rail station.