Montesano, Washington
Encyclopedia
Montesano is a city in Grays Harbor County
, Washington, United States
. The population was 3,976 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat
of Grays Harbor County
.
According to Edmond S. Meany
, in 1860 the county seat of what was then called Chehalis County was moved to "the place of J.L. Scammons". Mrs. Lorinda Scammon was very religious and wished to have the place named Mount Zion
. Another early settler, Samuel James, suggested "Montesano" as having a more pleasant sound and meaning about the same. The suggestion was approved and soon after a post office was secured with the name Montesano.
and Chehalis River. The town is bordered on the North and west by Lake Sylvia and Sylvia Creek.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 10.4 square miles (27.0 km²), of which, 10.3 square miles (26.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.86%) is water.
of 2000, there were 3,312 people, 1,326 households, and 879 families residing in the city. The population density
was 320.4 people per square mile (123.7/km²). There were 1,408 housing units at an average density of 136.2 per square mile (52.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.99% White, 0.12% African American, 1.87% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races
, and 2.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.84% of the population.
There were 1,326 households out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% were married couples
living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 99.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $40,204, and the median income for a family was $42,344. Males had a median income of $41,500 versus $30,096 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $19,467. About 9.3% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.4% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.
Bordering along the northern edge of the town is Lake Sylvia State Park. The park is located in dense boreal forest, almost temperate rain forest
. The park offers swimming, hiking, camping, fishing, and boating, and was built around an old lumber mill pond, which was briefly the converted to power the town's first electrical generation plant. The park is home to a mixed flock of feral and wild mallard ducks, Canada Geese
, a family of osprey
s, as well as Bald Eagles. There is also a small group of beavers living along Sylvia Creek, which flows through the lake.
Wynooche Valley Road, the road north from Montesano which follows the course of the Wynoochee River
, is the access way to the southern quarter of the Olympic National Park
.
The annual Festival of Lights is a Holiday celebration that has gone strong for 22 years. Festivities include tours of decorated historic homes, a lighting contest, arts and crafts show, a children's play zone, food vendors, the jingle bell jog, a scavenger hunt, storytelling, tours of the county courthouse and murals, and a pancake breakfast. The highlight of the weekend is the Grand Parade. Other activities include the Yule Log lighting, chowder feed, and caroling.
The influential band Melvins were formed in the town.
Nirvana
lead singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain
moved to Montesano with his father as a child, following the divorce of his parents in 1976. Cobain was shuttled between relatives until 1983 when he moved back to his mother's in Aberdeen, Washington, the city of his birth, during his sophomore year of high school.
Grays Harbor County, Washington
Grays Harbor County is a county in the state of Washington, in the United States of America. As of 2010, the population was 72,797. The county seat is at Montesano, and its largest city is Aberdeen. The county is named after a large estuarine bay near its southwestern corner...
, Washington, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 3,976 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Grays Harbor County
Grays Harbor County, Washington
Grays Harbor County is a county in the state of Washington, in the United States of America. As of 2010, the population was 72,797. The county seat is at Montesano, and its largest city is Aberdeen. The county is named after a large estuarine bay near its southwestern corner...
.
History
Montesano was first settled in 1852 by Isaiah L. Scammon.According to Edmond S. Meany
Edmond S. Meany
Edmond S. Meany was a professor of botany and history at the University of Washington and a UW alumnus, having graduated as the valedictorian of his class in 1885...
, in 1860 the county seat of what was then called Chehalis County was moved to "the place of J.L. Scammons". Mrs. Lorinda Scammon was very religious and wished to have the place named Mount Zion
Mount Zion
Mount Zion is a place name for a site in Jerusalem, the location of which has shifted several times in history. According to the Hebrew Bible's Book of Samuel, it was the site of the Jebusite fortress called the "stronghold of Zion" that was conquered by King David, becoming his palace in the City...
. Another early settler, Samuel James, suggested "Montesano" as having a more pleasant sound and meaning about the same. The suggestion was approved and soon after a post office was secured with the name Montesano.
Geography
Montesano is located at 46°59′9"N 123°35′52"W (46.985865, -123.597726). It is on the north slope of the Chehalis River valley, near the confluence of the Wynoochee RiverWynoochee River
The Wynoochee River is a long river located in the Olympic Peninsula in the U.S. state of Washington. A tributary of the Chehalis River, the Wynoochee River rises in the Olympic Mountains within the Olympic National Park and flows generally south. Its drainage basin is in area...
and Chehalis River. The town is bordered on the North and west by Lake Sylvia and Sylvia Creek.
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 10.4 square miles (27.0 km²), of which, 10.3 square miles (26.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.86%) 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 3,312 people, 1,326 households, and 879 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 320.4 people per square mile (123.7/km²). There were 1,408 housing units at an average density of 136.2 per square mile (52.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.99% White, 0.12% African American, 1.87% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.18% 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 2.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.84% of the population.
There were 1,326 households out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% 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, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 99.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $40,204, and the median income for a family was $42,344. Males had a median income of $41,500 versus $30,096 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 $19,467. About 9.3% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.4% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.
Attractions
A prominent feature of the town is the 1911 Grays Harbor County Courthouse. This is a three-story structure with a domed tower. The interior features murals of local history. Not to be missed is the dent in the front door made by the Sheriff as he fired at a fleeing felon. The motto "come on vacation and leave on probation" has been coined for this Grays County city.Bordering along the northern edge of the town is Lake Sylvia State Park. The park is located in dense boreal forest, almost temperate rain forest
Temperate rain forest
Temperate rainforests are coniferous or broadleaf forests that occur in the temperate zone and receive high rainfall.-Definition:For temperate rain forests of North America, Alaback's definition is widely recognized:-Global distribution:...
. The park offers swimming, hiking, camping, fishing, and boating, and was built around an old lumber mill pond, which was briefly the converted to power the town's first electrical generation plant. The park is home to a mixed flock of feral and wild mallard ducks, Canada Geese
Canada Goose
The Canada Goose is a wild goose belonging to the genus Branta, which is native to arctic and temperate regions of North America, having a black head and neck, white patches on the face, and a brownish-gray body....
, a family of osprey
Osprey
The Osprey , sometimes known as the sea hawk or fish eagle, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey. It is a large raptor, reaching more than in length and across the wings...
s, as well as Bald Eagles. There is also a small group of beavers living along Sylvia Creek, which flows through the lake.
Wynooche Valley Road, the road north from Montesano which follows the course of the Wynoochee River
Wynoochee River
The Wynoochee River is a long river located in the Olympic Peninsula in the U.S. state of Washington. A tributary of the Chehalis River, the Wynoochee River rises in the Olympic Mountains within the Olympic National Park and flows generally south. Its drainage basin is in area...
, is the access way to the southern quarter of the Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park is located in the U.S. state of Washington, in the Olympic Peninsula. The park can be divided into four basic regions: the Pacific coastline, alpine areas, the west side temperate rainforest and the forests of the drier east side. U.S...
.
The annual Festival of Lights is a Holiday celebration that has gone strong for 22 years. Festivities include tours of decorated historic homes, a lighting contest, arts and crafts show, a children's play zone, food vendors, the jingle bell jog, a scavenger hunt, storytelling, tours of the county courthouse and murals, and a pancake breakfast. The highlight of the weekend is the Grand Parade. Other activities include the Yule Log lighting, chowder feed, and caroling.
The influential band Melvins were formed in the town.
Nirvana
Nirvana
Nirvāṇa ; ) is a central concept in Indian religions. In sramanic thought, it is the state of being free from suffering. In Hindu philosophy, it is the union with the Supreme being through moksha...
lead singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...
moved to Montesano with his father as a child, following the divorce of his parents in 1976. Cobain was shuttled between relatives until 1983 when he moved back to his mother's in Aberdeen, Washington, the city of his birth, during his sophomore year of high school.