Sprague, Washington
Encyclopedia
Sprague is a city in Lincoln County, Washington, United States
. The population was 446 at the 2010 census. The town was plotted in 1880 and named for former American Civil War
Union
general John Wilson Sprague.
Eugene E. Lindsey
, World War II
naval hero, was born in Sprague.
Sprague was first settled by William Newman, who established an inn at the location.
Sprague was officially incorporated on November 28, 1883. Originally called Hoodooville after William Burrows, a local character called Hoodoo Billy, the name was changed to honor General John W. Sprague
, a railroad executive.
Sprague was destroyed by fire on August 3, 1895.
Mary Queen of Heaven Parish Church in Sprague, Washington was originally built in 1883. The current church, erected in 1902 on the site of the original church and blessed by the Bishop of Nesqually
, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
by the U.S. Department of Interior in 1990.
The town has a seasonal creek running through it named "Negro Creek." Much debate has occurred regarding the creek's name but the name remains.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 490 people, 216 households, and 130 families residing in the city. The population density
was 780.8 people per square mile (300.3/km²). There were 242 housing units at an average density of 385.6 per square mile (148.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.47% White, 2.65% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 1.63% from other races
, and 1.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.65% of the population.
There were 216 households out of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples
living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.4% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 21.6% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 21.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,079, and the median income for a family was $31,750. Males had a median income of $30,833 versus $21,875 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,912. About 8.9% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.4% of those under age 18 and 6.6% 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 446 at the 2010 census. The town was plotted in 1880 and named for former American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
Union
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
general John Wilson Sprague.
Eugene E. Lindsey
Eugene E. Lindsey
Eugene E. Lindsey, born in Sprague, Washington, 2 July 1905, graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1927. After duty in Nevada and Saratoga he completed flight training in 1929, and served with a bombing squadron in Lexington and an observation squadron in Maryland...
, World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
naval hero, was born in Sprague.
History
Sprague was officially incorporated on November 28, 1883. Originally called Hoodooville after William Burrows, a local character called Hoodoo Billy, the name was changed to honor General John W. Sprague
John W. Sprague
John Wilson Sprague was an American soldier and railroad executive. He served as a general in the Union Army in the Western Theater of operations during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry at the Battle of Decatur during the Atlanta Campaign...
, a railroad executive.
Sprague was destroyed by fire on August 3, 1895.
Mary Queen of Heaven Parish Church in Sprague, Washington was originally built in 1883. The current church, erected in 1902 on the site of the original church and blessed by the Bishop of Nesqually
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle
The Archdiocese of Seattle is an archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S. state of Washington. Headquartered in Seattle, the archdiocese encompasses all counties in the state west of the Cascade Range. Its cathedral is St. James Cathedral, and its present archbishop is J...
, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
by the U.S. Department of Interior in 1990.
The town has a seasonal creek running through it named "Negro Creek." Much debate has occurred regarding the creek's name but the name remains.
The Sprague Catholic Cemetery
The Sprague Catholic Cemetery is associated with and maintained by the Mary Queen of Heaven Parish Church. Those buried in this historic cemetery include lifetime residents of Sprague as well as immigrants born as long ago as the 1850s. The first burial took place on December 25; Mr. and Mrs. Mike Ferrell buried their infant daughter Margaret Mabel Farrell. The Farrells later donated the plot of land their daughter was buried on to the Catholic Church. It was dedicated by Bishop Junger of Nesqually Diocese.Geography
Sprague is located at 47°17′56"N 117°58′39"W (47.298974, -117.977532).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 0.6 square miles (1.6 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 490 people, 216 households, and 130 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 780.8 people per square mile (300.3/km²). There were 242 housing units at an average density of 385.6 per square mile (148.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.47% White, 2.65% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 1.63% 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 1.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.65% of the population.
There were 216 households out of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% 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, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.4% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 21.6% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 21.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,079, and the median income for a family was $31,750. Males had a median income of $30,833 versus $21,875 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 $15,912. About 8.9% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.4% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.