Waldron, Washington
Encyclopedia
Waldron, or Waldron Island, is an unincorporated town
in San Juan County, Washington, United States
. Although Waldron is not specifically tracked by the Census, the ZIP code is 98297, and this ZIP code is coextensive with Waldron Island. Neither Waldron nor Waldron Island can be considered an official name; locally, they are used interchangeably, although the post office name is Waldron.
The population was 104 at the 2000 census.
Despite its location in the generally well-to-do San Juan Islands
, Waldron has no connections with the tourist industry and is notable for ranking among the poorest and most impoverished areas in the state of Washington. Due to the low cost of living, however, this may be seen as an inaccurate reflection of the actual quality of life.
and his party "made a careful survey of Puget Sound from Vashon Island southward." During this survey, one of the San Juan islands was named after one or other of a pair of Waldron brothers, Richard Russell Waldron
or Thomas Westbrook Waldron
.
In the nineteenth century Waldron Island sandstone
was mined for use in various buildings. Coal deposits were also discovered on the Waldron Island. Homesteaders settled the island in the nineteenth century, and the Krumdiack Homestead
, built in 1890, is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
In 1941 Waldron resident June Burn
featured Waldron prominently in her autobiography Living High and described her family's experience building a log cabin on the island. Her daughter-in-law, Doris Burn
, also wrote several books while living on the island. The last store on Waldron closed in 1942 and no regular ferry service has been offered to the island. Since 1976, Waldron has been a 'limited development district'...No large-scale mining of natural resources is allowed. No marinas or breakwaters can be built. No mansions or paved roads or public utilities, residents declared in the early 1990s with a lopsided vote (82 percent)."
In 1997 the Drug Enforcement Agency conducted a massive raid on Waldron, confiscating 886 marijuana plants and arresting 7 people.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 104 people, 62 households, and 27 families residing in the unincorporated town. The racial makeup of the city was 95.19% White, 0.96% Asian, and 3.85% from two or more races.
There were 62 households out of which 33.87% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.3% were married couples
living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 56.5% were non-families. 51.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.68 and the average family size was 2.30.
In the unincorporated town the population was spread out with 13.5% under the age of 18, 1.9% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 37.5% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 116.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 136.8 males.
The median income for a household in the unincorporated town was $18,452, and the median income for a family was $25,000. 56.1% of the population and 31.6% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 45.5% of those under the age of 18 and none of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
While Waldron is frequently characterized by a lack of “amenities”, it is rich in attributes highly valued by the majority of its residents and property owners. Fields and forest, rock and beaches, clean air and water are a part of everyday life, as are litter-free, unpaved roads with minimal motor-vehicle traffic.
Children have a sense of almost complete safety, as is almost unheard of in this day and age. Privacy and quiet prevail: the sounds of engines and machinery with their attendant pollutants, physical hazards and disruptions do not predominate in any area. With no retail outlet, commercial entertainment, or outdoor-area lighting, Waldron nights are dark.
The small size of the resident population allows for intimate participation in matters affecting the community. The limited opportunities for earning money are to a great extent offset by the limited opportunities for spending it, and by ways to meet one‘s needs in creative, nonmonetary ways. There is no ferry service. There are no public utilities. There are no public facilities to attract people to Waldron.
There is only one county dock. Commercial recreation facilities are prohibited and development restricted under Waldron’s designation as a Limited Development District. Waldron is not a wilderness, but the environment is relatively unspoiled
Gov. Christine Gregoire
has named Samuel Green
the Washington State Poet Laureate, a position established by the Legislature in 2008 to build awareness and appreciation of poetry across the state.
"I am pleased to name Samuel Green as Washington's first state poet laureate
," said Gov. Gregoire. "Not only will he encourage people across our state to learn about and appreciate poetry, his appointment to this position will honor the important role that poetry and poets have played in Washington's creative culture."
Green is a native of Washington and resides on Waldron Island. A distinguished poet and author of 10 poetry collections, including The Grace of Necessity (Carnegie Mellon University Press, 2008), his work has appeared in numerous publications. For more than 30 years, he has served as editor of a small press focusing on the work of Washington poets. Green has served as a visiting poet in a wide range of settings, including universities, public schools, libraries, mental health centers, correctional facilities and poetry festivals. He has been visiting poet and poetry teacher at Seattle University
for several years and is active with the Skagit River Poetry Festival.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in San Juan County, Washington, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Although Waldron is not specifically tracked by the Census, the ZIP code is 98297, and this ZIP code is coextensive with Waldron Island. Neither Waldron nor Waldron Island can be considered an official name; locally, they are used interchangeably, although the post office name is Waldron.
The population was 104 at the 2000 census.
Despite its location in the generally well-to-do San Juan Islands
San Juan Islands
The San Juan Islands are an archipelago in the northwest corner of the contiguous United States between the US mainland and Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The San Juan Islands are part of the U.S...
, Waldron has no connections with the tourist industry and is notable for ranking among the poorest and most impoverished areas in the state of Washington. Due to the low cost of living, however, this may be seen as an inaccurate reflection of the actual quality of life.
Geography
Waldron is located at 48.68778, -123.03556. It is an island of irregular shape with a land area of 4.6 sq mi (11.9 km²).History
During a Spanish expedition in 1791, Francisco Eliza named the Island "Lemos." However the current name of the island was set in May 1841 when Wilkes Expedition officer Lieutenant Case of the VincennesUSS Vincennes (1826)
USS Vincennes was a 703-ton Boston-class sloop of war in the United States Navy from 1826 to 1865. During her service, Vincennes patrolled the Pacific, explored the Antarctic, and blockaded the Confederate Gulf coast in the Civil War. Named for the Revolutionary War Battle of Vincennes, she was...
and his party "made a careful survey of Puget Sound from Vashon Island southward." During this survey, one of the San Juan islands was named after one or other of a pair of Waldron brothers, Richard Russell Waldron
Richard Russell Waldron
Richard Russell Waldron was a purser "and special agent" in the Wilkes Expedition, together with younger brother Thomas Westbrook Waldron . Cape Waldron in Antarctica, and perhaps Waldron Island in Washington state, were named after him. Waldron Ledge overlooking the Hawaiian Kilauea Crater is...
or Thomas Westbrook Waldron
Thomas Westbrook Waldron (consul)
]Thomas Westbrook Waldron was a captain's clerk on the Wilkes Expedition, and the first United States consul to Hong Kong. His service to the United States consular service was honoured by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton during a ceremony in 2009...
.
In the nineteenth century Waldron Island sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
was mined for use in various buildings. Coal deposits were also discovered on the Waldron Island. Homesteaders settled the island in the nineteenth century, and the Krumdiack Homestead
Krumdiack Homestead
Krumdiack Homestead is located on the northern coast of Waldron Island, Washington between Fishery Point and Point Hammond....
, built in 1890, is currently listed 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...
.
In 1941 Waldron resident June Burn
June Burn
June Burn was an American author.June Burn was born Inez Chandler Harris on June 19, 1893 in Anniston, Alabama. Her father was a Methodist circuit riding minister. At age sixteen she moved to Oklahoma and eventually graduated from Oklahoma State University. In 1917 she started working as a...
featured Waldron prominently in her autobiography Living High and described her family's experience building a log cabin on the island. Her daughter-in-law, Doris Burn
Doris Burn
Doris "Doe" Wernstedt Burn was an American children's book author and illustrator. She lived most of her life on Waldron Island in the San Juan Islands archipelago of Washington...
, also wrote several books while living on the island. The last store on Waldron closed in 1942 and no regular ferry service has been offered to the island. Since 1976, Waldron has been a 'limited development district'...No large-scale mining of natural resources is allowed. No marinas or breakwaters can be built. No mansions or paved roads or public utilities, residents declared in the early 1990s with a lopsided vote (82 percent)."
In 1997 the Drug Enforcement Agency conducted a massive raid on Waldron, confiscating 886 marijuana plants and arresting 7 people.
Demographics
Note: because of the exceptionally small population of Waldron, estimates extrapolated from samples of small percentages of the residents are statistically unreliable. For example, while the total population is reasonably established, it is unlikely that the median incomes reported here are accurate.As of the census
Census
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 104 people, 62 households, and 27 families residing in the unincorporated town. The racial makeup of the city was 95.19% White, 0.96% Asian, and 3.85% from two or more races.
There were 62 households out of which 33.87% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.3% 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, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 56.5% were non-families. 51.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.68 and the average family size was 2.30.
In the unincorporated town the population was spread out with 13.5% under the age of 18, 1.9% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 37.5% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 116.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 136.8 males.
The median income for a household in the unincorporated town was $18,452, and the median income for a family was $25,000. 56.1% of the population and 31.6% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 45.5% of those under the age of 18 and none of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Quality of life
The 1995 "Waldron Limited Development District Subarea Plan" described the island as follows:While Waldron is frequently characterized by a lack of “amenities”, it is rich in attributes highly valued by the majority of its residents and property owners. Fields and forest, rock and beaches, clean air and water are a part of everyday life, as are litter-free, unpaved roads with minimal motor-vehicle traffic.
Children have a sense of almost complete safety, as is almost unheard of in this day and age. Privacy and quiet prevail: the sounds of engines and machinery with their attendant pollutants, physical hazards and disruptions do not predominate in any area. With no retail outlet, commercial entertainment, or outdoor-area lighting, Waldron nights are dark.
The small size of the resident population allows for intimate participation in matters affecting the community. The limited opportunities for earning money are to a great extent offset by the limited opportunities for spending it, and by ways to meet one‘s needs in creative, nonmonetary ways. There is no ferry service. There are no public utilities. There are no public facilities to attract people to Waldron.
There is only one county dock. Commercial recreation facilities are prohibited and development restricted under Waldron’s designation as a Limited Development District. Waldron is not a wilderness, but the environment is relatively unspoiled
Washington State Poet Laureate Sam Green
Re: http://www.washingtonpoetlaureate.org/Gov. Christine Gregoire
Christine Gregoire
Christine O'Grady "Chris" Gregoire is the 22nd and current Governor of the state of Washington, and a member of the Democratic Party. Gregoire defeated Republican candidate Dino Rossi in 2004, and again in 2008. She is the second female governor of Washington...
has named Samuel Green
Samuel Green (poet)
Samuel Green is the current Poet Laureate of the State of Washington. Green is the author of ten poetry collections, including The Grace of Necessity, which won the 2008 Washington State Book Award for Poetry....
the Washington State Poet Laureate, a position established by the Legislature in 2008 to build awareness and appreciation of poetry across the state.
"I am pleased to name Samuel Green as Washington's first state poet laureate
Poet Laureate
A poet laureate is a poet officially appointed by a government and is often expected to compose poems for state occasions and other government events...
," said Gov. Gregoire. "Not only will he encourage people across our state to learn about and appreciate poetry, his appointment to this position will honor the important role that poetry and poets have played in Washington's creative culture."
Green is a native of Washington and resides on Waldron Island. A distinguished poet and author of 10 poetry collections, including The Grace of Necessity (Carnegie Mellon University Press, 2008), his work has appeared in numerous publications. For more than 30 years, he has served as editor of a small press focusing on the work of Washington poets. Green has served as a visiting poet in a wide range of settings, including universities, public schools, libraries, mental health centers, correctional facilities and poetry festivals. He has been visiting poet and poetry teacher at Seattle University
Seattle University
Seattle University is a Jesuit Catholic university located in the First Hill neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, USA.SU is the largest independent university in the Northwest US, with over 7,500 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs within eight schools, and is one of 28 member...
for several years and is active with the Skagit River Poetry Festival.