Wapato, Washington
Encyclopedia
Wapato is a city in Yakima County
, Washington, United States. The population was 4,997 at the 2010 census.
in 1896, agriculture became the big business in town. In the early 1900s, McCredy and George Rankin established the Wapato Development Company and laid out the town site. They established the town's first bank and began selling lots. In response to persistent confusion with nearby Fort Simcoe
, the town changed its name to Wapato in 1903. The 1906 Jones Act further encouraged Anglos to purchase land from the Yakamas. Wapato was officially incorporated on September 16, 1908 with a population of around 300 people.
As early as 1905, many Japanese
people also began to migrate to the city, mainly from Hawaii. From 1916 to 1918, "Japanese Town"
developed around present-day West 2nd Street. With more than 1000 Japanese then living in the Yakima Valley
, the community soon became a center of Washington's Japanese population, second only to Seattle. The Yakima Buddhist Bussei Kaikan (1936–1941), on West 2nd Street, was an architecturally noteworthy building built by members of the congregation. Unfortunately it was not to last, as Roosevelt's
Executive Order 9066
forced the Japanese to evacuate from Wapato in 1942, many residents headed for internment camps
.
During World War II, much of the labor in the orchards and fields around Wapato came from either Germans held in a POW camp between Wapato and Toppenish, or from Japanese still being held in internment camps. At the end of the war, a labor shortage created a void readily filled by Hispanic
migrant workers, and the Bracero Program
(a guest-worker program agreed to by the US and Mexico during World War II). These events significantly changed Wapato's cultural history.
Through the 1970s and into 1990, Wapato produced some of the largest volume potato and apple crops, as tonnage per acre.
Today, Wapato boasts one of the most Hispanic populations in Washington State (76% in the 2000 census). In recent times both Anglo and Hispanic residents have described Wapato as a "Mexican Town".
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.0 square miles (2.5 km²), all of it land.
The community is near the Yakama Indian Reservation
.
, and 5.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 76.21% of the population.
There were 1,198 households out of which 53.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were married couples living together, 19.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.9% were non-families. 15.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.73 and the average family size was 4.10.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 38.2% under the age of 18, 12.1% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 14.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 104.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,804, and the median income for a family was $26,378. Males had a median income of $18,333 versus $19,375 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $9,451. About 32.2% of families and 34.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.6% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.
For several decades Wapato attracted Filipino American
s, Hispanic American
s, Japanese American
s, and Native Americans. At one time White Americans were nearly half of the city's population. As time passed older whites died and entered nursing home
s in larger cities, while younger whites moved to attend school and did not return to the community. Hispanic immigrants continued to come to the town due to the available farm work jobs and the small town lifestyle.
, also known as Wapato Public Schools, which operates six schools.
Yakima County, Washington
Yakima County is the second largest county by area in the U.S. state of Washington. It is named after the Yakama tribe of Native Americans. In the 2010 census, its population was 243,231...
, Washington, United States. The population was 4,997 at the 2010 census.
History
The town was originally founded in 1885 by Indian Postmaster Alexander McCredy as a railroad stop on the Northern Pacific Railroad as Simcoe, Washington. The Dawes Severalty Act of 1887 made it legal for the Yakama Indian Nation to sell their lands, and began to draw settlers into the area. With the construction of the Irwin CanalIrrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
in 1896, agriculture became the big business in town. In the early 1900s, McCredy and George Rankin established the Wapato Development Company and laid out the town site. They established the town's first bank and began selling lots. In response to persistent confusion with nearby Fort Simcoe
Fort Simcoe
Fort Simcoe was a United States Army fort erected in south-central Washington Territory to house troops sent to keep watch over local Indian tribes...
, the town changed its name to Wapato in 1903. The 1906 Jones Act further encouraged Anglos to purchase land from the Yakamas. Wapato was officially incorporated on September 16, 1908 with a population of around 300 people.
As early as 1905, many Japanese
Japanese American
are American people of Japanese heritage. Japanese Americans have historically been among the three largest Asian American communities, but in recent decades have become the sixth largest group at roughly 1,204,205, including those of mixed-race or mixed-ethnicity...
people also began to migrate to the city, mainly from Hawaii. From 1916 to 1918, "Japanese Town"
Japantown
is a common name for official Japanese communities in big cities outside Japan. Alternatively, a Japantown may be called J-town, Little Tokyo, or Nihonmachi , the first two being common names for the Japanese communities in San Francisco and Los Angeles, respectively.-North America:Japantowns were...
developed around present-day West 2nd Street. With more than 1000 Japanese then living in the Yakima Valley
Yakima Valley
Yakima Valley may refer to:*Yakima River Valley in southeastern Washington*Yakima Valley AVA...
, the community soon became a center of Washington's Japanese population, second only to Seattle. The Yakima Buddhist Bussei Kaikan (1936–1941), on West 2nd Street, was an architecturally noteworthy building built by members of the congregation. Unfortunately it was not to last, as Roosevelt's
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
Executive Order 9066
Executive Order 9066
United States Executive Order 9066 was a United States presidential executive order signed and issued during World War II by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt on February 19, 1942 authorizing the Secretary of War to prescribe certain areas as military zones...
forced the Japanese to evacuate from Wapato in 1942, many residents headed for internment camps
Japanese American internment
Japanese-American internment was the relocation and internment by the United States government in 1942 of approximately 110,000 Japanese Americans and Japanese who lived along the Pacific coast of the United States to camps called "War Relocation Camps," in the wake of Imperial Japan's attack on...
.
During World War II, much of the labor in the orchards and fields around Wapato came from either Germans held in a POW camp between Wapato and Toppenish, or from Japanese still being held in internment camps. At the end of the war, a labor shortage created a void readily filled by Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
migrant workers, and the Bracero Program
Bracero Program
The Bracero Program was a series of laws and diplomatic agreements, initiated by an August 1942 exchange of diplomatic notes between the United States and Mexico, for the importation of temporary contract laborers from Mexico to the United States.American president Franklin D...
(a guest-worker program agreed to by the US and Mexico during World War II). These events significantly changed Wapato's cultural history.
Through the 1970s and into 1990, Wapato produced some of the largest volume potato and apple crops, as tonnage per acre.
Today, Wapato boasts one of the most Hispanic populations in Washington State (76% in the 2000 census). In recent times both Anglo and Hispanic residents have described Wapato as a "Mexican Town".
Geography
Wapato is located at 46°26′44"N 120°25′19"W (46.445521, -120.421822).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 1.0 square miles (2.5 km²), all of it land.
The community is near the Yakama Indian Reservation
Yakama Indian Reservation
The Yakama Indian Reservation is a United States Indian reservation located on the east side of the Cascade Mountains in southern Washington. It is the homeland of the Yakama tribe of Native Americans....
.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,582 people, 1,198 households, and 971 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,725.2 people per square mile (1,823.8/km²). There were 1,267 housing units at an average density of 1,306.6 per square mile (504.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 25.51% White, 0.50% African American, 9.34% Native American, 1.53% Asian, 57.57% from other racesRace (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 5.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 76.21% of the population.
There were 1,198 households out of which 53.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were married couples living together, 19.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.9% were non-families. 15.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.73 and the average family size was 4.10.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 38.2% under the age of 18, 12.1% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 14.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 104.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,804, and the median income for a family was $26,378. Males had a median income of $18,333 versus $19,375 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 $9,451. About 32.2% of families and 34.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.6% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.
For several decades Wapato attracted Filipino American
Filipino American
Filipino Americans are Americans of Filipino ancestry. Filipino Americans, often shortened to "Fil-Ams", or "Pinoy",Filipinos in what is now the United States were first documented in the 16th century, with small settlements beginning in the 18th century...
s, Hispanic American
Hispanic and Latino Americans
Hispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
s, Japanese American
Japanese American
are American people of Japanese heritage. Japanese Americans have historically been among the three largest Asian American communities, but in recent decades have become the sixth largest group at roughly 1,204,205, including those of mixed-race or mixed-ethnicity...
s, and Native Americans. At one time White Americans were nearly half of the city's population. As time passed older whites died and entered nursing home
Nursing home
A nursing home, convalescent home, skilled nursing unit , care home, rest home, or old people's home provides a type of care of residents: it is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living...
s in larger cities, while younger whites moved to attend school and did not return to the community. Hispanic immigrants continued to come to the town due to the available farm work jobs and the small town lifestyle.
Education
Public education is provided by the Wapato School DistrictWapato School District
Wapato School District 207 is a public school district based in Wapato, Yakima County, Washington, United States. In the 2010-2011 school year the district had an enrollment of approximately 3,300 students. The student body is culturally diverse: 71.9% of the students are Hispanic and 19.7% are...
, also known as Wapato Public Schools, which operates six schools.