Winthrop, Washington
Encyclopedia
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. Winthrop and Mazama recorded the coldest temperature ever measured in Washington state at on December 30, 1968.
Winthrop was officially incorporated on March 12, 1924.
Native Americans
were the first inhabitants of Winthrop. They lived along the banks of the Methow
, Twisp and Chewuch rivers, digging camas root, picking berries, fishing and hunting. The first white men to visit the valley were trappers in the 1800s.
In the spring of 1868, placer gold was discovered in the Slate Creek District.
In 1883, the lure of gold
brought the first permanent white settlers, three of which were James Ramsey, Ben Pearrygin and Guy Waring. Waring stopped at the forks of the Chewuch and Methow rivers in 1891. His family settled into the "Castle" now the Shafer Museum. Although Waring is the acclaimed founding father, the town is named after Theodore Winthrop
, a Yale
graduate, adventurer/traveler and gifted 19th century author. The town was rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1893. Waring's original Duck Brand Saloon was built in 1891. It survived the fire and is now Winthrop's Town Hall.
In 1894, a flood carried away the bridge at the north fork of the river at Winthrop. Colonel Tom Hart rebuilt the bridge in 1895 at Slate Creek. The industry of Winthrop at this time consists of a well-equipped saw mill, several important dairies, raising cattle, and supplying the local mines with goods.
Owen Wister
, Waring's Harvard roommate, wrote The Virginian
, American's first western novel, after honey-mooning in Winthrop.
By 1915, most of the mines, except for a few in the Slate Creek area, had shut down.
In 1972, when State Highway 20 was nearing completion over the North Cascades, several business people began planning for travelers passing through the town. They agreed to the idea of a western-themed restoration which still exists.
Winthrop is known for the American Old West
design of all the buildings in town, making it a popular tourist destination. The town theme idea was inspired by the example of Leavenworth, Washington
, which in turn was heavily based on Solvang, California
. Winthrop is a popular cross-country skiing site, with over 100 miles of groomed trails. Other popular activities include rock climbing, hiking, mountain biking, river rafting, horse-back riding, hunting and fishing, golfing, spectacular sight-seeing and other outdoor activities.
Events include the Winthrop Rhythm and Blues Festival, the Methow Valley Chamber Music Festival, live theatre and many art galleries.
Winthrop is home to the oldest legal saloon in Washington state.
The North Cascades National Park
-- with its pristine forests and stunning views—borders to the west.
A smokejumper
base is also nearby, located between Winthrop and the nearby town of Twisp
.
, the town has a total area of 516.71 square miles (831.5 km²), all of it land. Winthrop has a lake, called Pearrygin Lake, that is a popular swimming hole as well.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 1,916 people, 1,906 households, and 472 families residing in the town. The population density
was 4 people per square mile (6.4/km²). There were 1,558 housing units at an average density of 3.0 per square mile (4.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.28% White, 0.29% African American, 0.29% Asian, and 1.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.87% of the population.
There were 185 households out of which 23.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.0% were married couples
living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.4% were non-families. 40.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.89 and the average family size was 2.50.
In the town the population was spread out with 20.1% under the age of 18, 3.4% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 33.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 83.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $25,417, and the median income for a family was $33,333. Males had a median income of $31,389 versus $23,750 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,649. About 16.3% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.3% of those under age 18 and 10.1% 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...
. It is east of Mazama
Mazama, Washington
Mazama is a small village nestled in the Methow Valley of the Methow River in the eastern part of Washington. It is 14 miles northwest of Winthrop and about 28 miles from the Canadian border....
and north of Twisp
Twisp, Washington
Twisp is a town in Okanogan County, Washington, United States. The population was 938 at the 2000 census and decreased to 919 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Twisp is located at ....
. 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. Winthrop and Mazama recorded the coldest temperature ever measured in Washington state at on December 30, 1968.
History
Native Americans
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
were the first inhabitants of Winthrop. They lived along the banks of the Methow
Methow River
The Methow River is a tributary of the Columbia River in northern Washington in the United States. The river's watershed is , with a population of about 5,000 people. The Methow's watershed is characterized by relatively pristine habitats, with much of the river basin is located in national forests...
, Twisp and Chewuch rivers, digging camas root, picking berries, fishing and hunting. The first white men to visit the valley were trappers in the 1800s.
In the spring of 1868, placer gold was discovered in the Slate Creek District.
In 1883, the lure of gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
brought the first permanent white settlers, three of which were James Ramsey, Ben Pearrygin and Guy Waring. Waring stopped at the forks of the Chewuch and Methow rivers in 1891. His family settled into the "Castle" now the Shafer Museum. Although Waring is the acclaimed founding father, the town is named after Theodore Winthrop
Theodore Winthrop
Theodore Winthrop was a writer, lawyer, and world traveller. He was one of the first Union officers killed in the American Civil War.-Biography:...
, a Yale
YALE
RapidMiner, formerly YALE , is an environment for machine learning, data mining, text mining, predictive analytics, and business analytics. It is used for research, education, training, rapid prototyping, application development, and industrial applications...
graduate, adventurer/traveler and gifted 19th century author. The town was rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1893. Waring's original Duck Brand Saloon was built in 1891. It survived the fire and is now Winthrop's Town Hall.
In 1894, a flood carried away the bridge at the north fork of the river at Winthrop. Colonel Tom Hart rebuilt the bridge in 1895 at Slate Creek. The industry of Winthrop at this time consists of a well-equipped saw mill, several important dairies, raising cattle, and supplying the local mines with goods.
Owen Wister
Owen Wister
Owen Wister was an American writer and "father" of western fiction.-Early life:Owen Wister was born on July 14, 1860, in Germantown, a well-known neighborhood in the northwestern part of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His father, Owen Jones Wister, was a wealthy physician, one of a long line of...
, Waring's Harvard roommate, wrote The Virginian
The Virginian (novel)
This page is about the novel, for other uses see The Virginian .The Virginian is a pioneering 1902 novel set in the Wild West by the American author Owen Wister...
, American's first western novel, after honey-mooning in Winthrop.
By 1915, most of the mines, except for a few in the Slate Creek area, had shut down.
In 1972, when State Highway 20 was nearing completion over the North Cascades, several business people began planning for travelers passing through the town. They agreed to the idea of a western-themed restoration which still exists.
Local attractions
American Old West
The American Old West, or the Wild West, comprises the history, geography, people, lore, and cultural expression of life in the Western United States, most often referring to the latter half of the 19th century, between the American Civil War and the end of the century...
design of all the buildings in town, making it a popular tourist destination. The town theme idea was inspired by the example of Leavenworth, Washington
Leavenworth, Washington
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 Bavarian village.-History:...
, which in turn was heavily based on 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...
. Winthrop is a popular cross-country skiing site, with over 100 miles of groomed trails. Other popular activities include rock climbing, hiking, mountain biking, river rafting, horse-back riding, hunting and fishing, golfing, spectacular sight-seeing and other outdoor activities.
Events include the Winthrop Rhythm and Blues Festival, the Methow Valley Chamber Music Festival, live theatre and many art galleries.
Winthrop is home to the oldest legal saloon in Washington state.
The North Cascades National Park
North Cascades National Park
North Cascades National Park is a U.S. National Park located in the state of Washington. The park is the largest of the three National Park Service units that comprise the North Cascades National Park Service Complex. Several national wilderness areas and British Columbia parkland adjoin the...
-- with its pristine forests and stunning views—borders to the west.
A smokejumper
Smokejumper
A smokejumper is a wildland firefighter who parachutes into a remote area to combat wildfires.Smokejumpers are most often deployed to fires that are extremely remote. The risks associated with this method of personnel deployment are mitigated by an extremely well developed training program that has...
base is also nearby, located between Winthrop and the nearby town of Twisp
Twisp, Washington
Twisp is a town in Okanogan County, Washington, United States. The population was 938 at the 2000 census and decreased to 919 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Twisp is located at ....
.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 town has a total area of 516.71 square miles (831.5 km²), all of it land. Winthrop has a lake, called Pearrygin Lake, that is a popular swimming hole as well.
Demographics
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 1,916 people, 1,906 households, and 472 families residing in the town. 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 4 people per square mile (6.4/km²). There were 1,558 housing units at an average density of 3.0 per square mile (4.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.28% White, 0.29% African American, 0.29% Asian, and 1.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.87% of the population.
There were 185 households out of which 23.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.0% 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, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.4% were non-families. 40.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.89 and the average family size was 2.50.
In the town the population was spread out with 20.1% under the age of 18, 3.4% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 33.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 83.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $25,417, and the median income for a family was $33,333. Males had a median income of $31,389 versus $23,750 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 town was $17,649. About 16.3% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.3% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.