Basin City, Washington
Encyclopedia
Basin City is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Franklin County, Washington, United States. The population was 968 at the 2000 census.
. The new settlers to the area consisted primarily of young farmers from Idaho and Southwestern Oregon and World War II Veterans, who received preferential status on the purchase of federal lands that were sold as part of the Project. Early crops included sugar beets, alfalfa, corn, asparagus, wheat and barley. Later, potatoes, beans, carrots, and onions also became important, while sugar beet production stopped due to closure of a local sugar beet plant. A large number of orchards were planted and the area is now a major supplier of the famous Washington Apples. Cherries and other fruits are also produced locally.
about 25 miles to the southwest on the opposite side of the Columbia River. However, from the top of nearby Basin Hill it is possible to see Mount Rainier
, which lies approximately 125 miles to the West in the Cascade Mountains. A small lake, called Bailie's Lake, formed by irrigation runoff lies to the northwest of town and provides opportunities for fishing and hunting.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²), all of it land. Although the CDP itself is quite small, it serves as the heart of a much larger agricultural community extending for miles in all directions.
, and 22.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 76.14% of the population.
There were 219 households out of which 68.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.7% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 6.4% were non-families. 4.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.42 and the average family size was 4.41.
In the CDP the age distribution of the population shows 43.6% under the age of 18, 13.9% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 10.4% from 45 to 64, and 2.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 20 years. For every 100 females there were 110.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 114.1 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $29,444, and the median income for a family was $31,071. Males had a median income of $23,438 versus $21,071 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $8,461. About 22.9% of families and 18.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.1% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in Franklin County, Washington, United States. The population was 968 at the 2000 census.
History
The town of Basin City was laid out in the 1950s on land owned by dry-land farmer Loen Bailey. The town was established to support the local agricultural community which was being opened to irrigation through the Columbia Basin ProjectColumbia Basin Project
The Columbia Basin Project in Central Washington, USA, is the irrigation network that the Grand Coulee Dam makes possible. It is the largest water reclamation project in the United States, supplying irrigation water to over of the large project area, all of which was originally intended to be...
. The new settlers to the area consisted primarily of young farmers from Idaho and Southwestern Oregon and World War II Veterans, who received preferential status on the purchase of federal lands that were sold as part of the Project. Early crops included sugar beets, alfalfa, corn, asparagus, wheat and barley. Later, potatoes, beans, carrots, and onions also became important, while sugar beet production stopped due to closure of a local sugar beet plant. A large number of orchards were planted and the area is now a major supplier of the famous Washington Apples. Cherries and other fruits are also produced locally.
Geography
Basin City is located at 46°35′29"N 119°8′58"W (46.591416, -119.149325). As the name implies, it lies in a basin. The land west of the town slopes gradually downward for about 2 miles then rises abruptly by about 300 feet (100 m) at Basin Hill. Basin Hill extends about 5–6 miles southwest of town to the Columbia River, where it forms the southern extent of the "White Bluffs" for which the town of White Bluffs was named. It also extends 5–6 miles to the north, where it is called Sage Hill and then rises a bit higher at Radar Hill, named for an old World War II Radar base installed at the peak. A little further to the northwest lie the Saddle Mountains. The tallest peak visible from Basin City is Rattlesnake MountainRattlesnake Mountain, Benton County, Washington
Rattlesnake Mountain is a 3,527 ft windswept treeless sub-alpine ridge overlooking the Hanford nuclear site...
about 25 miles to the southwest on the opposite side of the Columbia River. However, from the top of nearby Basin Hill it is possible to see Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier is a massive stratovolcano located southeast of Seattle in the state of Washington, United States. It is the most topographically prominent mountain in the contiguous United States and the Cascade Volcanic Arc, with a summit elevation of . Mt. Rainier is considered one of the most...
, which lies approximately 125 miles to the West in the Cascade Mountains. A small lake, called Bailie's Lake, formed by irrigation runoff lies to the northwest of town and provides opportunities for fishing and hunting.
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 CDP has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²), all of it land. Although the CDP itself is quite small, it serves as the heart of a much larger agricultural community extending for miles in all directions.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 968 people, 219 households, and 204 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 302.0 people per square mile (116.4/km²). There were 221 housing units at an average density of 69.0/sq mi (26.6/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 55.68% White, 0.62% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 20.76% 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 22.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 76.14% of the population.
There were 219 households out of which 68.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.7% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 6.4% were non-families. 4.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.42 and the average family size was 4.41.
In the CDP the age distribution of the population shows 43.6% under the age of 18, 13.9% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 10.4% from 45 to 64, and 2.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 20 years. For every 100 females there were 110.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 114.1 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $29,444, and the median income for a family was $31,071. Males had a median income of $23,438 versus $21,071 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 CDP was $8,461. About 22.9% of families and 18.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.1% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.