Fife, Washington
Encyclopedia
Fife is a city in Pierce County
, Washington, United States
. The population was 9,173 at the 2010 census.
It is a small city located east of Tacoma
and consists primarily of businesses such as car dealerships and other highwayside businesses. Fife Heights, located on a hill beyond the incorporated bounds of the city, is a primarily residential area.
Due to the increased traffic volume traveling from Puyallup and Tacoma, Fife felt the need to establish itself as autonomous community, not just as an intermediate area between Interstate 5
(I-5) and State Route 167.
Fife may have been named for William J. Fife, a prominent Tacoma lawyer, Yukon prospector, once head of the Washington National Guard, and a Lieutenant Colonel in the field during the Philippine Insurrection.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 5.7 square miles (14.7 km²), of which, 5.6 square miles (14.4 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (1.59%) is water.
Fife is also a tideflat community, residing in the low, flat area extending from the Port of Tacoma. This means the water table
occurs only 10–15 feet below ground in some parts. Consequently, during the day as the tide rises and falls in the Puget Sound
, so do parts of land slightly rise and fall.
of 2000, there were 4,784 people, 2,111 households, and 1,123 families residing in the city. The population density
was 859.7 people per square mile (332.2/km²). There were 2,232 housing units at an average density of 401.1 per square mile (155.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 68.62% White, 6.81% African American, 4.14% Native American, 6.50% Asian, 1.23% Pacific Islander, 6.94% from other races
, and 5.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.55% of the population.
There were 2,111 households out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.4% were married couples
living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.8% were non-families. 37.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 14.4% from 18 to 24, 34.9% from 25 to 44, 17.3% from 45 to 64, and 7.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 106.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,806, and the median income for a family was $36,250. Males had a median income of $30,963 versus $25,101 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,723. About 12.6% of families and 14.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.8% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.
serve both the cities of Fife and Milton
, as well as pockets of Edgewood
, and Federal Way
. Fife has one high school, Fife High School
.
Pierce County, Washington
right|thumb|[[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]] - Seat of Pierce CountyPierce County is the second most populous county in the U.S. state of Washington. Formed out of Thurston County on December 22, 1852, by the legislature of Oregon Territory...
, Washington, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 9,173 at the 2010 census.
History
In 1940, it was described as "Fife...at a valley crossroads in the midst of a thickly settled berry growing and truck-gardening district is represented by a string of markets, taverns, shops, and a large, balloon-roofed dance hall along the highway." The 1940 population was 135. (Washington - A guide to the Evergreen State, WPA American Guide Series, Washington State Historical Society, 1941). Fife was officially incorporated on February 11, 1957.It is a small city located east of Tacoma
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
and consists primarily of businesses such as car dealerships and other highwayside businesses. Fife Heights, located on a hill beyond the incorporated bounds of the city, is a primarily residential area.
Due to the increased traffic volume traveling from Puyallup and Tacoma, Fife felt the need to establish itself as autonomous community, not just as an intermediate area between Interstate 5
Interstate 5 in Washington
Interstate 5 in Washington is a highway in the U.S. state of Washington that extends from its border with Oregon to its border with Canada...
(I-5) and State Route 167.
Fife may have been named for William J. Fife, a prominent Tacoma lawyer, Yukon prospector, once head of the Washington National Guard, and a Lieutenant Colonel in the field during the Philippine Insurrection.
Geography
Fife is located at 47°14′4"N 122°21′35"W (47.234439, -122.359690).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 5.7 square miles (14.7 km²), of which, 5.6 square miles (14.4 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (1.59%) is water.
Fife is also a tideflat community, residing in the low, flat area extending from the Port of Tacoma. This means the water table
Water table
The water table is the level at which the submarine pressure is far from atmospheric pressure. It may be conveniently visualized as the 'surface' of the subsurface materials that are saturated with groundwater in a given vicinity. However, saturated conditions may extend above the water table as...
occurs only 10–15 feet below ground in some parts. Consequently, during the day as the tide rises and falls in the Puget Sound
Puget Sound
Puget Sound is a sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins, with one major and one minor connection to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean — Admiralty Inlet being the major connection and...
, so do parts of land slightly rise and fall.
Surrounding cities
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 4,784 people, 2,111 households, and 1,123 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 859.7 people per square mile (332.2/km²). There were 2,232 housing units at an average density of 401.1 per square mile (155.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 68.62% White, 6.81% African American, 4.14% Native American, 6.50% Asian, 1.23% Pacific Islander, 6.94% 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 5.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.55% of the population.
There were 2,111 households out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.4% 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, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.8% were non-families. 37.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 14.4% from 18 to 24, 34.9% from 25 to 44, 17.3% from 45 to 64, and 7.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 106.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,806, and the median income for a family was $36,250. Males had a median income of $30,963 versus $25,101 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 $16,723. About 12.6% of families and 14.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.8% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The Fife Public SchoolsFife Public Schools
Fife Public Schools is a school district in Fife, Washington, United States. The district was established on December 22, 1899.Fife Schools is a member of the Standard Bearer Network founded by the which is a non-profit organization that helps schools and districts to transform by emphasizing...
serve both the cities of Fife and Milton
Milton, Washington
Milton is a city in King and Pierce counties in the U.S. state of Washington. The population was 6,968 at the 2010 census. Milton borders the larger but younger town of Edgewood...
, as well as pockets of Edgewood
Edgewood, Washington
Edgewood is a city in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 9,387 at the 2010 census. Neighboring towns include Milton to the northwest, Federal Way to the north, and Puyallup to the south.-History:...
, and Federal Way
Federal Way, Washington
Federal Way is a city in King County, Washington, United States. Federal Way is located between Seattle and Tacoma. Its western boundary is Puget Sound. It is bordered by Des Moines on the north, Kent, unincorporated King County, and Milton on the east and Tacoma and Fife on the south...
. Fife has one high school, Fife High School
Fife High School
Fife High School is located in the town of Fife, Washington. FHS is the only high school in the Fife Public Schools system.-History:Fife High School initially consisted of the upper grades of the general Fife School, founded in 1899. The high school was officially separated from the lower grades in...
.
Notable natives
- Dr. Mark EmmertMark EmmertMark A. Emmert, Ph.D., was named president of the NCAA on April 27, 2010. He is the fifth CEO of the NCAA; he assumed his duties on 1 November 2010. Emmert was previously the 30th president of the University of Washington, his alma mater, taking office in June 2004, becoming the first alumnus in...
, former President, University of WashingtonUniversity of WashingtonUniversity of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
and currently President of the National Collegiate Athletic Association