Index, Washington
Encyclopedia
Index is a town in Snohomish County, Washington
, United States. The population was 178 at the 2010 census.
and Index. They spoke Lushootseed
; fishing the Skykomish River
was an important part of their economy.
Logging and lumber
booms in the latter half of the 19th century led to the growth of minor settlements in the eastern part of what became Snohomish County in 1861. A gold strike in 1889 at nearby Monte Cristo
fueled another influx of prospectors and settlers. The town is named for nearby Mount Index
.
Index was officially incorporated on October 11, 1907.
is located 3 miles (4.8 km) south of the town. The Index Town Walls, granite cliffs up to 500 feet (152.4 m) high, are located on the north edge of the town. These walls are a major destination for rock climbing
, and are especially well known for a variety of high-quality cracks for climbing. According to the United States Census Bureau
, Index has a total area of 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²), all of it land.
Index is located on the North Fork Skykomish River, just above its confluence with the main channel of the Skykomish River
. The Skykomish River's Sunset Falls
, a nearly 300 feet (91.4 m) granite chute that drops some 100 feet (30.5 m), is located approximately 1 miles (1.6 km) from the town (though on the South Fork Skykomish River).
The town is located 1 miles (1.6 km) north of US Highway 2, approximately 25 miles (40.2 km) west of Stevens Pass
. The BNSF
railroad, formerly the Great Northern Railway, runs through the middle of the town. And was once an important stop for the mining (particularly Monte Cristo
and Gelena) and timber activities north of its location.
As of the 2000 census, there were 75 households, out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.7% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.0% were non-families. 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09, and the average family size was 2.67.
In the town the population was spread out, with 22.3% under the age of 18, 3.2% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 37.6% from 45 to 64, and 7.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 103.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $43,125, and the median income for a family was $32,000. Males had a median income of $32,500 versus $13,750 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $22,023. About 17.5% of families and 16.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.3% of those under the age of 18 and none of those 65 or over.
Snohomish County, Washington
Snohomish County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. It is named after the Snohomish tribe. Since 2000, the county's population has grown from 606,024 to 713,335 residents , making it one of the fastest-growing in the state, ranking third in overall population after King and...
, United States. The population was 178 at the 2010 census.
History
Prior to settlement by westerners, the Skykomish Indians lived in the area between SultanSultan, Washington
Sultan is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States, located where the Sultan River flows into the Skykomish. The population was 4,651 at the 2010 census. There is an annual 3-day street fair held in July, known as the 'Sultan Shindig'...
and Index. They spoke Lushootseed
Lushootseed
Lushootseed is the language or dialect continuum of several SalishNative American groups of modern-day Washington state...
; fishing the Skykomish River
Skykomish River
The Skykomish River is a Washington river which drains the west side of the Cascade Mountains in the southeast section of Snohomish County and the northeast corner of King County. The river starts with the confluence of the North Fork Skykomish River and South Fork Skykomish River approximately one...
was an important part of their economy.
Logging and lumber
Logging
Logging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...
booms in the latter half of the 19th century led to the growth of minor settlements in the eastern part of what became Snohomish County in 1861. A gold strike in 1889 at nearby Monte Cristo
Monte Cristo, Washington
Monte Cristo is a ghost town northwest of Monte Cristo Peak, in eastern Snohomish County in western Washington.Prospecting in the region began in the Skykomish River drainage with the Old Cady Trail used for access. In 1882 Elisha Hubbard improved the trail up the North Fork Skykomish, from Index...
fueled another influx of prospectors and settlers. The town is named for nearby Mount Index
Mount Index
Mount Index is a peak in the central part of the Cascade Range of Washington state. It lies just south of the Skykomish River and U.S. Route 2, at the western edge of the Cascades. Despite its relatively low elevation, it is a famous and dramatic landmark, as it comprises three pointed spires which...
.
Index was officially incorporated on October 11, 1907.
Geography
Index is located in the western foothills of the Cascade Mountains; the summit of Mount IndexMount Index
Mount Index is a peak in the central part of the Cascade Range of Washington state. It lies just south of the Skykomish River and U.S. Route 2, at the western edge of the Cascades. Despite its relatively low elevation, it is a famous and dramatic landmark, as it comprises three pointed spires which...
is located 3 miles (4.8 km) south of the town. The Index Town Walls, granite cliffs up to 500 feet (152.4 m) high, are located on the north edge of the town. These walls are a major destination for rock climbing
Rock climbing
Rock climbing also lightly called 'The Gravity Game', is a sport in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route without falling...
, and are especially well known for a variety of high-quality cracks for climbing. 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...
, Index has a total area of 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²), all of it land.
Index is located on the North Fork Skykomish River, just above its confluence with the main channel of the Skykomish River
Skykomish River
The Skykomish River is a Washington river which drains the west side of the Cascade Mountains in the southeast section of Snohomish County and the northeast corner of King County. The river starts with the confluence of the North Fork Skykomish River and South Fork Skykomish River approximately one...
. The Skykomish River's Sunset Falls
Sunset Falls
Sunset Falls is the final of the three waterfalls on the South Fork Skykomish River. The falls drop in a long, narrow, powerful chute. The river is thought to attain speeds of an hour and the chute is nearly long...
, a nearly 300 feet (91.4 m) granite chute that drops some 100 feet (30.5 m), is located approximately 1 miles (1.6 km) from the town (though on the South Fork Skykomish River).
The town is located 1 miles (1.6 km) north of US Highway 2, approximately 25 miles (40.2 km) west of Stevens Pass
Stevens Pass
Stevens Pass is a mountain pass through the Cascade Mountains located at the border of King County and Chelan County in Washington, United States....
. The BNSF
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
railroad, formerly the Great Northern Railway, runs through the middle of the town. And was once an important stop for the mining (particularly Monte Cristo
Monte Cristo, Washington
Monte Cristo is a ghost town northwest of Monte Cristo Peak, in eastern Snohomish County in western Washington.Prospecting in the region began in the Skykomish River drainage with the Old Cady Trail used for access. In 1882 Elisha Hubbard improved the trail up the North Fork Skykomish, from Index...
and Gelena) and timber activities north of its location.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 157 people, 75 households, and 39 families residing in the town. The population density was 620.3 people per square mile (242.5/km2). There were 100 housing units at an average density of 395.1 per square mile (154.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 95.54% White, 1.27% Native American, 1.27% Asian, and 1.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.91% of the population.As of the 2000 census, there were 75 households, out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.7% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.0% were non-families. 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09, and the average family size was 2.67.
In the town the population was spread out, with 22.3% under the age of 18, 3.2% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 37.6% from 45 to 64, and 7.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 103.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $43,125, and the median income for a family was $32,000. Males had a median income of $32,500 versus $13,750 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 $22,023. About 17.5% of families and 16.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.3% of those under the age of 18 and none of those 65 or over.
External links
- History of Index at HistoryLinkHistoryLinkHistoryLink is a website that is an encyclopedia of Washington State history. The site has more than 4,500 stories. There are 500 biographies and more than 14,000 images....
- University of Washington Libraries Digital Collections – Lee Pickett Photographs Over 1400 photographs documenting scenes from Snohomish, King and Chelan Counties in Washington State from the early 1900s to the 1940s. Includes images of the town of Index.
- The Peoples Website to The Town of Index
- The Town of Index Blog
- The Town of Index Forums