Kalama, Washington
Encyclopedia
Kalama is a city in Cowlitz County, Washington
, United States. It is part of the 'Longview, Washington
Metropolitan Statistical Area'. The population was 2,344 at the 2010 census.
from Goble, Oregon
. This was a critical link in rail service between 1883 when the service began until 1909 when the major rail bridges in Portland
were completed. Kalama originated with a stake driven by Gen. John W. Sprague
of the Northern Pacific Railway who in March 1870 selected a spot near the mouth of the Kalama river to mark the beginning point of Northern Pacific's Pacific Division. From that stake, the Northern Pacific began building north to Puget Sound
, ultimately getting to Commencement Bay at what was to become Tacoma before going bankrupt. Construction began in April 1871 with a crew of 800 men, with the official 'first spike' being driven in May 1871 Scheduled service from Tacoma to Kalama began on January 5, 1874. The Portland-Hunters line was completed about the same time that the ceremonial spike was driven west of Helena, Montana
to mark the completion of the transcontinental Northern Pacific Railroad in the fall of 1883. The following year in October 1884, a 3 track, 360 feet (109.7 m) long railroad ferry marked the beginning of 25 years of ferry service across the Columbia River.
Hunters was located near the south end of Sandy Island about a mile south of Goble. However the crossing times were excessive when the Tacoma had to work against the tide, and the ferry slip was soon moved to Goble at the north end of Sandy Island and directly across from Kalama. The ferry could handle 12 passenger cars or 27 freight cars.
Today, Kalama continues to thrive amidst a surge of new home building. Downtown consists of many original and renovated buildings containing antique shops, gift boutiques, a grocery store, feed store and other merchants.
is a house built in 1908 on old Cowlitz Indian lands. It is considered haunted and featured in a 2009 feature film documentary called "Montgomery House: The Perfect Hauting" by acclaimed psychic and medium Danielle Egnew
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 8.3 square miles (6.0 km²), of which, 2.3 square miles (5.9 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (1.30%) is water.
Highway access to Kalama is provided by Exit 30 from I-5. The industrial district is along the river front while the business district is on the east side of I-5. Residential areas are up the hill to the east and on the cliffs above town, portions of which have dramatic views overlooking the Columbia River. The busy Portland-Seattle rail connection parallels I-5 to the west on double tracks (or more) all the way through town.
, and 1.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.51% of the population. 17.1% were of German, 8.3% Irish, 7.8% American, 7.5% English, 7.2% Norwegian and 5.0% Finnish ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 732 households out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 23.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 27.0% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $38,152, and the median income for a family was $45,342. Males had a median income of $41,058 versus $25,521 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $19,592. About 10.5% of families and 13.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.3% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.
Cowlitz County, Washington
Cowlitz County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2010 census its population was 102,410. It forms the Longview, Washington, Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Cowlitz County. The county seat is at Kelso, and its largest city is Longview...
, United States. It is part of the 'Longview, Washington
Longview, Washington
Longview is a city in Cowlitz County, Washington, United States. It is the principal city of the "Longview, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area", which encompasses all of Cowlitz County. Longview's population was 36,648 at the time of the 2010 census and is the largest city in Cowlitz County...
Metropolitan Statistical Area'. The population was 2,344 at the 2010 census.
History
Kalama was unofficially incorporated on November 29, 1871. It was named after the nearby Kalama River which took its name from a Native Hawaiian named John Kalama. Kalama was the northern terminus of a railroad ferry operated by the Northern Pacific RailwayNorthern Pacific Railway
The Northern Pacific Railway was a railway that operated in the west along the Canadian border of the United States. Construction began in 1870 and the main line opened all the way from the Great Lakes to the Pacific when former president Ulysses S. Grant drove in the final "golden spike" in...
from Goble, Oregon
Goble, Oregon
Goble is an unincorporated community in Columbia County, Oregon, United States. It is located on U.S. Route 30 and the Columbia River.-History:The Goble area was most likely a stop for the Lewis and Clark Expedition....
. This was a critical link in rail service between 1883 when the service began until 1909 when the major rail bridges in Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
were completed. Kalama originated with a stake driven by Gen. John W. Sprague
John W. Sprague
John Wilson Sprague was an American soldier and railroad executive. He served as a general in the Union Army in the Western Theater of operations during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry at the Battle of Decatur during the Atlanta Campaign...
of the Northern Pacific Railway who in March 1870 selected a spot near the mouth of the Kalama river to mark the beginning point of Northern Pacific's Pacific Division. From that stake, the Northern Pacific began building north to 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...
, ultimately getting to Commencement Bay at what was to become Tacoma before going bankrupt. Construction began in April 1871 with a crew of 800 men, with the official 'first spike' being driven in May 1871 Scheduled service from Tacoma to Kalama began on January 5, 1874. The Portland-Hunters line was completed about the same time that the ceremonial spike was driven west of Helena, Montana
Helena, Montana
Helena is the capital city of the U.S. state of Montana and the county seat of Lewis and Clark County. The 2010 census put the population at 28,180. The local daily newspaper is the Independent Record. The Helena Brewers minor league baseball and Helena Bighorns minor league hockey team call the...
to mark the completion of the transcontinental Northern Pacific Railroad in the fall of 1883. The following year in October 1884, a 3 track, 360 feet (109.7 m) long railroad ferry marked the beginning of 25 years of ferry service across the Columbia River.
Hunters was located near the south end of Sandy Island about a mile south of Goble. However the crossing times were excessive when the Tacoma had to work against the tide, and the ferry slip was soon moved to Goble at the north end of Sandy Island and directly across from Kalama. The ferry could handle 12 passenger cars or 27 freight cars.
Today, Kalama continues to thrive amidst a surge of new home building. Downtown consists of many original and renovated buildings containing antique shops, gift boutiques, a grocery store, feed store and other merchants.
Montgomery House Bed and Breakfast
The Montgomery House Bed and BreakfastMontgomery House Bed and Breakfast
Reported to be one of the most haunted locations in Kalama, Washington, by townsfolk and former occupants, Montgomery House Bed and Breakfast was built in 1908 on former Cowlitz Indian land in Kalama, Washington , a logging town along the Columbia River now known for its antiques...
is a house built in 1908 on old Cowlitz Indian lands. It is considered haunted and featured in a 2009 feature film documentary called "Montgomery House: The Perfect Hauting" by acclaimed psychic and medium Danielle Egnew
Danielle Egnew
Danielle Egnew is a psychic, musician, actress, media personality, and activist known in the areas of music, film, radio and television for both performing and producing in all four genres...
.
Geography
Kalama is located in 46°0′31"N 122°50′33"W (46.008523, -122.842469).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 8.3 square miles (6.0 km²), of which, 2.3 square miles (5.9 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (1.30%) is water.
Highway access to Kalama is provided by Exit 30 from I-5. The industrial district is along the river front while the business district is on the east side of I-5. Residential areas are up the hill to the east and on the cliffs above town, portions of which have dramatic views overlooking the Columbia River. The busy Portland-Seattle rail connection parallels I-5 to the west on double tracks (or more) all the way through town.
Demographics
As of the census of 1992, there were 1,783 people, 732 households, and 502 families residing in the city. The population density was 783.3 people per square mile (301.9/km²). There were 800 housing units at an average density of 351.4 per square mile (135.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.96% White, 0.73% African American, 0.90% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.28% 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 1.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.51% of the population. 17.1% were of German, 8.3% Irish, 7.8% American, 7.5% English, 7.2% Norwegian and 5.0% Finnish ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 732 households out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 23.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 27.0% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $38,152, and the median income for a family was $45,342. Males had a median income of $41,058 versus $25,521 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 $19,592. About 10.5% of families and 13.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.3% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.