La Conner, Washington
Encyclopedia
La Conner is a town in Skagit County, Washington
, United States with a population of 891 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Mount Vernon
–Anacortes
, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area. In the month of April, the town annually hosts the majority of the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival events. The center of town, roughly bounded by Second, Morris and Commercial Streets and the Swinomish Channel
, is a historic district and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²), of which, 0.4 square miles (1.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (15.69%) is water.
, and 2.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.18% of the population.
There were 372 households in which 21.8% had children under the age of 12 living with them, 43.8% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 41.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.05 and the average family size was 2.79.
In the town the age distribution of the population shows 20.1% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 29.4% from 45 to 64, and 21.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 82.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $42,344, and the median income for a family was $52,083. Males had a median income of $40,074 versus $26,875 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $24,308. About 8.8% of families and 11.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.3% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.
Community, the Swinomish reservation, and the city of Anacortes. The center of town—roughly bounded by 2nd, Morris and Commercial Sts., and Swinomish Channel—is a historic district, listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Also on the NRHP is the Bethsaida Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church Parsonage east of town.
is a long-time resident of La Conner. Many of his books, most notably Another Roadside Attraction
, have chapters set in the vicinity.
Pacific Northwest photographer Art Hupy
(1924–2003) settled in La Conner in 1977 and founded the Museum of Northwest Art
in 1981. Many influential Northwest artists including Guy Anderson, Clayton James, and Barbara Straker James have close ties to La Conner.
Joe Shell
(born in La Conner in 1918) is a former member and floor leader of the California State Assembly
and was the intraparty opponent of Richard M. Nixon for the California
Republican
gubernatorial nomination
in 1962. His father was an Indian agent
at the time on the Swinomish reservation.
Each spring, La Conner attracts tens of thousands of visitors to view a wide array of tulips. Also, it hosts the Arts Alive! show during the first weekend of November, where local artists display and sell their artwork.
The town is also famous for its many wild turkey
s. In 2005, the town named the wild turkey as their "Official Town Bird." On August 8, 2006, however, a debate was heard in town council about whether the birds should be removed because of nuisance complaints about noise, fecal matter, and ingestion of garden materials. As of October 2010, the town council declared the turkeys to be a nuisance and have since taken action to have them removed from the town limits.
. Kenmare
, Ireland Olga, Russia
San Rafael del Sur
, Nicaragua
Skagit County, Washington
Skagit County is a county in the U.S. state of Washington. It is named after the Skagit Indian tribe. As of 2010, the population was 116,901. It is included in the Mount Vernon-Anacortes, Washington, Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, United States with a population of 891 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon, Washington
Mount Vernon is a city in Skagit County, Washington, United States. The population was 31,743 at the 2010 census. It is one of two principal cities of and included in the Mount Vernon-Anacortes, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is the county seat of Skagit County...
–Anacortes
Anacortes, Washington
Anacortes is a city in Skagit County, Washington, United States. The name "Anacortes" is a consolidation of the name Anna Curtis, who was the wife of early Fidalgo Island settler Amos Bowman. Anacortes' population was 15,778 at the time of the 2010 census...
, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area. In the month of April, the town annually hosts the majority of the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival events. The center of town, roughly bounded by Second, Morris and Commercial Streets and the Swinomish Channel
Swinomish Channel
The Swinomish Channel is a salt-water channel in Washington state, United States, which connects Skagit Bay, to the south, and Padilla Bay, to the north....
, is a historic district and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
History
La Conner was first settled in May 1867 by Alonzo Low and was then known by its post office name, Swinomish. In 1869, J.S. Conner bought the settlement's trading post and in 1870 had the name changed to honor his wife, Louisa Ann Conner. The French-appearing "La" representing her first- and middle-initials. La Conner was once the county seat of Skagit County.Geography
La Conner is located at the coordinates 48°23′26"N 122°29′44"W (48.390495, -122.495646).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 town has a total area of 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²), of which, 0.4 square miles (1.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (15.69%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2006, there were 839 people, 372 households, and 196 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,746.7 people per square mile (667.8/km²). There were 434 housing units at an average density of 996.1 per square mile (380.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 90.80% White, 0.79% African American, 1.71% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 3.81% 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 2.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.18% of the population.
There were 372 households in which 21.8% had children under the age of 12 living with them, 43.8% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 41.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.05 and the average family size was 2.79.
In the town the age distribution of the population shows 20.1% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 29.4% from 45 to 64, and 21.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 82.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $42,344, and the median income for a family was $52,083. Males had a median income of $40,074 versus $26,875 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 $24,308. About 8.8% of families and 11.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.3% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.
Landmarks
La Conner's Rainbow bridge connects La Conner to Fidalgo Island which includes, the gated Shelter BayShelter Bay, Washington
Shelter Bay is a small community near La Conner, Washington.La Conner is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.3 km²...
Community, the Swinomish reservation, and the city of Anacortes. The center of town—roughly bounded by 2nd, Morris and Commercial Sts., and Swinomish Channel—is a historic district, listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Also on the NRHP is the Bethsaida Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church Parsonage east of town.
Notable natives
Author Tom RobbinsTom Robbins
Thomas Eugene "Tom" Robbins Thomas Eugene "Tom" Robbins Thomas Eugene "Tom" Robbins (born July 22, 1936 is an American author. His best-selling novels are serio-comic, often wildly poetic stories with a strong social and philosophical undercurrent, an irreverent bent, and scenes extrapolated from...
is a long-time resident of La Conner. Many of his books, most notably Another Roadside Attraction
Another Roadside Attraction
Another Roadside Attraction is Tom Robbins' first novel, published in 1971 by Doubleday, which initiated what has grown to be considered his cult following.-Plot summary:...
, have chapters set in the vicinity.
Pacific Northwest photographer Art Hupy
Art Hupy
Art Hupy was an American freelance commercial photographer noted for his images of architecture and artists from the Northwest School. Hupy also founded the Museum of Northwest Art.-Personal life:...
(1924–2003) settled in La Conner in 1977 and founded the Museum of Northwest Art
Museum of Northwest Art
The Museum of Northwest Art is an art museum located in La Conner, Washington, and is focused on the Northwest School art movement, which had its peak in the mid-20th century. The Museum was founded by Art Hupy in 1981....
in 1981. Many influential Northwest artists including Guy Anderson, Clayton James, and Barbara Straker James have close ties to La Conner.
Joe Shell
Joe Shell
Joseph Claude Shell, Sr. was an American oil producer and lobbyist who represented District 58 in the California State Assembly from 1953-1963. During 1961-62 he was the Assembly Republican Minority Leader...
(born in La Conner in 1918) is a former member and floor leader of the California State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
and was the intraparty opponent of Richard M. Nixon for the California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
gubernatorial nomination
Nomination
Nomination is part of the process of selecting a candidate for either election to an office, or the bestowing of an honor or award.In the context of elections for public office, a candidate who has been selected by a political party is normally said to be the nominee of that party...
in 1962. His father was an Indian agent
Indian agent
In United States history, an Indian agent was an individual authorized to interact with Native American tribes on behalf of the U.S. government.-Indian agents:*Leander Clark was agent for the Sac and Fox in Iowa beginning in 1866....
at the time on the Swinomish reservation.
Each spring, La Conner attracts tens of thousands of visitors to view a wide array of tulips. Also, it hosts the Arts Alive! show during the first weekend of November, where local artists display and sell their artwork.
The town is also famous for its many wild turkey
Wild Turkey
The Wild Turkey is native to North America and is the heaviest member of the Galliformes. It is the same species as the domestic turkey, which derives from the South Mexican subspecies of wild turkey .Adult wild turkeys have long reddish-yellow to grayish-green...
s. In 2005, the town named the wild turkey as their "Official Town Bird." On August 8, 2006, however, a debate was heard in town council about whether the birds should be removed because of nuisance complaints about noise, fecal matter, and ingestion of garden materials. As of October 2010, the town council declared the turkeys to be a nuisance and have since taken action to have them removed from the town limits.
Sister cities
La Conner has the following sister citiesTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
. Kenmare
Kenmare
Kenmare is a small town in the south of County Kerry, Ireland. The name Kenmare is the anglicised form of Ceann Mara meaning "head of the sea", referring to the head of Kenmare Bay.-Location:...
, Ireland Olga, Russia
Olga, Russia
Olga is an urban locality and the administrative center of Olginsky District of Primorsky Krai, Russia, situated on the Olga Bay of the Sea of Japan, northeast of Nakhodka. Population:...
San Rafael del Sur
San Rafael del Sur
San Rafael del Sur is a municipality in the Managua department of Nicaragua.-Twin towns: Berlin Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, Germany...
, Nicaragua