Morton, Washington
Encyclopedia
Morton is a city in Lewis County
, Washington, United States
. The population was 1,126 at the 2010 census.
's Vice President, Levi P. Morton
, in 1889. Morton was officially incorporated on January 7, 1913. Historic sources of revenue included logging
, harvesting of cascara
bark
, and mining for cinnabar
(mercury ore) in local mines. Morton was once known as the "tie mill capital of the world" in the 1950s. The longest railroad tie
dock in the world ran along the railroad tracks east of Morton.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.0 square miles (2.7 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,045 people, 437 households, and 273 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,000.7 people per square mile (388.0/km²). There were 487 housing units at an average density of 466.4 per square mile (180.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.41% White, 1.24% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 0.38% from other races
, and 2.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.15% of the population.
There were 437 households out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples
living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 21.9% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 24.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,063, and the median income for a family was $37,054. Males had a median income of $36,607 versus $23,438 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,275. About 6.9% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.1% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.
in the past, although less so than Lewis County as a whole. The results for the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election were as follows:
Centralia College
East is adjacent to the Junior-Senior High facility.
Jail. The school district attempted to dismiss him, but he sued and won. He was attempting to resume his duties in the fall of 2010. Some parents have withheld their children from the school. The state of Washington reviewed his teacher's certification. His license was suspended for 3 years, later reduced on appeal to 2 years. Nearly 1 year later, he died at the age of 57.
Lewis County, Washington
Lewis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of 2010, the population was 75,455. The county seat is at Chehalis, and its largest city is Centralia....
, 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 1,126 at the 2010 census.
History
Morton was first settled in 1871 by James Fletcher. It was later named after Benjamin HarrisonBenjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd President of the United States . Harrison, a grandson of President William Henry Harrison, was born in North Bend, Ohio, and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana at age 21, eventually becoming a prominent politician there...
's Vice President, Levi P. Morton
Levi P. Morton
Levi Parsons Morton was a Representative from New York and the 22nd Vice President of the United States . He also later served as the 31st Governor of New York.-Biography:...
, in 1889. Morton was officially incorporated on January 7, 1913. Historic sources of revenue included logging
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...
, harvesting of cascara
Rhamnus purshiana
Rhamnus purshiana Rhamnus purshiana Rhamnus purshiana (Cascara Buckthorn, Cascara, Bearberry, and in the Chinook Jargon, Chittam or Chitticum; syn...
bark
Bark
Bark is the outermost layers of stems and roots of woody plants. Plants with bark include trees, woody vines and shrubs. Bark refers to all the tissues outside of the vascular cambium and is a nontechnical term. It overlays the wood and consists of the inner bark and the outer bark. The inner...
, and mining for cinnabar
Cinnabar
Cinnabar or cinnabarite , is the common ore of mercury.-Word origin:The name comes from κινναβαρι , a Greek word most likely applied by Theophrastus to several distinct substances...
(mercury ore) in local mines. Morton was once known as the "tie mill capital of the world" in the 1950s. The longest railroad tie
Railroad tie
A railroad tie/railway tie , or railway sleeper is a rectangular item used to support the rails in railroad tracks...
dock in the world ran along the railroad tracks east of Morton.
Geography
Morton is located at 46°33′28"N 122°16′47"W (46.557869, -122.279631).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 1.0 square miles (2.7 km²), all of it land.
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 1,045 people, 437 households, and 273 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 1,000.7 people per square mile (388.0/km²). There were 487 housing units at an average density of 466.4 per square mile (180.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.41% White, 1.24% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 0.38% 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 2.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.15% of the population.
There were 437 households out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% 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, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 21.9% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 24.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,063, and the median income for a family was $37,054. Males had a median income of $36,607 versus $23,438 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 $16,275. About 6.9% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.1% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
Morton has voted RepublicanRepublican 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...
in the past, although less so than Lewis County as a whole. The results for the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election were as follows:
- John McCainJohn McCainJohn Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
(RepublicanRepublican 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...
) - 271 (53.14%) - Barack ObamaBarack ObamaBarack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
(DemocratDemocratic Party (United States)The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
) - 229 (44.9%) - Other candidates - 7 (1.37%)
Education
There are two schools, Morton Elementary and Morton Junior-Senior High.Centralia College
Centralia College
Centralia College is a two-year institution of higher learning located in Centralia, Washington. Founded in 1925, Centralia is the oldest continuously operating community college in the state of Washington. As shown below, the college sits on in the middle of the town of Centralia...
East is adjacent to the Junior-Senior High facility.
Controversy
A teacher was convicted of inappropriately touching female students in 2008 and served 16 days in the Lewis CountyLewis County, Washington
Lewis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of 2010, the population was 75,455. The county seat is at Chehalis, and its largest city is Centralia....
Jail. The school district attempted to dismiss him, but he sued and won. He was attempting to resume his duties in the fall of 2010. Some parents have withheld their children from the school. The state of Washington reviewed his teacher's certification. His license was suspended for 3 years, later reduced on appeal to 2 years. Nearly 1 year later, he died at the age of 57.