Shelton, Washington
Encyclopedia
Shelton is the county seat
, of Mason County, Washington, United States
. Shelton is the westernmost city on Puget Sound. The population was 9,834 at the 2010 census. In terms of population, the city is ranked 161 out of approximately 500 municipalities in Washington. Shelton has a unique form of government
in the State of Washington, being the only city in the state which still retains the commission
form of government.
Shelton was once served by a small fleet of steamboats which was part of the Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet
. These boats included the Old Settler
, Irene
, Willie, City of Shelton
, Marian, Clara Brown
, and S.G. Simpson
. The economy was built around logging, farming, dairying and ranching as well as oyster cultivation. The Simpson Timber Company mill on Puget Sound
's Oakland Bay
continues to dominate the landscape of the downtown area. Shelton also identifies itself as the "Christmas Tree Capital".
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 5.9 square miles (15.3 km²), of which 5.6 square miles (14.5 km²) is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) (5.60%) is water.
of 2000, there were 8,442 people, 3,191 households, and 2,035 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,519.4 people per square mile (586.2/km2). There were 3,403 housing units at an average density of 612.5 per square mile (236.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 85.83% White, 0.36% African American, 2.72% Native American, 1.17% Asian, 0.73% Pacific Islander, 5.77% from other races
, and 3.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.87% of the population.
There were 3,191 households out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.8% were married couples
living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.7% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,500, and the median income for a family was $40,392. Males had a median income of $33,867 versus $23,617 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,303. About 15.3% of families and 18.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.1% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.
is composed of seven schools:
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
, of Mason County, Washington, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Shelton is the westernmost city on Puget Sound. The population was 9,834 at the 2010 census. In terms of population, the city is ranked 161 out of approximately 500 municipalities in Washington. Shelton has a unique form of government
City government in the state of Washington
There are 281 municipalities in the U.S. state of Washington. State law determines the various powers its municipalities have.- City Classes :Legally, a city in Washington can be described primarily by its class...
in the State of Washington, being the only city in the state which still retains the commission
City commission government
City commission government is a form of municipal government which once was common in the United States, but many cities which were formerly governed by commission have since switched to the council-manager form of government...
form of government.
History
Shelton was officially incorporated in 1890. Formerly called Sheltonville, the city was named after David Shelton, a delegate to the territorial legislature.Shelton was once served by a small fleet of steamboats which was part of the Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet
Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet
The Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet was a large number of private transportation companies running smaller passenger and freight boats on Puget Sound and nearby waterways and rivers. This large group of steamers and sternwheelers plied the waters of Puget Sound, stopping at every waterfront dock...
. These boats included the Old Settler
Old Settler (sternwheeler)
Old Settler was a sternwheel steamboat that operated on Puget Sound from 1878 to 1895.- Career:Old Settler was built at Olympia, Washington in 1878, and was said to have been “cheaply constructed” and “undersized”. The engines, boiler, and whistle were all second hand...
, Irene
Irene (sternwheeler)
Irene was a sternwheel steamboat of the Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet and was active in the early 1900s.-Career:Irene was assigned to routes on southern Puget Sound, including runs out of the state capital Olympia, Washington...
, Willie, City of Shelton
City of Shelton (sternwheeler)
The steamboat City of Shelton operated in the 1890s and early 1900s as part of the Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet-Construction:City of Shelton was built in 1895 at Shelton, Washington, to replace Willie on the Olympia-Shelton route. She was 99.8 feet long, 20.5 on the beam, with 6' depth of hold, and...
, Marian, Clara Brown
Clara Brown (steamboat)
Clara Brown was a sternwheel steamboat of the Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet which operated from the late 1880s to the early 1900s, and possibly as late as 1930.-Career:...
, and S.G. Simpson
S.G. Simpson (sternwheeler)
The steamboat S.G.Simpson operated in the early 1900s as part of the Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet. This vessel was later renamed E.G. English.-Construction:S.G. Simpson was designed by Capt...
. The economy was built around logging, farming, dairying and ranching as well as oyster cultivation. The Simpson Timber Company mill on 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...
's Oakland Bay
Oakland Bay
thumb|right|Oakland Bay seen from the juncture with Hammersley Inlet, looking north.Oakland Bay is a body of water near the town of Shelton, Washington. It is connected to the larger Puget Sound via Hammersley Inlet...
continues to dominate the landscape of the downtown area. Shelton also identifies itself as the "Christmas Tree Capital".
Geography
Shelton is located at 47°12′49"N 123°6′22"W (47.213702, -123.106088).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 5.9 square miles (15.3 km²), of which 5.6 square miles (14.5 km²) is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) (5.60%) is water.
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 8,442 people, 3,191 households, and 2,035 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 1,519.4 people per square mile (586.2/km2). There were 3,403 housing units at an average density of 612.5 per square mile (236.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 85.83% White, 0.36% African American, 2.72% Native American, 1.17% Asian, 0.73% Pacific Islander, 5.77% 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 3.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.87% of the population.
There were 3,191 households out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.8% 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, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.7% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,500, and the median income for a family was $40,392. Males had a median income of $33,867 versus $23,617 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 $16,303. About 15.3% of families and 18.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.1% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.
Notable natives
- Desmond "Des" Dalworth KochDes KochDes Koch was an American athlete who competed mainly in the discus throw.He competed for the United States in the discus throw at the 1956 Summer Olympics held in Melbourne, Australia. He won the bronze medal. He achieved the longest punt in the Rose Bowl 1953, it was 72 yards. His record still...
- 1956 Olympic bronze medalist, discusDiscusDiscus, "disk" in Latin, may refer to:* Discus , a progressive rock band from Indonesia* Discus , a fictional character from the Marvel Comics Universe and enemy of Luke Cage* Discus , a freshwater fish popular with aquarium keepers... - Jerry LambertJerry Lambert (actor)Jerry Lambert is an American stage, film, and television actor and voiceover artist, best known for his work on the ABC sitcom, Sons and Daughters, as well as commercials for companies including GEICO, Holiday Inn, and playing a fictional Sony executive named Kevin Butler.-Education:Lambert...
- film and television actor, best known for his work on the ABCAmerican Broadcasting CompanyThe American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
sitcom, Sons and Daughters, as well landmark commercials for companies including GEICOGEICOThe Government Employees Insurance Company is an auto insurance company. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway that as of 2007 provided coverage for more than 10 million motor vehicles owned by more than 9 million policy holders. GEICO writes private passenger automobile insurance...
, Holiday InnHoliday InnHoliday Inn is a brand of hotels, formally a economy motel chain, forming part of the British InterContinental Hotels Group . It is one of the world's largest hotel chains with 238,440 bedrooms and 1,301 hotels globally. There are currently 5 hotels in the pipeline...
, and playing a fictional SonySony, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
Executive named Kevin ButlerKevin Butler (character)Kevin Butler is a marketing character used by Sony Computer Entertainment America as part of their It Only Does Everything and Long Live Play advertising campaigns for the PlayStation 3 in North America... - Justin EnaJustin EnaJustin Peato Ena is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans. He played for the Eagles for two years from 2002 until 2003 when he was cut and picked up by the Titans...
- Former NFL linebacker - Karol KennedyKarol KennedyKarol Estelle Kennedy Kucher was an American pair skater. With her brother, Peter, she won five U.S. Championship titles from 1948-1952...
- 1952 Olympic silver medalist, figure skatingFigure skatingFigure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions... - Terry Dion - 1980 Seattle SeahawksSeattle SeahawksThe Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
linebacker
Schools
The Shelton School DistrictShelton School District
Shelton School District is located in the Pacific Northwest in the city of Shelton, Washington. It is the largest public school district in Mason County, Washington. The district provides services for over 4000 students in a K to 12 program...
is composed of seven schools:
- Evergreen, Mountain View, and Bordeaux Elementary Schools teach kindergarten through fifth grade
- Olympic Middle School teaches sixth and seventh grades
- Oakland Bay Junior High teaches eighth and ninth graders
- Shelton High SchoolShelton High School (Washington)Shelton High School is a senior high school located in Shelton, Washington. Shelton High School is a class 4-A high school and was restructured starting with the 2004-2005 school year to be a Grade 10-12 High School...
covers tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grades - CHOICE Alternative School teaches kindergarten through twelfth grade