Washtucna, Washington
Encyclopedia
Washtucna is a town in Adams County, Washington, United States. The population was 208 at the 2010 census, a 20% decrease over the previous census. The town was named for a lake 12 miles from the town in Franklin County which was in turn named after a Palouse
Indian chief.
The first rail line into the area was completed by the Oregon Improvement Company in 1886, and shipped 30,000 bushels of wheat in its first five years. Several attempts at large-scale irrigation projects were attempted between 1892 and 1917, but all failed. Dry land wheat farming has persisted since that time.
Washtucna was officially incorporated on October 27, 1903, with Charles T. Booth as the first mayor.
, 118°18'46" West
(46.753375, -118.312687).
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.5 square miles (1.4 km2); all of it land.
and 1.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.23% of the population.
There were 110 households out of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the town the age distribution of the population shows 28.5% under the age of 18, 3.8% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 89.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,688, and the median income for a family was $45,000. Males had a median income of $31,964 versus $33,750 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,487. About 16.2% of families and 20.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.8% of those under the age of eighteen and 8.9% of those sixty five or over.
Palus (tribe)
The Palus are a Sahaptin tribe recognized in the Treaty of 1855 with the Yakamas . A variant spelling is Palouse, which was the source of the name for the fertile prairie of Washington and Idaho.- Ethnography :...
Indian chief.
History
George Bassett, an Iowan settler homesteaded the future site of Washtucna in 1878 with his wife Alice Lancaster Bassett. Their goal was to raise horses, and until 1900 their ranch was the site of an annual roundup of wild horses. In 1882, the first Post Office in Adams County was established with Bassett as postmaster. The post office was taken over by T.C. Martin in 1894 who then opened the first store in Washtucna.The first rail line into the area was completed by the Oregon Improvement Company in 1886, and shipped 30,000 bushels of wheat in its first five years. Several attempts at large-scale irrigation projects were attempted between 1892 and 1917, but all failed. Dry land wheat farming has persisted since that time.
Washtucna was officially incorporated on October 27, 1903, with Charles T. Booth as the first mayor.
Geography
Washtucna is located at 46°45'12" NorthLatitude
In geography, the latitude of a location on the Earth is the angular distance of that location south or north of the Equator. The latitude is an angle, and is usually measured in degrees . The equator has a latitude of 0°, the North pole has a latitude of 90° north , and the South pole has a...
, 118°18'46" West
Longitude
Longitude is a geographic coordinate that specifies the east-west position of a point on the Earth's surface. It is an angular measurement, usually expressed in degrees, minutes and seconds, and denoted by the Greek letter lambda ....
(46.753375, -118.312687).
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 (1.4 km2); all of it land.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 260 people, 110 households, and 72 families residing in the town. The population density was 484.7 people per square mile (185.9/km2). There were 133 housing units at an average density of 247.9 per square mile (95.1/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.15% White, 1.92% Native AmericanNative Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
and 1.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.23% of the population.
There were 110 households out of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the town the age distribution of the population shows 28.5% under the age of 18, 3.8% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 89.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,688, and the median income for a family was $45,000. Males had a median income of $31,964 versus $33,750 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 $17,487. About 16.2% of families and 20.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.8% of those under the age of eighteen and 8.9% of those sixty five or over.