Naselle, Washington

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Naselle is a census-designated place located in Pacific County, Washington. As of the 2000 census, the CDP had a total population of 377.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 History and Culture
4 External links

[edit] Geography

Naselle is located at 46°22'4" North, 123°47'36" West (46.367660, -123.793465)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 5.9 km² (2.3 mi²). 5.9 km² (2.3 mi²) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water. Though very near Columbia River's estuary, the valley's Naselle River flows west into nearby Willapa Bay and then into the Pacific Ocean. Close about the town lie the evergreen-covered Willapa Hills.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 377 people, 160 households, and 110 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 63.6/km² (164.6/mi²). There were 184 housing units at an average density of 31.0/km² (80.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 92.57% White, 0.27% African American, 2.12% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.00% from other races, and 4.51% from two or more races. 0.53% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 160 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% were married couples living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.5% 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 2.85.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 22.5% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 22.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $35,769, and the median income for a family was $40,250. Males had a median income of $36,875 versus $18,125 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $17,714. 4.7% of the population and 4.0% of families were below the poverty line. 7.5% of those under the age of 18 and 2.1% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

[edit] History and Culture

The community first flourished as a logging town, and logging remains the dominant private industry. Settled primarily by Finnish and Scandinavian immigrants, the community has maintained this cultural heritage despite a declining percentage of traditional family names. Since 1982, Naselle has hosted a "Finnish-American Folk Festival" every other year, and in 2006 co-hosted, with the nearby city of Astoria, OR, the national festival FinnFest USA.

Jennifer L. Holm's Newbery Honor-winning novel Our Only May Amelia is set in pioneer Naselle, then spelled "Nasel", and is based on Holm family documents of life as a Finnish-American frontier family.

Past and present residents of note include Oscar Wirkkala, logger and inventor; Wilho Saari, kantele performer and teacher; and Rex Ziak, historian.