Steilacoom, Washington

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Steilacoom is a town in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 6,049 at the 2000 census. Steilacoom is on the coast of the Puget Sound, on a branch not visible on the map to the right. Steilacoom was the first town incorporated in Washington State. It was the birthplace of country singer Lila McCann.

Based on per capita income, one of the more reliable measures of affluence, Steilacoom ranks 61st of 522 areas in the state of Washington to be ranked. The Steilacoom School District #1 consists of Cherrydale Primary School, Saltar's Point Elementary School, Harriet Taylor Elementary School, Anderson Island School, Chloe Clark Elementary School, Pioneer Middle School, and Steilacoom High School.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 External links

[edit] History

Steilacoom was founded by Lafayette Balch, a sea captain from Maine, and officially incorporated in 1854. It is the oldest incorporated town in Washington State and has 32 buildings and sites listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, including the oldest Catholic Church in the state and the first Protestant Church north of the Columbia River. A leading candidate for territorial capital and one-time seat of Pierce County, Steilacoom lost its chance for dominance in the south Puget Sound region when the Northern Pacific railroad picked rival Tacoma instead for its west coast terminus in 1873. Steilacoom has since settled into its role of suburban bedroom community.

Steilacoom had the first jail in Washington and the first sawmill. Steilacoom is also home to one of two major state run mental health facilities, Western State Hospital, on the site of what was once Fort Steilacoom.

[edit] Geography

Steilacoom is located at 47°10′12″N, 122°35′40″W (47.170019, -122.594349)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 5.4 km² (2.1 mi²). 5.4 km² (2.1 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (1.43%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 6,049 people, 2,570 households, and 1,721 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,128.3/km² (2,916.9/mi²). There were 2,674 housing units at an average density of 498.8/km² (1,289.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 78.46% White, 6.70% African American, 0.84% Native American, 5.87% Asian, 0.61% Pacific Islander, 1.65% from other races, and 5.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.41% of the population.

In the town the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $46,113, and the median income for a family was $54,725. Males had a median income of $40,505 versus $34,136 for females. The per capita income for the town was $27,124. About 6.9% of families and 8.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.0% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.