Cashmere, Washington
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cashmere is a city in Chelan County, Washington, United States. The population was 2,965 at the 2000 census.
Contents |
[edit] History
The indigenous people of the area were the Wenatchi people, who were sustained by abundant game and anadromous fish. The Wenatchee River, which runs through Cashmere, was historically home to coho, chinook, and sockeye salmon, as well as steelhead. These wild stocks have been severely impacted by the dams on the Columbia River, although several runs still exist. The Wenatchi people were displaced to the Colville Indian Reservation by the federal government, but still claim some fishing rights in the area.
Cashmere was officially incorporated on November 11, 1904. It was named for Kashmir, India, as local judge James H. Chase claimed it resembled the foothills of that region.
The Cashmere area has a rich history of tree fruit production, starting with the first pioneers. While apples grow very well, the soils and climate are ideal for the production of pears. Bartlett and D'Anjou varieties are well represented. It is said that the Cashmere may be the best place to grow pears in the US. While many orchards have given way to development, the history of fruit production is still evident in the many orchards and historical fruit warehouses in the area. Overdevelopment is a real threat to the agricultural heritage of the area; the agreeable climate and outstanding scenery attract many people to the area.
The history of the area is also tied to timber production. Cashmere was the home of a large sawmill. The first settlers found abundant ponderosa pine and Douglas fir trees. These timbers were of the highest quality because of the arid climate, which causes the trees to grow very slowly, keeping a tight grain.
[edit] Geography
Cashmere is located at (47.519515, -120.468967)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.4 km² (0.9 mi²). 2.3 km² (0.9 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (2.20%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 2,965 people, 1,105 households, and 717 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,286.3/km² (3,322.1/mi²). There were 1,174 housing units at an average density of 509.3/km² (1,315.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.71% White, 0.54% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 8.20% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.00% of the population.
There were 1,105 households out of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.28.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.2% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,854, and the median income for a family was $45,347. Males had a median income of $33,333 versus $25,439 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,468. About 6.3% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.2% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Notable features
Cashmere is home to the Pioneer Museum, which has many artifacts reflecting the heritage of the area, including a village of historic buildings. The Chelan County Fair is held annually in Cashmere. Cashmere is also home to the Aplets and Cotlets candy factory and Country Store, which offers free tours and samples of the fruit confections.
[edit] External links
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
[edit] Recreation
Cashmere is surrounded by the eastern foothills of the Cascade Mountains. The Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area is just a few miles to the West. The Peshastin Pinnacles is a historical climbing area located a few miles from town. Some of America's first technical climbing routes were established here by Fred Beckey and others. The Devil's Gulch mountain bike trail is said to be the premier downhill ride in the state of Washington, and is located just south of town. This ride attracts thousands of mountain bikers from Seattle and elsewhere each year. The Wenatchee river is a popular whitewater destination and runs right through Cashmere. The river provides challenging rapids for rafters and kayakers each spring during runnoff. Several famous rapids occur in the stretch of river that runs through town.
