Walla Walla, Washington

Walla Walla, Washington
City
City of Walla Walla

Reynolds-Day Building, Sterling Bank, and Baker Boyer Bank buildings in downtown Walla Walla.

Location of Walla Walla, Washington
Coordinates: 46°3′54″N 118°19′49″W / 46.06500°N 118.33028°W / 46.06500; -118.33028Coordinates: 46°3′54″N 118°19′49″W / 46.06500°N 118.33028°W / 46.06500; -118.33028
Country United States
State Washington
County Walla Walla
Government
 • Type City Council
 • Mayor Allen Pomraning[1]
 • Mayor Pro Tem Jim Barrow
Area[2]
 • City 12.84 sq mi (33.26 km2)
 • Land 12.81 sq mi (33.18 km2)
 • Water 0.03 sq mi (0.08 km2)
Elevation 942 ft (287 m)
Population (2010)[3]
 • City 31,731
 • Estimate (2015)[4] 32,237
 • Density 2,477.0/sq mi (956.4/km2)
 • Urban 55,805 (US: 464th)
 • Metro 64,282 (US: 379th)
Time zone Pacific (PST) (UTC−8)
 • Summer (DST) PDT (UTC−7)
ZIP code 99362
Area code 509
FIPS code 53-75775
GNIS feature ID 1512769[5]
Website City of Walla Walla

Walla Walla is the largest city in and the county seat of Walla Walla County, Washington, United States.[6]

The population of the city itself was 31,731 at the 2010 census. The population of Walla Walla and its two suburbs, the town of College Place and unincorporated "East Walla Walla," is about 45,000.[7] Walla Walla is in the southeastern region of Washington, approximately four-and-a-half hours away by car from Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington, and only thirteen miles north of the Oregon border.

History

Recorded history in this state begins with the establishment of Fort Nez Perce in 1818 by the North West Company to trade with the Walla Walla people and other local Native American groups. At the time, the term "Nez Perce" was used more broadly than today, and included the Walla Walla in its scope in English usage.[8] Fort Nez Perce had its name shift to Fort Walla Walla. It was located significantly west of the present city.

On September 1, 1836, Marcus Whitman arrived with his wife Narcissa Whitman.[9] Here they established the Whitman Mission in an unsuccessful attempt to convert the local Walla Walla tribe to Christianity. Following a disease epidemic, both were killed by the Cayuse who believed that the missionaries were poisoning the native peoples. Whitman College was established in their honor.

The original North West Company and later Hudson's Bay Company Fort Nez Percés fur trading outpost, became a major stopping point for migrants moving west to Oregon Country. The fort has been restored with many of the original buildings preserved. The current Fort Walla Walla contains these buildings, albeit in a different location from the original, as well as a museum about the early settlers' lives.

The origins of Walla Walla at its present site begin with the establishment of Fort Walla Walla by the United States Army here in 1856.[10] The Walla Walla River, where it adjoins the Columbia River, was the starting point for the Mullan Road, constructed between 1859 and 1860 by US Army Lieut. John Mullan, connecting the head of navigation on the Columbia at Walla Walla (i.e., the west coast of the United States) with the head of navigation on the Missouri-Mississippi (that is, the east and gulf coasts of the U.S.) at Fort Benton, Montana.

Walla Walla was incorporated on January 11, 1862.[11] As a result of a gold rush in Idaho, during this decade the city became the largest community in the territory of Washington, at one point slated to be the new state's capital. Following this period of rapid growth, agriculture became the city's primary industry.

Fort Walla Walla - 1874
Baker Boyer Bank building, built in 1911

Ecclesiastical History

Former bishopric

In 1846, the Catholic Church established the Diocese of Walla Walla, with Augustin-Magloire Blanchet as its bishop. (The Latin adjective, not the noun, used by the Roman Curia to refer to Walla Walla, is Valle-Valliensis.)[12] Blanchet arrived on September 5 of that year, but the Whitman massacre of November 29, 1847, led to an uneasy relationship between him, the native Cayuse people, and the United States government, as a result of which he left for St. Paul in the Willamette Valley.

In 1850, the see of Walla Walla was abandoned and its territory assigned to the new Diocese of Nesqually (later spelled "Nisqually"), with Blanchet as its bishop and its episcopal see in Vancouver.[13]

Titular see

In 1971, the diocese was nominally restored as Titular bishopric of the lowest (Episcopal) rank, and since had six, mostly consecutive incumbents:

Etymology

Tourists to Walla Walla are often told that locals call it "the town so nice they named it twice".[14] Walla Walla is a Native American name that means "Place of Many Waters". The original name of the town was Steptoeville named after Colonel Edward Steptoe.[15] In 1855 the name was changed to Waiilatpu,[16] and then by 1859 had been changed again, this time to the name it holds today.

Geography and climate

Walla Walla is located at 46°3′54″N 118°19′49″W / 46.06500°N 118.33028°W / 46.06500; -118.33028 (46.065094, −118.330167).[17]

Walla Walla is also located in the Walla Walla Valley, with the rolling Palouse hills and the Blue Mountains to the east of town. Various creeks meander through town before combining to become the Walla Walla River, which drains into the Columbia River about 30 miles (48 km) west of town. The city lies in the rain shadow of the Cascade Mountains, so annual precipitation is fairly low.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.84 square miles (33.26 km2), of which 12.81 square miles (33.18 km2) is land and 0.03 square miles (0.08 km2) is water.[2]

Walla Walla has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate according to the Köppen climate classification system (Köppen Csa). It is one of the northernmost locations in North America to qualify as having such a climate. In contrast to most other locations having this climate type in North America, Walla Walla can experience fairly cold winter conditions.

Climate data for Walla Walla, Washington (Walla Walla Regional Airport), 1981–2010 normals
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 70
(21)		 75
(24)		 79
(26)		 96
(36)		 100
(38)		 113
(45)		 114
(46)		 114
(46)		 104
(40)		 89
(32)		 80
(27)		 68
(20)		 114
(46)
Average high °F (°C) 41.6
(5.3)		 46.5
(8.1)		 55.8
(13.2)		 63.2
(17.3)		 71.2
(21.8)		 79.6
(26.4)		 89.6
(32)		 88.6
(31.4)		 78.2
(25.7)		 64.1
(17.8)		 48.9
(9.4)		 38.9
(3.8)		 63.85
(17.68)
Average low °F (°C) 30.6
(−0.8)		 32.5
(0.3)		 37.7
(3.2)		 42.3
(5.7)		 48.5
(9.2)		 54.7
(12.6)		 61.2
(16.2)		 61.1
(16.2)		 52.7
(11.5)		 43.3
(6.3)		 35.5
(1.9)		 28.5
(−1.9)		 44.05
(6.7)
Record low °F (°C) −18
(−28)		 −16
(−27)		 4
(−16)		 20
(−7)		 26
(−3)		 36
(2)		 40
(4)		 42
(6)		 32
(0)		 19
(−7)		 −11
(−24)		 −24
(−31)		 −24
(−31)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.13
(54.1)		 1.75
(44.4)		 2.30
(58.4)		 1.81
(46)		 2.11
(53.6)		 1.28
(32.5)		 0.61
(15.5)		 0.60
(15.2)		 0.71
(18)		 1.59
(40.4)		 2.65
(67.3)		 2.15
(54.6)		 19.69
(500)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 3.1
(7.9)		 3.1
(7.9)		 0.9
(2.3)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0.1
(0.3)		 1.4
(3.6)		 4.7
(11.9)		 13.3
(33.9)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 13.0 10.5 12.3 10.2 9.6 7.3 3.2 2.7 3.9 7.8 13.9 13.2 107.6
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 2.5 1.7 0.7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 1.0 3.3 9.3
Mean monthly sunshine hours 50.4 83.4 173.8 221.7 288.5 326.3 384.5 344.4 268.8 199.2 67.8 40.3 2,449.2
Percent possible sunshine 18.0 28.6 47.0 54.4 62.1 69.1 80.7 78.7 71.6 59.0 24.0 15.0 50.68
Source: NOAA[18][19]

source 2= weather.com[20]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18701,394—
18803,588157.4%
18904,70931.2%
190010,049113.4%
191019,36492.7%
192015,503−19.9%
193015,9763.1%
194018,10913.4%
195024,10233.1%
196024,5361.8%
197023,619−3.7%
198025,6188.5%
199026,4783.4%
200029,68612.1%
201031,7316.9%
Est. 201632,132[21]1.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[22]
2015 Estimate[4]

2010 census

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 31,731 people, 11,537 households, and 6,834 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,477.0 inhabitants per square mile (956.4/km2). There were 12,514 housing units at an average density of 976.9 per square mile (377.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 81.6% White, 2.7% African American, 1.3% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 9.1% from other races, and 3.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.0% of the population.

There were 11,537 households of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.8% were other forms of households. 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.10.

The median age in the city was 34.4 years. 22% of residents were under the age of 18; 14.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.2% were from 25 to 44; 23.1% were from 45 to 64; and 14% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.9% male and 48.1% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 29,686 people, 10,596 households, and 6,527 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,744.9 people per square mile (1,059.3/km2). There were 11,400 housing units at an average density of 1,054.1 per square mile (406.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 83.79% White, 2.58% African American, 1.05% Native American, 1.24% Asian, 0.23% Pacific Islander, 8.26% from other races, and 2.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.42% of the population.

There were 10,596 households of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.4% were other forms of households. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the city, the population was spread out with 21.8% under the age of 18, 14.2% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 17.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 108.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,855, and the median income for a family was $40,856. Men had a median income of $31,753 versus $23,889 for women. The per capita income for the city was $15,792. About 13.1% of families and 18.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.8% of those under the age of 18 and 10.5% of those aged 65 and older.

Economy and infrastructure

Agriculture

Though wheat is still a big crop, vineyards and wineries have become economically important over the last three decades.[23] In summer 2006, there were over 100 wineries in the greater Walla Walla area. Following the wine boom, the town has developed several top-tier restaurants and hotels. The Marcus Whitman Hotel, one of Washington's finest 1920s hotels, was renovated with original fixtures and furnitures. It is the tallest building in the city, at thirteen stories.

Walla Walla Farmers Market

The Walla Walla Sweet Onion is another crop with a rich tradition. Over a century ago on the Island of Corsica, off the west coast of Italy, a French soldier named Peter Pieri found an Italian sweet onion seed and brought it to the Walla Walla Valley. Impressed by the new onion's winter hardiness, Pieri, and the Italian immigrant farmers who comprised much of Walla Walla's gardening industry, harvested the seed. The sweet onion developed over several generations through the process of selecting onions from each year's crop, targeting sweetness, size and round shape. The Walla Walla Sweet Onion is designated under federal law as a protected agricultural crop. In 2007 the Walla Walla Sweet Onion became Washington's official state vegetable.[24] Walla Walla Sweet Onions get their sweetness from low sulfur content, which is half that of an ordinary yellow onion. Walla Walla Sweets are 90 percent water.

The Walla Walla Sweet Onion Festival is held annually in July.

Walla Walla currently has two farmers markets, both held from May until October. The first is located on the corner of 4th and Main, and is coordinated by the Downtown Walla Walla Foundation. The other is at the Walla Walla County Fairgrounds on S. Ninth Ave, run by the WW Valley Farmer's Market.[25]

Wine industry

Walla Walla has experienced an explosion in its wine industry over the last ten years. Several of the wineries have received top scores from wine publications such as Wine Spectator, The Wine Advocate and Wine and Spirits. L'Ecole 41, Woodward Canyon and Leonetti Cellar were the pioneers starting in the 1970s and 1980s. Although most of the early recognition went to the wines made from Merlot and Cabernet, Syrah is fast becoming a star varietal in this appellation.[26] Today there are over 100 wineries in the Walla Walla Valley and a host of shops catering to the wine industry.

Walla Walla Community College offers an associate degree (AAAS) in winemaking and grape growing through its 10-year-old Center for Enology and Viticulture, which operates its own commercial winery, College Cellars.[27]

One challenge to growing grapes in Walla Walla Valley is the risk of a killing freeze during the winter. They average one every six or seven years and the penultimate one, in 2004, destroyed about 75% of the wine grape crop in the valley. The valley was again hit with a killing frost in November 2010, leading to a 28% decline in Cabernet Sauvignon production, a 20% decline in red grape production, and an overall decline in production of 11% (red and white varietals).[28]

The wineries generate over $100 million (US) to the valley annually.

Corrections industry

The second largest prison in Washington, after nearby Coyote Ridge Corrections Center in Connell, is the Washington State Penitentiary (WSP) located in Walla Walla, at 1313 North 13th. Originally opened in 1886, it now houses about 2000 offenders.[29] In addition, there are about 1000 staff members. In 2005, the financial benefit to the local economy was estimated to be about $55 million through salaries, medical services, utilities, and local purchases. Washington is a death penalty state, and occasional executions take place at the state penitentiary; the last execution took place on September 10, 2010.[30] Washington is also one of two states to still allow hanging as a choice when sentenced to death[31] (the other being New Hampshire); there has not been a hanging since May 1994 (the default method of execution was changed to lethal injection in 1996). The penitentiary is undergoing an extensive expansion project that will increase the prison capacity to 2,500 violent offenders and double the staff size.[32]

Health Care

Walla Walla is served by three health care institutions: Walla Walla General Hospital (part of the Adventist Health System), St. Mary Medical Center (part of the Catholic Providence Heath System) and the Jonathan M. Wainwright Veteran's Affairs (VA) Medical Center on the grounds of the old Fort Walla Walla.

Transportation

Transportation to Walla Walla includes service by air through Walla Walla Regional Airport and highway access primarily from U.S. Route 12. The Washington State Department of Transportation is now engaged in a long-term process of widening this road into a four-lane divided highway between Pasco and Walla Walla. State Route 125 runs through the city, north to State Route 124 in Prescott and south to Milton-Freewater, Oregon, becoming Oregon Highway 11 at the state line.

There are four major bus services in the area connecting the region's cities. Walla Walla and nearby College Place, WA are served by Valley Transit, a typical multi-route city bus service. The city of Milton-Freewater, OR has a single-line bus service with several stops in town with two stops in College Place and five in Walla Walla. Travel Washington's Grape Line is a 104-mile (167 km) intercity service between Walla Walla and Pasco that runs three times a day. Finally, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation operates a Kayak bus to Pendleton, with four trips each weekday and two trips each Saturday via its Walla Walla Whistler route.[33]

Whitman Hotel at Rose and Second in the "Great Neighborhood"
Sterling Bank in one of the renovated buildings in the "Great Neighborhood."

Sports

Walla Walla is home of the Walla Walla Sweets, a summer collegiate baseball team that plays in the West Coast League. The league comprises college players and prospects working towards a professional baseball career. Teams are located in British Columbia, Oregon and Washington. Sweets home games have been played at Borleske Stadium in Walla Walla, since their first season in 2010. In only their second season the Sweets played in the WCL Championship game, ultimately losing to the Corvallis Knights. In 2013, the Sweets won their first North Division title with the second best win-loss record in the WCL. The Sweets lost their North Division playoff series to the Wenatchee Applesox that year.

There also is a women's flat track roller derby league called the Walla Walla Sweets Rollergirls, their practices and games are played at the Walla Walla YMCA.

Walla Walla is the location of Tour of Walla Walla. It is an annual four-stage road cycling race held in April. The races are held in Walla Walla and in the Palouse hills of nearby Waitsburg, WA. The stages include two road races, a time trial, and a criterium race.[34]

Finally, there is the annual Walla Walla Marathon which includes a full marathon, half-marathon, and 10k race. The full marathon is a Boston Marathon Qualifier.[35] It is held in October of each year and the race route winds through the streets of the city of Walla Walla and the country roads outside of town, often running past several of the region's many estate vineyards.

Fine and performing arts

The Walla Walla Valley boasts a number of fine and performing arts organizations and venues.

In addition, the area's three colleges—Whitman College, Walla Walla University and Walla Walla Community College as well as its largest public high school—Walla Walla High School—are well known for their outstanding theater and music performances.

Education

Whitman College Administration Building in the Fall

Walla Walla is primarily served by the Walla Walla Public Schools, which includes six elementary schools, two middle schools, one traditional high school (colloquially Wa-Hi), and one alternative high school (Lincoln). There is also Homelink, an alternative K-8 education program which is a hybrid of home schooling and public school programs.[40]

There are several private Christian schools in the area. These include:

In addition to these, there are three colleges in the area:

Miscellanea

Baker Boyer Bank, the oldest bank in the state of Washington, was founded in Walla Walla in 1869.

In 2001 Walla Walla was a Great American Main Street Award winner for the transformation and preservation of its once dilapidated main street.[42] In July 2011, USA Today selected Walla Walla as the friendliest small city in the United States.[43] Walla Walla was also named Friendliest Small Town in America the same year as part of Rand McNally's annual Best of the Road contest. In 2012 and 2013 Walla Walla was a runner-up in the best food category for the Best of the Road.[44][45]

Walla Walla is famous for its sweet onions. There are more than 100 wineries in or near Walla Walla.[46][47]

Sister cities

In 1972, Walla Walla established a sister city relationship with Sasayama, Japan. The two cities have since named roads after their counterpart sister city. Walla Walla also hosted exchange students from Sasayama since 1994 for a two-week home stay experience. One year high school student exchanges between the cities have occurred several times in the past. Cultural/art exchanges involving music, dance, and various art mediums have also occurred. Walla Walla Sister City Committee has been recipient of the Washington State Sister City Association Peace Prize in 2011 and 2014 for their involvement of promoting peace, cultural understanding and friendship.[48][49]

Notable people


See also

References

  1. ↑ "Walla Walla City Council website". Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  2. 1 2 "U.S. Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
  3. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
  4. 1 2 "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  5. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  7. ↑ "Official Population Estimates". Washington State Office of Financial Management. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
  8. ↑ Alvin M. Josephy, The Nez Perce Indians and the Opening of the Northwest, Abridged Edition (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1965), p. 51
  9. ↑ "National Park Service: Whitman Mission". Nps.gov. 2012-11-19. Retrieved 2013-02-05.
  10. ↑ Josephy, The Nez Perce, p. 367
  11. ↑ "City of Walla Walla, Community Information". Ci.walla-walla.wa.us. Retrieved 2013-02-05.
  12. ↑ Annuario Pontificio 2013 (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2013, ISBN 978-88-209-9070-1), p. 1010, where the Diocese of Walla Walla is listed among titular sees.
  13. ↑ Voisine, Nive. "Augustin-Magloire Blanchet". Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  14. ↑ Beyette, Beverly (December 23, 2004). "Here's to you, Walla Walla". The Seattle Times.
  15. ↑ "Travel - Walla Walla, Washington Introduction : Overview". NWsource. Retrieved 2013-02-05.
  16. ↑ "Lyman's History of old Walla Walla County, Vol. 1 (of 2) Embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties". Retrieved 2017-03-26.
  17. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  18. ↑ "NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
  19. ↑ "NOAA". NOAA.
  20. ↑ "Weather". weather.com.
  21. ↑ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  22. ↑ United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  23. ↑ Hillhouse, Vicki. "Viticultural area celebrates 30th year". WW Union-Bulletin. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  24. ↑ "The Spokesman-Review Apr 6, 2007". News.google.com. 2007-04-05. Retrieved 2013-02-05.
  25. ↑ Diaz, Alfred. "Walla Walla Doubles up on Farmers Markets.". WW Union-Bulletin. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  26. ↑ Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance website - http://wallawallawine.com/
  27. ↑ College Cellars website - http://www.collegecellars.com
  28. ↑ Sean Sullivan's Washington Wine Report - http://www.wawinereport.com/2012/02/cabernet-sauvignon-production-down-28.html
  29. ↑ "Washington Department of Corrections, WSP page".
  30. ↑ "Seattle Times article, execution of Cal Cobrun Brown". The Seattle Times.
  31. ↑ "Section 630.5, Procedures in Capital Murder". Retrieved 2006-04-27.
  32. ↑ "The Pioneer (Whitman College) article on the initial expansion". The Pioneer (Whitman College). Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  33. ↑ http://ctuir.org/system/files/Walla%20Walla%20Whistler_14.pdf
  34. ↑ "Tour of Walla Walla". Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  35. ↑ "Walla Walla Multisports webpage". Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  36. ↑ "Walla Walla Chamber Music Festival Schedule". Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  37. ↑ "Past Performances". Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  38. ↑ "History of the Powerhouse Theatre". Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  39. ↑ "History of the Little Theatre".
  40. ↑ "Walla Walla Public Schools Website". Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  41. ↑ "Aspen Institute, 2013 Aspen Prize". Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  42. ↑ "Great American Main Street Award".
  43. ↑ Bly, Laura (21 July 2011). "USA Today".
  44. ↑ "Best of the Road Walla Walla profile".
  45. ↑ "2011 and 2012 Best of the Road contests".
  46. ↑ "2013 List of Washington State Wineries". Go Taste Wine, LLC. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
  47. ↑ Hollander, Catherine. "How Wine Growing in Walla Walla Supports the Economy". National Journal. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
  48. ↑ "Walla Walla-Sasayama Sister Cities Inc". Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  49. ↑ "WW Union-Bulletin Article on the 2012 Exchanges". Walla Walla Union-Bulletin. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  50. ↑ 404 Error
  51. ↑ "Eric O'Flaherty". Baseball Reference. August 16, 2006. Retrieved April 11, 2015.

Further reading

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