Hazel Dell, Washington

Hazel Dell is an unincorporated area of Clark County, Washington located north and west of Vancouver, Washington, USA. The area runs parallel to and is bisected by Interstate 5. The community of Hazel Dell is bounded by Vancouver city limits on the South with Burnt Bridge Creek being a natural physical boundary, Vancouver Lake to the west, Lake Shore to the northwest, Salmon Creek to the north, I-205/Barberton to the northeast and the communities of Rye and Minnehaha to the east. Much of Hazel Dell is occupied by business/working class home owners, in well established neighborhoods.

The main business portion follows NE Highway 99, just east of I-5, generally, from 63rd St. to 99th St, with businesses east and west of Hwy 99 on NE 78th and 99th Streets. There are a few businesses and shopping centers on NE Hazel Dell Ave., just West of I-5, scattered from 63rd St to 99th St. Hazel Dell's business and services include: a cinema-plex, Fred Meyer, Safeway, Wal-Mart, Winco, LA Fitness, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Buffalo Wild Wings, Burgerville, McDonald's, Taco Bell, Baskin-Robbins, Skippers, Smokey's Pizza, Hazel Dell Brew Pub, Husted's Hazel Dell Lanes, several convenience stores, used car dealerships, Auto Parts stores, Radio Shack, pawn shops, taverns, lounges and pubs, motels, as well as many other franchise eateries, several banks and realty, medical and dental offices.

Municipal Services

Law enforcement for the community of Hazel Dell is provided by the Clark County Sheriff's Department and the local crime rate is typical for a neighborhood of its size and population density.^[1] Fire Station 61 on Hazel Dell Avenue operates as part of Clark County Fire District 6 and provides fire-fighting services to Hazel Dell and neighboring communities.^[2] Hazel Dell has its own sewer district as well.

Parks

Construction of Kate and Clarence LaLonde Neighborhood Park will begin in early July 2010.^[3] Hazel Dell Park

Schools

Hazel Dell Elementary School is a Kindergarten through 5th grade elementary school located within the residential area of south Hazel Dell, Washington^[4] and is part of the Vancouver School District. The school is home to the "Panthers." The current principal is Woody Howard.^[5]

Sacajawea Elementary School is a Kindergarten through 5th grade elementary school located within a residential area of northwest Hazel Dell, Washington and is part of the Vancouver School District. The school is home to the "Skyhawks."^[6]

Sarah J. Anderson Elementary School is a Kindergarten through 5th grade elementary school located within a residential area of northeast Hazel Dell, Washington and is part of the Vancouver School District. The school is home to the "Pioneers."^[7] The current principal is Lucy Estrada-Guzman. ^[8]

Toponymy and History

Oregon Country pioneers Reese and Sarah J. Anderson were Hazel Dell's first settlers. Sarah named the area after a stand of filberts on their land near what is today 78th Street and Highway 99. She also donated the land for the first school in Hazel Dell. The name Bear Gulch was also briefly considered by the early Hazel Dell residents.^[9]

Hazel Dell and Minnehaha were two of the first suburban areas to be developed after WW II and were followed by Lake Shore, Felida, and Salmon Creek. Much of the housing boom in this area has subsided due to the increase of homes being built to the east of Vancouver, between Interstate 205 and Camas and Washington State Route 500/Fourth Plain Blvd. and the Columbia River.

As late as the 1950s and '60s, it was not uncommon to see dairy cattle where there are now shopping centers, along I-5. Children during that time made money for school clothes and summer activities by picking raspberries, strawberries, beans and other vegetables. After the child labor laws went into effect, restricting children under 12 from working, most farm owners turned to "direct to customer" U-pick. Now there are only a handful of small acreage farms left and no dairies at all.

Hazel Dell Parade of Bands

Every Spring, since 1964, Hazel Dell has hosted the "Parade of Bands." The parade route follows Hwy 99 North to 78th St., west to Hazel Dell Ave., south to 63rd St. and back to Hwy 99. The parade was first organized and sponsored by Harvey Johnson and family who own the Steakburger Drive-in restaurant on Hwy 99.^[10] Steakburger was founded in the early 1960s and still in business with Harvey's unique bar-b-que sauce, hamburgers and miniature golf course making it a local family favorite.^[11]

References

1. ^ "Clark County MapsOnline." Clark County GIS - Geographic Information System - Clark County Washington. Clark County, Washington, n.d. Web. 10 July 2010. <http://gis.clark.wa.gov/imfmol/imf.jsp?site=pub_crime>.
2. ^ "Service Area of Fire District 6." Clark County Fire District 6. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 July 2010. <http://ccfd6.org/servicearea.html>.
3. ^ "Vancouver-Clark Washington Parks & Recreation: Greater Clark Parks District." Vancouver-Clark Washington Parks & Recreation: Greater Clark Parks District. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 July 2010. <http://www.clarkparks.org/projects/lalonde.htm>.
4. ^ "VANCOUVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS • 2007-08 BOUNDARY GUIDE - Hazel Dell Elementary School." Welcome to VSD. Vancouver School District, n.d. Web. 10 July 2010. <portalsso.vansd.org/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/VSD_HOME_PUBLIC/ZSCHOOL_INFORMATION/ELEMENTARY_SCHOOL_INFO_A_L/HAZEL%20DELL__SCHOOL_INFO/HAZEL%20DELL.PDF>.
5. ^ "Hazel Dell Elementary School." Welcome to VSD. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 July 2010. <http://portalsso.vansd.org/portal/page?_pageid=193,1678516,193_1678521&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL>.
6. ^ "Sacajawea Elementary School." Welcome to VSD. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 July 2010. <http://portalsso.vansd.org/portal/page?_pageid=193,1678583,193_1678585:193_1697400&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL>.
7. ^ "Anderson Elementary School." Welcome to VSD. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 July 2010. <http://portalsso.vansd.org/portal/page?_pageid=193,974959,193_1648608:193_1648612&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL>.
8. ^ "Washington State Report Card." Washington State Report Card. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 July 2010. <http://reportcard.ospi.k12.wa.us/summary.aspx?schoolId=516&OrgType=4&reportLevel=School&year=2008-09>.
9. ^ Jollota, Pat. Naming Clark County. Vancouver: Fort Vancouver Historical Society Of Clark County, 1993. Print.
10. ^ "Parade Packet." The Hazel Dell/Salmon Creek Business Assoc. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 July 2010. <http://www.hdscba.org/packet.html>.
11. ^ Buck, Howard. "Steakburger staying put, preparing 50th-anniversary celebration | The Columbian ." The Columbian. N.p., 28 Apr. 2010. Web. 10 July 2010. <http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/apr/28/steakburger-anniversary/>.