Goldendale, Washington

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Goldendale
settlement_type = City
nickname =
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Washington
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Klickitat
government_type =
leader_title =
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area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 6.1
area_total_sq_mi = 2.4
area_land_km2 = 6.1
area_land_sq_mi = 2.4
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0
area_water_percent =
area_urban_km2 =
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population_as_of = 2006
population_note =
population_total = 3759
population_metro =
population_urban =
population_density_km2 = 615.1
population_density_sq_mi = 1592.6
timezone = Pacific (PST)
utc_offset = -8
timezone_DST = PDT
utc_offset_DST = -7
latd = 45 |latm = 49 |lats = 16 |latNS = N
longd = 120 |longm = 49 |longs = 17 |longEW = W
elevation_m = 499
elevation_ft = 1637
website = [http://www.cityofgoldendale.com/ www.cityofgoldendale.com]
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 98620
area_code = 509
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 53-27435GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1505168GR|3
footnotes = Goldendale is a scenic rural agricultural city, and the county seat of Klickitat County, Washington, United States,GR|6 near the Columbia River Gorge. The population within city limits was 3,760 at the 2000 census. The current Zip code population is 7,325, according to Sperling's Best Places. A nationally known point of interest is north of town, Goldendale Observatory State Park. The valley area in which Goldendale is located has sweeping and dramatic views of mountainous areas to the north and west.

History

An early homesteader in the valley gave Goldendale its name in 1872. This was John Golden who helped the town get started. In 1878 Goldendale became the county seat. Other early towns in the county were White Salmon, Lyle, Bingen, Glenwood, Dallesport and Bickleton, all still in existence. Goldendale was officially incorporated on November 14, 1879.

Goldendale has remained the employment, business, commercial and banking center for the valley and as the County Seat, is the location for Klickitat County courts and county government offices. In recent years this small community has suffered from severe economic decline. The loss of tax base has taken it's toll on the funds available for maintaining the city's infrastructure.

Industry

A lumber mill and logging used to be major industries in the area but have since ceased to exist.

Farming, agriculture are still key industries in the area, but have seen some hard times over the years. Many farms being sold off and developed by local and non-local investors. Once beautiful farmland is now divided up into residential tracts.

An aluminum reduction plant was built next to the John Day Dam in 1968 bringing an era of growth and prosperity to Goldendale for many years. This plant added to the diversity of the Goldendale economy, employing about 1400 people in its prime and about 800 in its last ownership.

In 2003, the aluminum smelter temporarily (or so the workers were told) closed operations mainly due to high electricity costs and low world prices for aluminum. In reality its owner sold off power it purchased for producing aluminum, on the open market for a huge profit for himself and a handful of upper management personnel. The former employees were basically robbed of their retirement and most former employees are bitter and feel the aluminum plant former owner still owes them the retirement money that was taken from them. The aluminum plant tragically closed permanently, laying off many men and woman giving them no place for work. Many of the workers moved while others remained, went back to school and retrained for other occupations.

A gas fired power generation plant was built in town to provide affordable power for the aluminum plant. This never happened. The power never was used for the aluminum production, but the residents were told the power plant would provide jobs so most people supported its construction. It did provide some jobs during the 2 year construction phase. When that was over, owners of the power plant brought in their own employees from around the county to run the facility, providing virtually no job opportunities for the local residents as promised, but did provide Goldendale with an industrial eyesore to look at looming over the south edge of town. At this time Rabanco Regional Disposal is the largest single employer of residents in the Goldendale area.

Geography

Goldendale is located at coor dms|45|49|16|N|120|49|17|W|city (45.821117, -120.821380)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.1 km²), all of it land.

Goldendale's elevation at the County Courthouse is 498 meters (1636 feet).

The Little Klickitat River flows roughly east-to-west across the northern portion of the city. Bloodgood Creek, an entirely spring-fed year-round water source, runs through the northwest part of town and intersects with the Little Klickitat just west of the city. Both are sources of rainbow trout as well as being home to waterfowl such as the great blue heron and several species of duck. Bloodgood Creek provides a portion of Goldendale's drinking water and is capped at the source for that purpose.

US Highway 97 runs along the eastern boundary of the city and connects Goldendale with Interstate 84, 21 km (13 miles) south in the state of Oregon and State Route 14, which is 19 km (12 miles) south and runs along the Washington side of the Columbia River. State Route 142 creates a major east-west route through Goldendale, beginning at US 97 on the north end of town.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 3,760 people, 1,515 households, and 963 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,592.6 people per square mile (615.1/km²). There were 1,690 housing units at an average density of 715.8/sq mi (276.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.42% White, 0.21% African American, 4.63% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.27% Pacific Islander, 4.07% from other races, and 2.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.85% of the population.

There were 1,515 households out of which 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.4% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,030, and the median income for a family was $33,866. Males had a median income of $36,977 versus $22,289 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,111. About 21.9% of families and 25.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.5% of those under age 18 and 26.3% of those age 65 or over.

Climate

Goldendale is located within the arid area in eastern Washington known as a rain shadow, caused by the Cascade Mountains 40 miles to the west. Yearly rainfall averages 8 to 12 inches. This produces a landscape of open bunch-grass prairies dotted with sagebrush and rabbit brush containing the occasional juniper tree, while the more sheltered areas consist of ponderosa pine and oak savannahs. Overcast days are rare, occurring mostly in late fall and throughout winter. Summer temperatures can range well over 100 degrees, while winter, when most of the precipitation occurs, can see temperatures below zero, particularly in January. Summer thunderstorms occur intermittently, particularly in July and August, but due to high cloud bases, rain seldom reaches the ground in any appreciable amount. Lightning-caused range and forest fires are a common occurrence during this time of year, however. Spring flowers and green meadows and prairies make Goldendale a particularly beautiful site. Spring and summer can be very blustery since the Chinook winds off the Pacific Ocean which are funneled through the Columbia Gorge are common. Fall tends to be almost windless, and the autuminal oak leaves add a lovely touch of golden rust red to Observatory Hill on the north side of town.

References

External links

* [http://www.ci.goldendale.wa.us City website]