Sunnyside, Washington

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Sunnyside, Washington
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =

imagesize =
image_caption =


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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Sunnyside, Washington


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Washington
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Yakima

government_footnotes =
government_type = Council-Manager
leader_title = City Manager
leader_name = Eric C. Swansen (2008)
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title = Incorporated
established_date = 1902

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 15.4
area_land_km2 = 15.4
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 5.9
area_land_sq_mi = 5.9
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 13905
population_density_km2 = 903.6
population_density_sq_mi = 2340.4

timezone = Pacific (PST)
utc_offset = -8
timezone_DST = PDT
utc_offset_DST = -7
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 227
elevation_ft = 745
latd = 46 |latm = 19 |lats = 15 |latNS = N
longd = 120 |longm = 0 |longs = 44 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 98944
area_code = 509
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 53-68750GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1531913GR|3
website = http://www.ci.sunnyside.wa.us/
footnotes =

Sunnyside is a city in Yakima County, Washington, United States. The population was 13,905 at the 2000 census.

History

On September 16 1902, by a 42 to one vote, residents voted to incorporate as the town of Sunnyside. By state law a town needed to have 300 citizens in order to legally incorporate. With 314 residents, Sunnyside was just eligible to legally vote for incorporation.

The first mayor of Sunnyside was the town druggist James Henderson.

The settlement was originally founded by Walter Granger in 1893. The name "Sunnyside" was coined by a merchant named W. H. Cline. Granger was involved in the financing and construction of the Sunnyside Canal which would allow Yakima River water to irrigate the area. However, due to the Panic of 1893, Granger's creditors foreclosed on the canal, and the town's population dwindled to seven families.

Five years later, members of the German Baptist Progressive Brethren (also known as Dunkards) relocated to Sunnyside in order to form what they called the Christian Cooperative Colony. The Brethren bought the entire town site and soon developed its first bank, and a telephone system. They enforced clauses prohibiting alcohol, dancing, and gambling as a condition on every parcel of land sold. Because of this, old maps of Washington identify the town with a cross or halo symbol.

Sunnyside's population continued to increase as Dunkards from South Dakota moved to the town. Later, in the 1930s, refugees from the Dust Bowl also moved to Sunnyside. [ [http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=5316 Sunnyside incorporates on September 16, 1902. HistoryLink.org Essay 5316] ]

Under the leadership of mayor William Bright "Billy" Cloud (1870-1959), Sunnyside intiated a project to pave its dirt streets on June 5, 1917. The cost of the entire project was $62,629.45. [ [http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=8372 Sunnyside begins paving its streets on June 5, 1917. HistoryLink.org Essay 8372] ]

Attractions and events

Lighted Farm Implement Parade

First held in 1989, the "'Lighted Farm Implement Parade" has been called "the NW's premier lighted parade." [ [http://www.visityakima.com/information/events.cfm Calendar of Events and Attractions for Yakima Valley] ] Usually taking place in early December, the parade includes "farm implements: combines, boom trucks, sprayers, swathers, grape pickers, and all types of tractors" decorated with colorful lights. [ [https://secure.spokane.net/stay_connected/PressReleases.aspx?prid=1175 Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce Press Release: Sunnyside's 19th Annual Lighted Farm Implement Parade] ] The 2006 edition of the event had more than 70 parade entrants. The A&E network has named the event one of the "Top 10" such parades in the United States. [ [http://www.yvnewspapers.com/visitorguide/htdocs/communities/lower_valley/sunnyside/xmas_parade.html "Sunnyside's lighted Christmas parade is an awesome display"] ] The parade was the first of its kind in the Yakima Valley.

Darigold cheese factory

The "Darigold Dairy Fair" manufactures cheese, (150 million pounds of cheese annually [ [http://darigold.com/about_manufacturing.asp Manufacturing page on Darigold website] ] ) but is mostly noted for its colorful facade and circus-like decorations, which include a pair of cows swinging on a flying trapeze. [ [http://www.yvnewspapers.com/visitorguide/htdocs/communities/lower_valley/sunnyside/cheese_factory.html "Sunnyside cheese factory offers fun and fantasy, too"] ] Self-guided tours are available demonstrating how cheese is made. Cheese tasting and a gift shop are also on the premises.

Sunnyside Historical Museum

Located downtown, the museum houses and displays artifacts and documents with a focus on daily life in Sunnyside during its early years. [ [http://www.ci.sunnyside.wa.us/services/parks_rec/museum.php City of Sunnyside, Park and Recreation - Museum] ] [ [http://mid-columbiaonline.org/history.htm Museums, Heritage Centers, and Historical Societies in the Tri-Cities Washington Region] ]

Schools

There are 9 public and 4 parochial schools in Sunnyside.

Public schools

* Sunnyside High School
* Sierra Vista Middle School
* Harrison Middle School
* Chief Kamiakin Elementary School
* Pioneer Elementary School
* Washington Elementary School
* Sun Valley Elementary School
* Outlook Elementary School
* Sunnyside Early Learning Center

Private Schools

* Sunnyside Christian High School
* Sunnyside Christian Elementary School
* St. Joseph Elementary School
* Calvary Lutheran Pre-School and Kindergarten

Libraries

Sunnyside has one public library. The original public library, a Carnegie Library, was built in 1911. It was replaced in 1964 with the current library building. It is the second largest library in the Yakima Valley Regional Library System and has one of the largest Spanish language collections in the system. [ [http://www.yvrl.org/libraries/Sunnyside Sunnyside Public Library web site] ]

Notable citizens

* Bonnie J. Dunbar, NASA astronaut. She graduated from Sunnyside High School in 1967.

*Kristina Guerrero, Inside Edition television correspondent. [cite web|url=http://www.cbstvd.com/press_release_detail.aspx?newsID=31|title=Kristina Guerrero and Megan Alexander Join 'Inside Edition' as New Correspondents|date=December 10, 2007|accessdate=2008-09-10]

* Scott Linehan, head coach of the NFL's St. Louis Rams (2006-2008). Born and raised in Sunnyside, he graduated from Sunnyside High School in 1982.

* Jens Pulver, a boxer and MMA fighter, he was the first UFC lightweight champion. Born in Sunnyside December 6, 1974.

* Rob Thomas, creator of "Veronica Mars". Born in Sunnyside in 1965.

Geography

Sunnyside is located at coor dms|46|19|15|N|120|0|44|W|city (46.320798, -120.012232)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.9 square miles (15.4 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 13,905 people, 3,827 households, and 3,000 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,340.4 people per square mile (903.8/km²). There were 4,070 housing units at an average density of 685.0/sq mi (264.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 42.61% White, 0.40% African American, 0.63% Native American, 0.69% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 52.58% from other races, and 3.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 73.05% of the population.

There were 3,827 households out of which 50.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.6% were non-families. 18.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.58 and the average family size was 4.02.

In the city the population was spread out with 38.1% under the age of 18, 11.7% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 14.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,583, and the median income for a family was $28,304. Males had a median income of $25,187 versus $25,779 for females. The per capita income for the city was $10,366. About 29.1% of families and 34.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 46.2% of those under age 18 and 18.1% of those age 65 or over.

Climate

References

External links

* [http://www.ci.sunnyside.wa.us/ City of Sunnyside]
* [http://www.portofsunnyside.com/ Sunnyside Port Authority]
* [http://www.sunnysidechamber.com/index.htm Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.sunnyside.net/ "Daily Sun News"]