Henry McCleary came to the land in 1897, building two sawmills and a door manufacturing company. He sold the land and the companies to Simpson Logging Company, December 31, 1941. On January 9, 1943 the land became an incorporated city named after its founder.[5] The Henry McCleary House, designed by Joseph Wohleb, still stands in Olympia, Washington and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[6]
Since 1959, McCleary has held the annual Bear Festival with live performances and a parade. It originally began as a celebration of the spring bear hunt to control the local population, which endangered timber harvests, and included a serving of bear stew to the community.[7]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.07 square miles (5.36 km2), of which, 2.05 square miles (5.31 km2) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) is water.[9]
As of the 2010 census, there were 1,653 people, 699 households, and 427 families living in the city. The population density was 806.3 inhabitants per square mile (311.3/km2). There were 759 housing units at an average density of 370.2 per square mile (142.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.5% White, 0.8% African American, 1.0% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.4% from other races, and 3.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.4% of the population.
There were 699 households, of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.5% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.9% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.95.
The median age in the city was 37.4 years. 24.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.8% were from 25 to 44; 21.7% were from 45 to 64; and 17.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.7% male and 52.3% female.
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 1,454 people, 555 households, and 376 families living in the city. The population density was 800.2 people per square mile (308.5/km2). There were 583 housing units at an average density of 320.9 per square mile (123.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.36% White, 0.21% African American, 0.89% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.76% from other races, and 3.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.20% of the population.
There were 555 households, out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.0% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,769, and the median income for a family was $36,534. Males had a median income of $33,421 versus $25,417 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,249. About 12.2% of families and 17.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.9% of those under age 18 and 24.5% of those age 65 or over.
In 1901, there was a one-room class serving 60 students. In 1909, the district was official and a school was built on the current location. McCleary has since then had four remodels. It currently serves 13 Preschoolers and 281 K-8th graders.[12] In 1988, McCleary school district began a scholarship program for its students. When a student who completed their 8th grade class in McCleary Elementary School graduates high school, they are awarded a scholarship equal to the sum of $55 per year that they attended McCleary, including kindergarten. This scholarship may be used for college or any type of skilled training or trade school. Most high school students travel to Elma or Capital High School.
Infrastructure
In 2022, several fish passages were rebuilt on Middle Fork Wildcat Creek (a Cloquallum Creek tributary in McCleary) to restore natural paths for spawning salmon and trout. The project was part of a larger restoration of the Chehalis River basin and cost $1.7 million.[13]
