The name Washougal originated from a Chinookan term of disputed meaning that was recorded by fur trader Alexander Ross in 1811 as "Wasough-ally"; other variants included "Washougally", "Washougally Camp", "Wa-Shu-Go", and "Washookal".[6]
History
Downtown Washougal facing north
The area around modern-day Washougal was originally home to the Watlala, an indigenous Chinookan-speaking group with settlements along the Columbia River. Among the first non-indigenous people to visit the area were the Corps of Discovery led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark in 1805 and 1806; they camped near the Washougal River during their return voyage in April 1806 and tentatively named it the "Seal River" and "Seacalf River".
English sailor Richard Ough (also spelled Howe) built a home in modern-day Washougal sometime between 1838 and 1841; he had arrived in the area to work at Fort Vancouver for the Hudson's Bay Company and later married the daughter of Cascade Chinook chief Schluyhus. Ough was followed in 1844 by a cohort led by David C. Parker, who built Parker's Landing and claimed 580 acres (230 ha) under the Donation Land Claim Act; among the settlers was George Bush, among the first African American settlers in the Pacific Northwest.[7] Parker's Landing, later renamed Parkersville, unsuccessfully applied for incorporation in 1852 or 1854; by this time, it had a hotel, bar, and a store and was a trading post along the river. A public school—claimed to be the first American school north of the Columbia River—was established in 1852–53.[8] A portion of Ough's own claim was sold to Joseph E. C. Durgin, who established a townsite in 1880 that was named Washougal; the new settlement overtook Parkersville and was platted on May 6, 1880.[6]
Washougal was connected to the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway in 1908 and was incorporated in November of that year. In 1910, a textile mill opened in the town and grew to become a major part of the area's economy; it was acquired by Pendleton Woolen Mills two years later.[7][9] A new east–west highway along the Columbia River (now part of State Route 14) opened in 1927 and aided development of summer homes and recreation areas near Washougal.[10][11] In the mid-to-late 20th century, Washougal became a bedroom community for workers in Vancouver and Portland, but grew slower than neighboring Camas.[6] Its Mount Pleasant Grange Hall is the oldest continually used grange hall in Washington.[citation needed]
Geography
Washougal is located 18 miles (29 km) east of Vancouver on the north bank of the Columbia River. It is bordered to the west by Camas and connected to other cities via State Route 14. The Washougal River, a tributary of the Columbia, runs along the north side of downtown and separates the city from neighboring Camas.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.30 square miles (16.32 km2), of which, 5.42 square miles (14.04 km2) is land and 0.88 square miles (2.28 km2) is water.[12]
Climate
This region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6 °F (22 °C). According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Washougal has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.[13]
Climate data for Washougal, Washington (1975–present)
The average household size was 2.76. 22.9% of the population was under 18, and 4.9% were under 5. 15.1% of people in Washougal were older than 65. The gender makeup of the city was 51.4% female and 48.6% male.[3]
2010 census
As of the census[16] of 2010, there were 14,095 people, 5,256 households, and 3,824 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,600.6 inhabitants per square mile (1,004.1/km2). There were 5,673 housing units at an average density of 1,046.7 per square mile (404.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.3% White, 0.6% African American, 1.0% Native American, 2.4% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 1.7% from other races, and 3.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.3% of the population.
There were 5,256 households, of which 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 27.2% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.07.
The median age in the city was 36.1 years. 26.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.1% were from 25 to 44; 27.1% were from 45 to 64; and 10.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.7% male and 50.3% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,595 people, 3,294 households, and 2,325 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,734.5 inhabitants per square mile (669.7/km2). There were 3,463 housing units at an average density of 698.8 per square mile (269.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.0% White, 0.4% African American, 1.26% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.83% from other races, and 2.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.51% of the population. 16.0% were of German, 10.7% English, 8.5% American, 7.4% Irish, 5.5% European and 5.1% Norwegian ancestry. 95.8% spoke English and 2.5% Spanish as their first language.
There were 3,294 households, out of which 37.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.3% were married couples living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 29.8% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $38,719, and the median income for a family was $52,293. Males had a median income of $37,351 versus $26,032 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,389. About 8.3% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.8% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.
Parks and recreation
Washougal is home to several recreational areas and public parks. Of these, Angelo Park, Beaver Park, Campen Creek Park, and Hathaway Park are four large municipal parks located in Washougal. There is also recreational fishing on the Washougal River, where steelhead trout and salmon flourish.
