Vorlage:Infobox settlement Othello is a city in Adams County, Washington, United States. The population was 5,847 at the 2000 census. Othello refers to the city as being in the “Heart” of the Columbia Basin Project. It is located approximately Vorlage:Convert southwest of Spokane, Vorlage:Convert east of Seattle, and about Vorlage:Convert south of Interstate 90, at the intersection of SR 17 and SR 26.
Othello has many outdoor recreation opportunities[1]. The Columbia National Wildlife Refuge is approximately 5 miles from the city and has 23,200 acres to enjoy fishing, hiking, biking, sightseeing, unique geographical development and wildlife viewing. The Coulee Corridor has been established, which is a tourism byway route beginning in Othello extending north to Coulee Dam along SR 17 and SR 155. There are several public golf courses in the area to enjoy and bird hunting has always been an asset to the area. Our wonderful, seasonal weather makes it pleasant to enjoy all types of outdoor recreation.
History
The first white settlers in the area were two brothers, Ben and Sam Hutchinson, who built a cabin along the Crab Creek in 1884. An influx of homesteaders began after the turn of the century, and a post office was established in 1904. The post office was named Othello after a post office also called Othello in Roane County, Tennessee.
The Chicago, Milwaukee, & St. Paul Railroad ran a track through Adams County in 1907. The railroad officially platted the town as a stop, with water to feed the boilers of steam trains. They kept the name Othello, and build a railyard and wooden roundhouse there. Although the roundhouse burned in 1919, it was replaced with a brick structure which lasted many years. Businesses and settlers continued to follow, and the town was incorporated May 31, 1910.[2] At the time the railroad was the eastern terminus of the second electrified district of the Milwaukee Road's "Pacific Extension" route, which extended up to Tacoma, Washington.
The Bureau of Reclamation located offices in Othello in 1947, which prevented the decline of this town with the decline of rail shipping after WWII. In the early 1950s, the Columbia Basin Project brought irrigation to the Othello area, increasing both agriculture and commerce. Prior to this, water came only from Crab Creek and from local wells. The water arrived via the East Canal between Billy Clapp Lake and Scootenay Reservoir in Franklin County. Once there was irrigation available, a land drawing was held in Othello. On May 31, 1952 42 names were drawn (of more than 7000 submitted) for the privilege of purchasing this newly-desirable acreage.[3]
From 1951 to 1973 the 637th Radar Squadron operated the Othello Radar Station near the town[4][5]. In 1958, an ice plant was opened in town to service railroad cars moving produce. Frozen food packaging came to town in the early 1960s, and has since become the main industry.[6]
Since 1998, Othello has also been home to the Sandhill Crane Festival, celebrating the annual arrival of Sandhill Cranes to the nearby Columbia National Wildlife Refuge.[7]
Geography
Othello is located at (46.823679, -119.167319)Vorlage:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.0 square miles (7.8 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusVorlage:GR of 2000, there were 5,847 people, 1,788 households, and 1,412 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,949.7 people per square mile (752.5/km²). There were 1,864 housing units at an average density of 621.6/sq mi (239.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 54.18% White, 0.53% African American, 1.01% Native American, 1.01% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 39.54% from other races, and 3.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 63.76% of the population.
There were 1,788 households out of which 48.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.0% were non-families. 17.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.24 and the average family size was 3.66.
In the city the population was spread out with 36.1% under the age of 18, 12.0% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females there were 103.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,291, and the median income for a family was $31,282. Males had a median income of $28,423 versus $21,455 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,409. About 18.4% of families and 24.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.5% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.
References
External links
Vorlage:Adams County, Washington
- ↑ "Othello, Washington". City of Othello website. Accessed May 2010.
- ↑ http://www.othello-wa.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=47&Itemid=77
- ↑ http://historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=8114
- ↑ http://www.othello-wa.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=42&Itemid=71
- ↑ http://www.radomes.org/museum/showsite.php?site=Othello+AFS,+WA
- ↑ http://historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=7835
- ↑ http://historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=7459