Sedro-Woolley, Washington

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Sedro-Woolley, Gateway to the North Cascades

Sedro-Woolley is a city in Skagit County, Washington, USA. The population was 8,658 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Mount Vernon-Anacortes, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area.

1 History
2 Local Culture
3 Geography
4 Demographics
5 External links

[edit] History

Officially incorporated on December 19, 1898, Sedro-Woolley was formed from two neighboring rival towns known as Sedro and Woolley.

The area formerly known as Sedro was first settled in 1884 by Mortimer Cook. He bought and cleared 34 acres along the Skagit River, near what is now Riverfront Park. He ran a general store there, opened a shingle mill and was the town's first postmaster.

Cook originally intended to name his town "Bug" due to the notable presence of mosquitos, however his wife protested, so he opted for "Cedra", the Spanish word for cedar, which then proceeded to become the town's official name. However, in an amusing fluke in local history, the correct spelling and pronunciation of this word was lost in the process and somehow became "Sedro".

The area that became known as Woolley (just north of Sedro) was first settled in 1890 by Philip A. Woolley. The town of Woolley included a coal processing plant employing approximately 2000 people.

On May 15, 1922, a large circus elephant known as Tusko escaped from the Al G. Barnes Circus, which was making one of its stops in Sedro-Woolley, at that time. The elephant stomped his way through the little logging town and right into local history, demolishing fences, knocking over laundry lines and trees, telephone poles, and a Model T along the way!

[edit] Local Culture

Sedro-Woolley is the home of the Loggerodeo. Chainsaw-carved log statues decorate street corners downtown.

[edit] Geography

Sedro-Woolley is located at 48°30′18″N, 122°14′6″W (48.504917, -122.234938)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.8 km² (3.4 mi²). 8.8 km² (3.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.29% is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 8,658 people, 3,205 households, and 2,176 families residing in the city. The population density was 983.2/km² (2,547.7/mi²). There were 3,334 housing units at an average density of 378.6/km² (981.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.97% White, 0.25% African American, 1.59% Native American, 0.81% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 3.25% from other races, and 2.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.23% of the population.

There were 3,205 households out of which 37.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.8% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,914, and the median income for a family was $40,918. Males had a median income of $35,215 versus $23,636 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,517. About 10.7% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.9% of those under age 18 and 16.1% of those age 65 or over.