Kahlotus, Washington

Kahlotus, Washington
—  City  —
Kahlotus as seen from the Columbia Plateau Trail.
Nickname(s): Hole in The Ground, Home of the Koyotes
Location of Kahlotus, Washington
Coordinates: 46°38′42″N 118°33′18″W
Country	United States
State	Washington
County	Franklin
Area
• Total	0.4 sq mi (1.1 km2)
• Land	0.4 sq mi (1.1 km2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	902 ft (275 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	193
• Density	523.2/sq mi (202.0/km2)
Time zone	Pacific (PST) (UTC-8)
• Summer (DST)	PDT (UTC-7)
ZIP code	99335
Area code(s)	(509)282
FIPS code	53-34575
GNIS feature ID	1505893

Kahlotus is a city in Franklin County, Washington, United States. The population was 193 at the 2010 census.

History

The first organized settlement of Kahlotus was by German immigrants, imported by the railroads, in around 1880. Among these settlers were several locally recognized pioneer families, including Hans Harder, who first platted the town in 1902 under the name "Hardersburg". The town was later renamed Kahlotus. The meaning of the word "Kahlotus" is uncertain. It is believe by many that it is a Native American word meaning "Hole in the ground", but it may instead mean "stinking water" or "bad water" in reference to the highly alkaline water in the nearby lake. A third possibility is that the town was named for a Palouse tribal chief and signer of the Yakima Treaty of 1855. His name appeared with various spellings, including Kohlotus, Quillatose (by future governor Isaac Stevens), Qalatos, and Kahlatoose.

Harder's platting of the town coincided with the reinstatement of service on the Oregon & Washington Railroad & Navigation line between LaCrosse and Palouse Junction (now Connell), crossing the north end of town parallel to present-day Highway 260. Soon after, the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railroad began construction on a second railroad on the south shore of nearby Kahlotus lake, including tunnels through the basalt cliffs near the southeast corner of town. Kahlotus was officially incorporated on May 31, 1907. The town boomed during construction of the railroad, local legend claims that nearly 20 saloons, a bank, newspaper, brothels, and other businesses appeared to serve the railt crews.

Dryland farming has historically comprised the majority of the local economy. Relatively little irrigated agriculture occurs in the area, supported by local wells. The Columbia Basin Irrigation Project does not deliver water to Kahlotus.

In 1969, the initial phase of the Lower Monumental Dam was completed nearby, bringing more electricity and water for irrigation, but inundating the nearby Marmes Rockshelter. The dam also made the Snake River navigable, allowing grain to be barged downriver rather than being carried by train. Within a few years, the railroad through the north end of the valley was abandoned and removed. The Burlington Northern tracks along the south end of the lake bed and Devils Canyon were abandoned and removed in the late 1980s, and the right of way became part of the Columbia Plateau Trail State Park.

Kahlotus lake, near the east edge of town, was a highly alkaline, spring fed lake and was once a popular fishing spot full of bass and crappie. Several times in the early 20th century, the lake swelled with runoff and flooded the lower-lying portions of town. However, the lake shrank rapidly through the 1990s, and by 2000 only a small marshy area remained at the east end of the lake bed, far from town. Most likely, the lake disappeared due to a combination of several consecutive years of below average rainfall and increases in irrigation withdrawals within the valley.

Geography

Kahlotus is located at 46°38′42″N 118°33′18″W (46.644936, -118.554909).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1.1 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1910	132		—
1920	151		14.4%
1930	164		8.6%
1940	163		−0.6%
1950	151		−7.4%
1960	131		−13.2%
1970	308		135.1%
1980	203		−34.1%
1990	167		−17.7%
2000	214		28.1%
2010	193		−9.8%
U.S. Decennial Census Historical Population 1890-2000

As of the census of 2000, there were 214 people, 89 households, and 51 families residing in the city. The population density was 523.2 people per square mile (201.5/km²). There were 113 housing units at an average density of 276.3 per square mile (106.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.05% White, 0.93% African American, 0.93% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 9.35% from other races, and 3.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.21% of the population.

There were 89 households out of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.7% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.6% were non-families. 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the city the age distribution of the population shows 27.1% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 132.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 122.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $38,750, and the median income for a family was $38,958. Males had a median income of $31,786 versus $25,179 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,617. About 11.6% of families and 19.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.5% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those sixty five or over.