Sedro-Woolley, Washington

Coordinates: 48°30′N 122°14′W / 48.50°N 122.24°W / 48.50; -122.24
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Sedro-Woolley, Washington
City
Sedro-Woolley welcome sign, pictured in 2005
Sedro-Woolley welcome sign, pictured in 2005
Nickname: 
Woolley
Location of Sedro-Woolley in Washington state
Location of Sedro-Woolley in Washington state
Coordinates: 48°30′N 122°14′W / 48.50°N 122.24°W / 48.50; -122.24
CountryUnited States
StateWashington
CountySkagit
IncorporatedDecember 19, 1898
Government
 • TypeMayor–council
 • MayorJulia Johnson
 • City SupervisorDoug Merriman
Area
[1]
 • Total4.31 sq mi (11.16 km2)
 • Land4.31 sq mi (11.16 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)  0%
Elevation
56 ft (17 m)
Population
 (2010)[2]
 • Total10,540
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
12,072
 • Density2,801.58/sq mi (1,081.75/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (PST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
98284
Area code360
FIPS code53-63210
GNIS feature ID1512653[4]
Websiteci.sedro-woolley.wa.us

Sedro-Woolley (/ˈsiːdroʊˌwʊliː/) is a city in Skagit County, Washington, United States. It is part of the Mount Vernon–Anacortes, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area and had a population of 12,421 at the 2020 census. The city is home to North Cascades National Park.

History[edit]

Sedro-Woolley in 1906

Incorporated on December 19, 1898, Sedro-Woolley was formed from neighboring rival towns of Sedro (once known as Bug) and Woolley in Skagit County, northwestern Washington, 25 miles (40 kilometres) inland from the Puget Sound, 40 miles (64 kilometres) south of the border with Canada and 65 miles (105 kilometres) north of Seattle.[5]

Four British bachelors, led by David Batey, homesteaded the area in 1878, the time logjam obstructions were cleared downriver at the site of Mount Vernon.[6] In 1884–85, Batey built a store and home for the Mortimer Cook family from Santa Barbara, California where Cook had been mayor for two terms. Cook intended to name his new Pacific Northwest town Bug due to the number of mosquitos present, but his wife protested along with a handful of other local wives. Cook was already the namesake for the town Cook's Ferry on the Thompson River in British Columbia. With "Bug" being so unpopular, Cook derived a town name from Spanish; knowing "cedro" was the word for cedar, he replaced one letter to make the name unique, settling on "Sedro".[7]

Sedro, on the northern banks of the Skagit River, proved susceptible to floods. In 1889, Northern Pacific Railway developer Nelson Bennett began laying track from the town of Fairhaven, 25 miles (40 kilometres) northwest on Bellingham Bay, and real estate developer Norman R. Kelley platted a new town of Sedro on high ground a mile northwest of Cook's site. The Fairhaven and Southern Railroad arrived in Sedro on Christmas Eve, 1889, in time for Bennett to receive a performance bonus from the towns at both ends, and a month after Washington became the 42nd state in the Union.[8]

Within months, two more railroads crossed the F&S roadbed a half mile north of new Sedro, forming a triangle where 11 trains eventually arrived daily. Railroad developer Philip A. Woolley moved his family from Elgin, Illinois, to Sedro in December 1899 and bought land around the triangle. He built the Skagit River Lumber & Shingle Mill next to where the railroads crossed and he started his namesake company town there that was based on sales of railroad ties to the three rail companies, including the Seattle and Northern Railway (forerunner of the Great Northern Railway) and the Northern Pacific Railroad.

Shops on Metcalf Street, downtown Sedro-Woolley, May 2009.

Meanwhile, a fourth town rose nearby when the F&S laid rails on a "wye" that led northeast from Sedro about four and a half miles to coal mines. Bennett bought the mines, along with Montana mining financier Charles X. Larrabee, and they soon sold their interests to James J. Hill, owner of the Great Northern. The resulting ore soon turned out to be more suitable for coking coal and a town began there named Cokedale. Cokedale faded in importance when the mine declined and the other towns all merged on December 19, 1898, as Sedro-Woolley.[9]

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 into local history, demolishing fences, knocking over laundry lines and trees, telephone poles, and a Model T.

After logging and coal-mining declined, the major employers and industries became the nearby Northern State Hospital (a mental-health facility)[10] and Skagit Steel & Iron Works, which rose from the back room of a local hardware store to become a major supplier of implements and parts for logging and railroad customers. The firm manufactured machines and parts for the war effort in World War II and artillery shells, starting in 1953. By 1990, the company was gone and the hospital was closed but new industry, including robotics and aerospace, is developing north of town and on the campus of the old hospital.[11][12]

Government[edit]

The City of Sedro-Woolley is a non-charter code city that operates under a Mayor-Council form of government with seven councilmembers.[13] Six councilmembers are elected by wards and one is elected at-large.[14] Each councilmember serves a four-year term.[15] The mayor is elected at-large every four years and is responsible for the executive functions of the city.[16] The mayor appoints a city supervisor, subject to confirmation by the city council, who is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the city and oversees the department directors.[17][18] The municipal judge is appointed by the mayor, subject to confirmation of the city council, and operates independently of the other branches of government.[19]

Sedro-Woolley is a full-service city with its own police department, fire department, wastewater treatment plan, solid waste operation, storm water division, street department, parks department and administration. The city maintains a large number of public parks and open spaces such as Hammer Heritage Square in downtown Sedro-Woolley. Riverfront Park situated on the north bank of the Skagit River is the signature park. It consists of nearly 60 acres (240,000 m2) and includes picnic shelters, baseball fields, RV park, amphitheater, and an off-leash dog park. Every year on the 4th of July the city celebrates with a festive carnival, and hosts the Loggerodeo parade.

Education[edit]

The Sedro-Woolley School District operates public schools in the city as well as nearby communities, including Big Lake and Clear Lake. The district has one high school (Sedro-Woolley High School), one middle school, seven elementary schools, and several alternative schooling programs.[20] This includes a Job Corps center, known as Cascades,.[21]

Culture[edit]

Sedro-Woolley is the home of Loggerodeo, a celebration staged annually since the mid-1930s close to the Fourth of July. The annual event is well known in Western Washington and one of the oldest rural summer celebrations in the state with many of the events dating back more than 100 years. Loggerodeo features a carnival, foot-race, log drive, old-time logging show, championship rodeo, children's parade, the annual Fourth of July parade, and an invitation-only chainsaw carving competition. Favorite chainsaw carved log creations from the carving competitions of past years line the downtown Sedro-Woolley area. It is also home to the legendary Hal's Drive-In, an institution in the town for decades.[22]

Geography[edit]

Location of Sedro-Woolley, Washington
Location of Sedro-Woolley, Washington

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.81 square miles (9.87 square kilometres), all of it land.[23]

Climate[edit]

Sedro-Woolley has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Csb) according to the Köppen climate classification system, but nearly qualifies as having an Oceanic climate (Cfb) due to its less pronounced drying trend in summer, as compared with elsewhere in western Washington.

Climate data for Sedro-Woolley
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 67
(19) 		74
(23) 		82
(28) 		94
(34) 		95
(35) 		99
(37) 		98
(37) 		97
(36) 		91
(33) 		86
(30) 		76
(24) 		74
(23) 		99
(37)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 44.4
(6.9) 		48.7
(9.3) 		53.3
(11.8) 		59.6
(15.3) 		65.6
(18.7) 		70.1
(21.2) 		74.9
(23.8) 		74.9
(23.8) 		69.2
(20.7) 		60.5
(15.8) 		50.8
(10.4) 		45.6
(7.6) 		59.8
(15.4)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 32.4
(0.2) 		33.9
(1.1) 		36.3
(2.4) 		39.9
(4.4) 		44.3
(6.8) 		48.7
(9.3) 		50.4
(10.2) 		50.5
(10.3) 		47.2
(8.4) 		42.4
(5.8) 		37.4
(3.0) 		33.9
(1.1) 		41.5
(5.3)
Record low °F (°C) −2
(−19) 		−1
(−18) 		8
(−13) 		25
(−4) 		25
(−4) 		30
(−1) 		31
(−1) 		34
(1) 		28
(−2) 		20
(−7) 		3
(−16) 		1
(−17) 		−2
(−19)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 5.75
(146) 		4.21
(107) 		4.32
(110) 		3.56
(90) 		2.86
(73) 		2.56
(65) 		1.45
(37) 		1.71
(43) 		3.05
(77) 		4.61
(117) 		6.48
(165) 		6.05
(154) 		46.6
(1,180)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 3.3
(8.4) 		1.3
(3.3) 		1.4
(3.6) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0.7
(1.8) 		2.2
(5.6) 		8.9
(23)
Average precipitation days 19 16 18 15 13 11 6 7 11 15 20 20 171
Source: [24]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1900885—
19102,129140.6%
19202,37911.7%
19302,71914.3%
19402,9548.6%
19503,29911.7%
19603,70512.3%
19704,59824.1%
19806,11032.9%
19906,031−1.3%
20008,65843.6%
201010,54021.7%
202012,42117.8%
2021 (est.)12,509[25]0.7%

2010 census[edit]

As of the 2010 census,[2] there were 10,540 people, 3,995 households, and 2,609 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,766.4 inhabitants per square mile (1,068.1 inhabitants per square kilometre). There were 4,303 housing units at an average density of 1,129.4 per square mile (436.1 per square kilometre). The racial makeup of the city was 86.1% White, 0.3% African American, 1.9% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 6.8% from other races, and 3.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.0% of the population.

There were 3,995 households, of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.9% were married couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.7% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.12.

The median age in the city was 33.7 years. 27.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.2% were from 25 to 44; 22.7% were from 45 to 64; and 12.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.3% male and 51.7% female.

2000 census[edit]

As of the 2000 census, there were 8,658 people, 3,205 households, and 2,176 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,547.7 people per square mile (983.7 people/km2). There were 3,334 housing units at an average density of 981.1 per square mile (378.8/km2). 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 age distribution of the population shows 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.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  3. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Washington: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2019". United States Census Bureau. May 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  4. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. ^ "stumpranchonline.com/skagitjournal". Archived from the original on October 26, 2007. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  6. ^ "stumpranchonline.com/skagitjournal". Archived from the original on August 26, 2007. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  7. ^ "Mortimer Cook redirect". www.stumpranchonline.com. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  8. ^ "stumpranchonline.com/skagitjournal". Archived from the original on August 26, 2007. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  9. ^ There are extensive articles about these occurrences and local and Skagit River history at the online Skagit River Journal of History & Folklore (http://www.skagitriverjournal.com/).
  10. ^ "stumpranchonline.com/skagitjournal". Archived from the original on August 30, 2007. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  11. ^ Cauvel, Kimberley (January 10, 2018). "Sedro-Woolley road projects emphasize city development". Skagit Valley Herald. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  12. ^ Cauvel, Kimberley (May 29, 2018). "Sedro-Woolley to incorporate fiber into Fruitdale Road project". Skagit Valley Herald. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  13. ^ SWMC 1.28, RCW 35A.12
  14. ^ SWMC 1.12.080
  15. ^ SWMC 1.12.090
  16. ^ SWMC 1.12.100
  17. ^ SWMC 2.06.010
  18. ^ SWMC 2.06.030
  19. ^ SWMC 2.16, Washington State Constitution
  20. ^ "Public School District Directory Information: Sedro-Woolley School District". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  21. ^ "Cascades Job Corps Center | Job Corps". www.jobcorps.gov. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  22. ^ "Three Skagit Valley burger joints sure to make your mouth water". king5.com. April 22, 2019. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  23. ^ "U.S. Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  24. ^ "SEDRO WOOLLEY, WASHINGTON (457507)". Western Regional Climate Center. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  25. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Washington: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". United States Census Bureau. June 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2022.

External links[edit]

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