Walla Walla, Washington
| Walla Walla | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| City of Walla Walla | |
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| Nickname(s): The City So Nice, They Named It Twice | |
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| Coordinates: 46°3′54″N 118°19′49″W / 46.065°N 118.33028°WCoordinates: 46°3′54″N 118°19′49″W / 46.065°N 118.33028°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Walla Walla |
| Area | |
| • Total | 10.8 sq mi (28.1 km2) |
| • Land | 10.8 sq mi (28.0 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 942 ft (287 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 31,731 |
| • Density | 2,744.9/sq mi (1,059.8/km2) |
| Time zone | Pacific (PST) (UTC−8) |
| • Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC−7) |
| ZIP code | 99362 |
| Area code | 509 |
| FIPS code | 53-75775[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1512769[2] |
| Website | Official Website |
Walla Walla is the largest city in and the county seat of Walla Walla County, Washington, United States.[3] The population was 31,731 at the 2010 census. Walla Walla is in the southeastern region of Washington, approximately four hours by car from Seattle, Washington and thirteen miles from the Oregon border.
Whitman College, Walla Walla Community College, and the Washington State Penitentiary are located in Walla Walla. Walla Walla University is located in nearby College Place, Washington. In addition, Baker Boyer Bank, the oldest bank in the state of Washington, was founded in Walla Walla in 1869.
Walla Walla is famous for its sweet onions. Many wineries are located in the area and it is a popular vacation spot for wine enthusiasts.
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[edit] History
On September 1, 1836, Marcus Whitman arrived with his wife Narcissa Whitman.[4] Here they established the Whitman Mission in an unsuccessful attempt to convert the local Walla Walla tribe to Christianity. Following a disease epidemic, both were killed by the Cayuse who believed that the missionaries were poisoning the native peoples. Whitman College was established in their honor.
The original North West Company and later Hudson's Bay Company Fort Nez Percés fur trading outpost, became a major stopping point for migrants moving west to Oregon Country. The fort has been restored with many of the original buildings preserved . The current Fort Walla Walla contains these buildings, albeit in a different location from the original, as well as a museum about the early settlers' lives.
The Walla Walla River, where it adjoins the Columbia River, was the starting point for the Mullan Road, constructed between 1859 and 1860 by US Army Lieut. John Mullan, connecting the head of navigation on the Columbia at Walla Walla (i.e., the west coast of the U.S.) with the head of navigation on the Missouri-Mississippi (that is, the east and gulf coasts of the U.S.) at Fort Benton, Montana.
Walla Walla was officially incorporated on January 11, 1862.[5] As a result of a gold rush in Idaho, during this decade the city became the largest community in the territory of Washington, at one point slated to be the new state's capital. The former Governor's mansion still stands in the southern part of the city. Following this period of rapid growth, agriculture became the city's primary industry.
[edit] Geography and climate
Walla Walla is located at 46°3′54″N 118°19′49″W / 46.065°N 118.33028°W (46.065094w, −118.330167e).[6]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.8 square miles (28.0 km2), of which, 10.8 square miles (28.0 km2) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2) of it (0.18%) is water.
| Climate data for Walla Walla, Washington (Walla Walla Regional Airport), 1981-2010 normals | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 70 (21) |
75 (24) |
79 (26) |
96 (36) |
100 (38) |
107 (42) |
114 (46) |
114 (46) |
104 (40) |
89 (32) |
80 (27) |
68 (20) |
114 (46) |
| Average high °F (°C) | 41.6 (5.3) |
46.5 (8.1) |
55.8 (13.2) |
63.2 (17.3) |
71.2 (21.8) |
79.6 (26.4) |
89.6 (32.0) |
88.6 (31.4) |
78.2 (25.7) |
64.1 (17.8) |
48.9 (9.4) |
38.9 (3.8) |
63.85 (17.69) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 30.6 (−0.8) |
32.5 (0.3) |
37.7 (3.2) |
42.3 (5.7) |
48.5 (9.2) |
54.7 (12.6) |
61.2 (16.2) |
61.1 (16.2) |
52.7 (11.5) |
43.3 (6.3) |
35.5 (1.9) |
28.5 (−1.9) |
44.05 (6.69) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −18 (−28) |
−16 (−27) |
4 (−16) |
20 (−7) |
26 (−3) |
36 (2) |
40 (4) |
42 (6) |
32 (0) |
19 (−7) |
−11 (−24) |
−24 (−31) |
−24 (−31) |
| Precipitation inches (mm) | 2.13 (54.1) |
1.75 (44.5) |
2.30 (58.4) |
1.81 (46) |
2.11 (53.6) |
1.28 (32.5) |
0.61 (15.5) |
0.60 (15.2) |
0.71 (18) |
1.59 (40.4) |
2.65 (67.3) |
2.15 (54.6) |
19.69 (500.1) |
| Snowfall inches (cm) | 3.1 (7.9) |
3.1 (7.9) |
0.9 (2.3) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0.1 (0.3) |
1.4 (3.6) |
4.7 (11.9) |
13.3 (33.8) |
| Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 13.0 | 10.5 | 12.3 | 10.2 | 9.6 | 7.3 | 3.2 | 2.7 | 3.9 | 7.8 | 13.9 | 13.2 | 107.6 |
| Avg. snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 2.5 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 3.3 | 9.3 |
| Sunshine hours | 50.5 | 83.4 | 173.8 | 221.7 | 288.5 | 326.3 | 384.5 | 344.4 | 268.8 | 199.2 | 67.8 | 40.3 | 2,449.2 |
| Source: NOAA [7][8]
source 2= weather.com[9] |
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[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 1,394 |
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| 1880 | 3,588 | 157.4% | |
| 1890 | 4,709 | 31.2% | |
| 1900 | 10,049 | 113.4% | |
| 1910 | 19,364 | 92.7% | |
| 1920 | 15,503 | −19.9% | |
| 1930 | 15,976 | 3.1% | |
| 1940 | 18,109 | 13.4% | |
| 1950 | 24,102 | 33.1% | |
| 1960 | 24,536 | 1.8% | |
| 1970 | 23,619 | −3.7% | |
| 1980 | 25,619 | 8.5% | |
| 1990 | 26,482 | 3.4% | |
| 2000 | 29,686 | 12.1% | |
| 2010 | 31,731 | 6.9% | |
As of the census[1] of 2000, there are 29,686 people, 10,596 households, and 6,527 families residing in the city. The population density is 2,744.9 people per square mile (1,059.3/km2). According to the census there are 11,400 housing units at an average density of 1,054.1 per square mile (406.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city is 83.79% White, 2.58% African American, 1.05% Native American, 1.24% Asian, 0.23% Pacific Islander, 8.26% from other races, and 2.85% from two or more races. 17.42% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 10,596 counted households, 30.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% are married couples living together, 11.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 38.4% are considered non-families by the U.S. government. 31.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 15.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.44 and the average family size is 3.08.
In the city the population is spread out with 21.8% under the age of 18, 14.2% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 17.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 34 years. For every 100 women there are 108.4 men. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 109.1 males. About 89% of the population is Christian.
The median income for a household in the city is $31,855, and the median income for a family is $40,856. Men have a median income of $31,753 versus $23,889 for women. The per capita income for the city is $15,792. 18.0% of the population and 13.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 22.8% of those under the age of 18 and 10.5% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
[edit] Economy and infrastructure
[edit] Agriculture
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This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2008) |
Though wheat is still a big crop, vineyards and wineries have become economically important over the last two decades. In summer 2006, there were over 100 wineries in the greater Walla Walla area. Following the wine boom, the town has developed several top-tier restaurants and hotels. The Marcus Whitman hotel, one of Washington's finest early 1900s hotels, was recently renovated with its original fixtures and furnitures. It is the tallest building in the city, reaching thirteen stories.
The Walla Walla Sweet Onion is another crop with a rich tradition. Over a century ago on the Island of Corsica, off the west coast of Italy, a French soldier named Peter Pieri found an Italian sweet onion seed and brought it to the Walla Walla Valley. Impressed by the new onion's winter hardiness, Pieri, and the Italian immigrant farmers who comprised much of Walla Walla's gardening industry, harvested the seed. The sweet onion developed over several generations through the process of carefully hand selecting onions from each year's crop, ensuring exceptional sweetness, jumbo size and round shape. The Walla Walla Sweet Onion is also designated under federal law as a protected agricultural crop. In 2007, the Walla Walla Sweet Onion became Washington's official state vegetable.[10]
Walla Walla Sweet Onions get their sweetness from low sulfur content, which is half that of an ordinary yellow onion. Walla Walla Sweets are 90 percent water. That, combined with Walla Walla's mild climate and rich soil, gives the onion its sweetness. The Walla Walla Sweet Onion Festival is held annually in July.
From asparagus and corn to cherries and strawberries, Walla Walla growers produce produce that is available to visitors at the farmers' market from May until October; located on the corner of 4th and Main. A selection of bakery treats, flowers and plants, creative arts, and craft items are also on sale at the farmers' market open 9:00am to 1:00pm both Saturday and Sunday.
[edit] Wine industry
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This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2008) |
Walla Walla has experienced an explosion in its wine industry over the last ten years. Producing some of the finest American wines, Walla Walla is quickly becoming a destination for wine connoisseurs the world over. Several of the wineries have received top scores from wine publications such as Wine Spectator, The Wine Advocate and Wine and Spirits. L'Ecole 41, Woodward Canyon and Leonetti Cellar were the pioneers starting in the 1970s and 1980s. They have been joined by many noteworthy producers like Walla Walla Village Winery, Cayuse Vineyards, Spring Valley Vineyards, Waterbrook Winery, Reininger Winery, Forgeron Cellars, Tamarack Cellars, Seven Hills Winery, Pepper Bridge Winery, Amavi Cellars, and Walla Walla Vintners as well as dozens of smaller wineries. Although most of the early recognition went to the wines made from Merlot and Cabernet, Syrah is fast becoming a star varietal in this appellation. Today there are over 100 wineries in the Walla Walla Valley and a host of shops catering to the wine industry.
Walla Walla Community College capitalizes on the opportunity to market the wine industry. The school offers an associate's degree in winemaking through its 4-year-old Institute of Enology and Viticulture, which operates its own commercial winery.
One challenge to growing grapes in Walla Walla Valley is the risk of a killing freeze during the winter. They average one every six or seven years and the last one, in 2004, destroyed about 75% of the wine grape crop in the valley.
The wineries generate over $100 million (US) to the valley annually.
[edit] Corrections industry
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This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2008) |
The largest prison in Washington is the Washington State Penitentiary (WSP) located in Walla Walla, at 1313 North 13th. Originally opened in 1887, it now houses about 2000 offenders. In addition, there are about 1000 staff members. In 2005, the financial benefit to the local economy was estimated to be about $55 million through salaries, medical services, utilities, and local purchases. Washington is a death penalty state, and occasional executions take place at the state pen, though the last execution took place on September 10, 2010. Washington is also one of two states to still allow hanging as a choice when sentenced to death[11] (the other being Delaware), there has not been a hanging since May 1994 (the default method of execution was changed to lethal injection in 1996). The penitentiary is undergoing an extensive expansion project that will increase the prison population to 2,500 violent offenders and double the staff size.
[edit] Transportation
Transportation to Walla Walla includes service by air through Walla Walla Regional Airport and highway access primarily from U.S. Route 12. Washington State Department of Transportation is now engaged in a long-term process of widening this road into a four-lane divided highway between Pasco and Walla Walla. The city is also served by Valley Transit and the Grape Line service to Pasco.
[edit] Sports
Walla Walla is home of the Walla Walla Sweets, a summer collegiate baseball team that plays in the West Coast League. The league comprises college players and prospects working towards a professional baseball career. Teams are located in British Columbia, Oregon and Washington. Home games are played at Borleske Stadium.
There also is a women's flat track rollerderby league called the Walla Walla Sweets Rollergirls, their practices and games are played at the Walla Walla YMCA.
Walla Walla is also the location of a road cycling Stage Race that is held in April. The races are held in the city of Walla Walla and in the nearby town of Waitsburg.
[edit] Fine & Performing Arts
The Walla Walla Valley supports a number of fine and performing arts institutions including the Walla Walla Valley Bands, Walla Walla Symphony, Walla Walla Choral Society and Little Theater. Whitman College produces outstanding theater and music performances each year, as does Walla Walla University.
The Walla Walla Valley Bands were formed in 1989 and currently boasts a Concert Band of more than 70, two Jazz Ensembles, Sax Quartet and Jazz Trio. The group provides the large group music ensembles for Walla Walla Community College and rehearses there weekly on Tuesday nights.
[edit] Sister cities
In 1972, Walla Walla established a sister city relationship with Sasayama, Japan.[12]
[edit] Etymology
Proud residents of the town often brag about it as "the town so nice they named it twice."[13] Walla Walla is a Native American name that means "Place of Many Waters." The original name of the town was Steptoeville named after Colonel Edward Steptoe.[14]
[edit] Notable residents
- Lebanese poet, writer, and philosopher Mikha'il Na'ima, author of "The Book of Mirdad", began his writing career in Walla Walla in 1919.
- American scholar of Islam and author - voted one of the West's most influential Muslim scholars by The Guardian - Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, was born in Walla Walla.
- NFL Quarterback Drew Bledsoe lived in Walla Walla while he was in high school before entering Washington State University in 1990. He was the first pick in the NFL draft in 1993, going to the New England Patriots, where he played until 2001. He later played for the Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys before retiring in 2007.
- The actor Adam West, TV's Batman, grew up in Walla Walla. Then known as Bill Anderson, he attended Walla Walla High School during his freshman and sophomore years before moving with his family to Seattle. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature and a minor in Psychology from Whitman College in Walla Walla.
- United States Army general and World War II hero Jonathan Wainwright was born in Walla Walla.
- Actor Connor Trinneer, from Star Trek: Enterprise, was born in Walla Walla.
- Ryan Crocker, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq (2007–2009), and Pakistan (2004–2007), and who also served as Ambassador to Syria, Kuwait, and Lebanon, graduated from Whitman College in 1971.[15]
- NFL wide receiver Charly Martin of the Carolina Panthers was born in Walla Walla in 1984.[16]
- William O. Douglas attended Whitman College in Walla Walla, graduating in 1920. He went on to become the longest-serving justice in the history of the United States Supreme Court.
- The Brode triplets, Wallace, Robert, and Malcolm, all of whom became distinguished scientists, were born in Walla Walla in 1900.
[edit] In popular culture
- The trading card game Magic: The Gathering was created at Whitman College during the 1993 school year.
- Among references in popular culture, Walla Walla is mentioned in many different Warner Bros. cartoons. The city is said to be the location for the headquarters of the fictional Little Giant Vacuum Cleaner Company in the 1953 animated short film A Mouse Divided and the fictional Acme Corporation in the Looney Tunes cartoons.
- American punk rock band The Offspring also wrote a song called "Walla Walla" about the nearby state penitentiary, on Americana, their fifth album.
- Jazz singer Nellie Lutcher had a 78-rpm release in the 1940s entitled "Wish I Was in Walla Walla". The song was written by Sharon A. Pease.
[edit] References
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ^ National Park Service: Whitman Mission
- ^ City of Walla Walla, Community Information
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ "NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. http://www.nws.noaa.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=pdt. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
- ^ "NOAA". NOAA. ftp://dossier.ogp.noaa.gov/GCOS/WMO-Normals/RA-IV/US/GROUP4/72788.TXT.
- ^ "weather.com". http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USWA0476.
- ^ The Spokesman-Review Apr 6, 2007
- ^ "Section 630.5, Procedures in Capital Murder". http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/lxii/630/630-5.htm. Retrieved 2006-04-27.
- ^ http://www.city.sasayama.hyogo.jp/esister.html
- ^ Beyette, Beverly (December 23, 2004). "Here's to you, Walla Walla". The Seattle Times. http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=nwwwallawalla23&date=20041223&query=town+nice+named+twice.
- ^ NWsource: Travel - Walla Walla, Washington Introduction : Overview
- ^ U.S. Department of State, http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/81479.htm
- ^ http://www.gobuffsgo.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/martin_charly00.html
[edit] Further reading
- MacGibbon, Elma (1904). Leaves of knowledge. Shaw & Borden Co. Available online through the Washington State Library's Classics in Washington History collection Elma MacGibbon's reminiscences of her travels in the United States starting in 1898, which were mainly in Oregon and Washington. Includes chapter "Walla Walla and southeastern Washington."
[edit] External links
- City of Walla Walla
- Walla Walla Valley Chamber of Commerce
- Walla Walla Tourism
- City of Walla Walla v. Walla Walla Water Company (U.S. Supreme Court Decision, 1898)
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