Coulee Dam, Washington

Coulee Dam is a town in Douglas, Grant, and Okanogan counties in the state of Washington. The Douglas County portion of Coulee Dam is part of the WenatcheeEast Wenatchee Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,211 as of the 2020 census.[2]

Coulee Dam
Town
Coulee Dam, Washington
Location of Coulee Dam, Washington
Location of Coulee Dam, Washington
Coordinates: 47°58′6″N 118°58′41″W / 47.96833°N 118.97806°W / 47.96833; -118.97806
CountryUnited States
StateWashington
CountiesOkanogan, Douglas, Grant
Area
 • Total
0.79 sq mi (2.05 km2)
 • Land0.72 sq mi (1.85 km2)
 • Water0.07 sq mi (0.19 km2)
Elevation
1,145 ft (349 m)
Population
 • Total
1,211
 • Density1,508.38/sq mi (582.56/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
99116
Area code509
FIPS code53-15115
GNIS feature ID1504196[3]
Websitetownofcouleedam.org

History

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Dam under construction, possibly around 1937

Coulee Dam was founded by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in 1933, to serve as headquarters for the construction of the Grand Coulee Dam. The Okanogan County portion was known as Mason City, location of the head contractor. The portions in Douglas and Grant Counties were known as Engineers Town and were government-owned. In 1942, with the end of the contract in sight, CBI transferred control of Mason City to the Municipal Division of the Columbia Basin Project. In 1948, Mason City was incorporated into Coulee Dam. The government began the process of selling the town to the public in 1957, finishing in 1959. Coulee Dam was officially incorporated as a town on February 26, 1959.

It is the headquarters of Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area and home to one of the world's largest man-made piles of sand, a 12,000,000-cubic-yard (9,200,000 m3), 230-foot (70 m)-high hill remaining from dam construction.

Geography

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Coulee Dam is located at 47°58′6″N 118°58′41″W / 47.96833°N 118.97806°W / 47.96833; -118.97806 (47.968467, -118.978162).[4]

The Okanogan County portion lies within the Colville Indian Reservation, and forms the southern limit of the Okanogan Highlands.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.78 square miles (2.02 km2), of which, 0.72 square miles (1.86 km2) is land and 0.06 square miles (0.16 km2) is water.[5]

Climate

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This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Coulee Dam has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.[6]

Climate data for Coulee Dam, WA
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 57
(14)
61
(16)
74
(23)
92
(33)
100
(38)
105
(41)
113
(45)
110
(43)
104
(40)
90
(32)
69
(21)
58
(14)
113
(45)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 32.2
(0.1)
39.7
(4.3)
50.7
(10.4)
61.7
(16.5)
71.0
(21.7)
78.5
(25.8)
87.6
(30.9)
86.4
(30.2)
77.2
(25.1)
61.5
(16.4)
43.6
(6.4)
34.4
(1.3)
60.4
(15.8)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 21.6
(−5.8)
25.7
(−3.5)
31.5
(−0.3)
38.2
(3.4)
45.8
(7.7)
52.5
(11.4)
58.3
(14.6)
57.5
(14.2)
50.3
(10.2)
40.6
(4.8)
31.4
(−0.3)
24.6
(−4.1)
39.8
(4.3)
Record low °F (°C) −17
(−27)
−15
(−26)
0
(−18)
20
(−7)
27
(−3)
36
(2)
32
(0)
38
(3)
30
(−1)
10
(−12)
−10
(−23)
−16
(−27)
−17
(−27)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 1.07
(27)
0.92
(23)
0.88
(22)
0.83
(21)
1.10
(28)
1.04
(26)
0.47
(12)
0.41
(10)
0.49
(12)
0.72
(18)
1.24
(31)
1.39
(35)
10.55
(268)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 6.1
(15)
2.5
(6.4)
0.8
(2.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
1.5
(3.8)
4.6
(12)
15.5
(39)
Source: [7]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
19601,344
19701,4256.0%
19801,412−0.9%
19901,087−23.0%
20001,044−4.0%
20101,0985.2%
20201,21110.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
2020 Census[2]

2010 census

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As of the 2010 census,[9] there were 1,098 people, 459 households, and 301 families living in the town. The population density was 1,525.0 inhabitants per square mile (588.8/km2). There were 534 housing units at an average density of 741.7 per square mile (286.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 55.0% White, 0.5% African American, 35.5% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 2.4% from other races, and 5.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.7% of the population.

There were 459 households, of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% were married couples living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.4% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.93.

The median age in the town was 41.6 years. 24.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.1% were from 25 to 44; 28.8% were from 45 to 64; and 17.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.9% male and 50.1% female.

2000 census

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As of the 2000 census, there were 1,044 people, 448 households, and 305 families living in the town. The population density was 1,532.5 people per square mile (592.8/km2). There were 499 housing units at an average density of 732.5 per square mile (283.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 64.56% White, 0.29% African American, 29.12% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.57% from other races, and 4.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.78% of the population.

There were 448 households, out of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.74.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.9% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 20.7% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 20.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $37,391, and the median income for a family was $45,066. Males had a median income of $38,000 versus $22,500 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,791. About 6.7% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.9% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.

Notable person

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References

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  1. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "2020 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File". American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  3. ^ "Coulee Dam". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  5. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  6. ^ Climate Summary for Coulee Dam, Washington
  7. ^ "COULEE DAM 1 SW, WASHINGTON (451767)". Western Regional Climate Center. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  8. ^ United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved October 4, 2013.
  9. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 19, 2012.