Shelton is a city in and the county seat of Mason County, Washington, United States.[3] Shelton is the western most city on the Puget Sound. The population was 8,442 at the 2000 census.[1] In terms of population, the city is ranked 161 out of approximately 500 municipalities in Washington. Shelton has a unique form of government in the State of Washington, being the only city in the state which still retains the commission form of government.
History
Simpson lumber mill in Shelton, on the Oakland Bay, viewed from the south-east.
Shelton was officially incorporated in 1890. Formerly called Sheltonville, the city was named after David Shelton, a delegate to the territorial legislature.[4]
Shelton was once served by a small fleet of steamboats which was part of the Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet. These boats included the Old Settler, Irene, Willie, City of Shelton, Marian, Clara Brown, and S.G. Simpson.[5] The economy was built around logging, farming, dairying and ranching as well as oyster cultivation.[4] The Simpson Timber Company mill on Puget Sound's Oakland Bay continues to dominate the landscape of the downtown area. Shelton also identifies itself as the "Christmas Tree Capital".
Geography
Shelton is located at 47°12′49″N 123°6′22″W / 47.21361°N 123.10611°W / 47.21361; -123.10611 (47.213702, -123.106088)[6].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.9 square miles (15.3 km²), of which, 5.6 square miles (14.4 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.9 km²) of it (5.60%) is water.
Demographics
| Historical populations |
| Census |
Pop. |
|
%± |
| 1890 |
648 |
|
—
|
| 1900 |
833 |
|
28.5% |
| 1910 |
1,163 |
|
39.6% |
| 1920 |
984 |
|
−15.4% |
| 1930 |
3,091 |
|
214.1% |
| 1940 |
3,707 |
|
19.9% |
| 1950 |
5,045 |
|
36.1% |
| 1960 |
5,651 |
|
12.0% |
| 1970 |
6,515 |
|
15.3% |
| 1980 |
7,629 |
|
17.1% |
| 1990 |
7,241 |
|
−5.1% |
| 2000 |
8,442 |
|
16.6% |
| Est. 2008 |
9,276 |
|
9.9% |
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 8,442 people, 3,191 households, and 2,035 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,519.4 people per square mile (586.2/km²). There were 3,403 housing units at an average density of 612.5/sq mi (236.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.83% White, 0.36% African American, 2.72% Native American, 1.17% Asian, 0.73% Pacific Islander, 5.77% from other races, and 3.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.87% of the population.
There were 3,191 households out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.8% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.7% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,500, and the median income for a family was $40,392. Males had a median income of $33,867 versus $23,617 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,303. About 15.3% of families and 18.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.1% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.
Notable natives
Schools
The Shelton School District is composed of seven schools:[9]
- Evergreen, Mountain View, and Bordeaux Elementary Schools teach kindergarten through fifth grade
- Olympic Middle School teaches sixth and seventh grades
- Oakland Bay Junior High teaches eighth and ninth graders
- Shelton High School covers tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grades
- CHOICE Alternative School teaches kindergarten through twelfth grade
External links
References
|
The Mosquito Fleet of Puget Sound |
|
| Sidewheelers |
|
”They managed to keep their particular sort of jaunty, wind-swept beauty until the end.” – Newell, Gordon R., Ships of the Inland Sea
|
|
| Sternwheelers |
|
|
| Propellers |
|
|
| Steamboat lines |
|
|
| Steamboat captains |
|
|
| Builders and shipyards |
|
|
Steamboats in other areas
of the Pacific Northwest |
|
|
