Editing Aberdeen, Washington

{{short description|City in Washington, U.S.}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Aberdeen, Washington
|settlement_type          = [[City government in Washington (state)|City]]
|nickname                 = Port of Missing Men
|motto                    = [[Come as You Are (Nirvana song)|Come As You Are]]
|image_skyline            = Aberdeen, WA - Downtown & Wishkah River from Rt 101.jpg
|image_caption            = Downtown & Wishkah River from Route 101
|image_flag               = Flag of Aberdeen, Washington.svg
|image_map                = Grays_Harbor_County_Washington_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Aberdeen_Highlighted.svg
|map_caption              = Location of Aberdeen in Grays Harbor County
<!-- Location ----->
|coordinates              = {{coord|46|57|31|N|123|48|38|W|region:US-WA_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Washington|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Grays Harbor County, Washington|Grays Harbor]]
<!-- Government ----->
|government_footnotes     = <ref>{{cite web|title=City Council|url=https://www.aberdeenwa.gov/275/City-Council|publisher=City of Aberdeen, Washington|access-date=October 30, 2024}}</ref>
|government_type          = [[Mayor–council government|Mayor–council]]
|leader_title             = Mayor
|leader_name              = 
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         = 1884
|established_title1       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date1        = May 12, 1890
<!-- Area ------->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2024">{{cite web|title=2024 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_gaz_place_53.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 30, 2024}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 32.57
|area_land_km2            = 28.16
|area_water_km2           = 4.41
|area_total_sq_mi         = 12.58
|area_land_sq_mi          = 10.87
|area_water_sq_mi         = 1.70
<!-- Population ----->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
|population_total         = 17013
|population_density_km2   = 604.19
|population_density_sq_mi = 1564.87
|population_est           = 17014
|pop_est_as_of            = 2023
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="USCensusEst2023"/>
|population_urban         = 26603<ref name="urban area">{{cite web |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/12/29/2022-28286/2020-census-qualifying-urban-areas-and-final-criteria-clarifications|title=2020 Census Qualifying Urban Areas and Final Criteria Clarifications|author=United States Census Bureau|website=Federal Register|date=October 30, 2024}}</ref>
|population_metro         = 77290
|population_demonym       = Aberdonian
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific (PST)]]
|utc_offset               = −8
|timezone_DST             = PDT
|utc_offset_DST           = −7
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 3
<!-- Area/postal codes and others -->
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
|postal_code              = 98520
|area_code                = [[Area code 360|360]] and [[Area code 564|564]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 53-00100
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2409655<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2409655}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://www.aberdeenwa.gov/|aberdeenwa.gov}}
}}

'''Aberdeen''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|æ|b|ər|d|iː|n}} {{respell|AB|ər|deen}}) is a city in [[Grays Harbor County, Washington]], United States. The population was 17,013 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Aberdeen_city,_Washington?g=160XX00US5300100 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=November 9, 2023}}</ref> The city is the most populous in Grays Harbor County and the region's economic center, bordering the cities of [[Hoquiam, Washington|Hoquiam]] and [[Cosmopolis, Washington|Cosmopolis]]. Aberdeen is occasionally referred to as the "Gateway to the [[Olympic Peninsula]]".

==History==
Samuel Benn, a [[New York City]] native, established a homestead on the [[Chehalis River (Washington)|Chehalis River]] in 1859 and later [[plat]]ted a town at the site named Aberdeen. According to accounts collected by historian [[Edmond S. Meany]], the name has two possible origins: from the [[Ilwaco, Washington|Ilwaco]]-based Aberdeen Packing Company, which opened a [[cannery]] on the homestead in 1873;<ref name="HistoryLink"/> or from the Scottish city of [[Aberdeen]], named by an early settler who had lived in Scotland.<ref>{{cite book |last=Meany |first=Edmond S. |author-link=Edmond S. Meany |year=1923 |title=Origin of Washington Geographic Names |page=1 |publisher=[[University of Washington Press]] |oclc=1963675 |url=https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/001444300 |via=[[HathiTrust]] |accessdate=February 26, 2024}}</ref> Like the Scottish city, Aberdeen is a port settlement situated at the mouth of two rivers—the Chehalis and the [[Wishkah River|Wishkah]].<ref name="HistoryLink"/> An earlier name for the settlement was Heraville, which was recorded by Benn.<ref name="HistoryLink"/>

The city was founded by Samuel Benn in 1884 and incorporated on May 12, 1890. Although it became the largest and best-known city in [[Grays Harbor]], Aberdeen lagged behind nearby [[Hoquiam, Washington|Hoquiam]] and [[Cosmopolis, Washington|Cosmopolis]] in its early years. When A.J. West built the town's first sawmill in 1894, the other two municipalities had been in business for several years. Aberdeen and its neighbors vied to be the terminus for [[Northern Pacific Railroad]], but instead of ending at one of the established mill towns, the railroad skimmed through Cosmopolis and headed west for [[Ocosta, Washington|Ocosta]].<ref name="HistoryLink">{{cite web |last=Ott |first=Jennifer |date=November 2, 2009 |title=Aberdeen — Thumbnail History |url=https://www.historylink.org/File/7390 |work=[[HistoryLink]] |access-date=May 27, 2019}}</ref> Hoquiam and Aberdeen citizens together built a spur; in 1895, the line connected Northern Pacific tracks to Aberdeen.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Aberdeen, Washington, United States |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Aberdeen-Washington |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopaedia Britannica]] |access-date=May 27, 2019}}</ref>

[[File:Clam and salmon cannery of the Ellmore Packing Co, Aberdeen, Washington, 1915 (COBB 244).jpeg|thumb|Ellmore Packing Co. clam and salmon cannery in Aberdeen, 1915]]
By 1900, Aberdeen had become home to many [[Bar (establishment)|saloons]], [[brothel]]s, and gambling establishments. It was nicknamed "The Hellhole of the Pacific", as well as  "The Port of Missing Men" due to its high murder rate. One notable resident was [[Billy Gohl]], known locally as Billy "Ghoul", who was rumored to have killed at least 140 men, disposing of the bodies in the Wishkah River.<ref>{{Cite web|date=December 16, 2020|title=There's more to the Bill Gohl story than you know|url=https://www.thedailyworld.com/news/theres-more-to-the-bill-gohl-story-than-you-know/|access-date=November 2, 2021|website=The Daily World|language=en-US}}</ref> Gohl was ultimately convicted of two murders.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.tacomapubliclibrary.org/v2/nwroom/morgan/Gohl.htm|title=Billy Gohl of Grays Harbor|work=Tacoma Public Library|access-date=September 6, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024225341/http://www2.tacomapubliclibrary.org/v2/nwroom/morgan/Gohl.htm|archive-date=October 24, 2008}}</ref>

Aberdeen was hit hard during the [[Great Depression]], with the number of major local sawmills reduced from 37 to 9. By the late 1970s, most of the area had been logged and the remaining mills closed during the next decade. By the early 1990s, the industry was decimated due to resource reduction. Local political and business leaders ignored this fact and did not pursue economic diversification.<ref>{{cite web |title=History of Aberdeen |url=https://aberdeenwa.gov/history-of-aberdeen/ |publisher=City of Aberdeen |access-date=May 27, 2019 |archive-date=May 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527140202/https://aberdeenwa.gov/history-of-aberdeen/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> {{Better source needed|date=February 2025}}

==Geography==
Aberdeen is at the eastern end of Grays Harbor, near the mouth of the [[Chehalis River (Washington)|Chehalis River]] and southwest of the [[Olympic Mountains]]. Grays Harbor is notable as the northernmost [[ria]] on North America's Pacific Coast because it has remained free of glaciers throughout the Quaternary due to unfavorable topography and warm temperatures. It is thought that, during glacial periods of the Quaternary, the Chehalis River was a major [[refugium (population biology)|refugium]] for aquatic species, as was the west coast from the Olympic Peninsula southward for plants that later formed the northern part of the [[Pacific temperate rainforest]] in formerly glaciated areas.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|12.58|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|10.87|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|1.70|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2024"/>

===Climate===
Aberdeen experiences a climate on the boundary between [[mediterranean climate|Mediterranean]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Csb'') and [[oceanic climate|oceanic]] (Köppen ''Cfb''). Although rainfall is extremely high between October and March, July and August still have a distinct excess of evaporation over rainfall. Temperatures are generally very mild due to the proximity of the warm Pacific Ocean and the [[Kuroshio Current]]. Snow is very common but usually light, with one exception being December 1964 during which {{convert|22.3|in|m|2|disp=or}} fell. Occasionally, southeasterly winds can cause very high temperatures. For example, in August 1981, the temperature in Aberdeen reached {{convert|105|F|C|1}}.
{{Weather box |width = 75%
|location = Aberdeen, Washington, (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1891–2022)
|single line = Y
|collapsed = Y
| Jan record high F = 66
| Feb record high F = 73
| Mar record high F = 82
| Apr record high F = 88
| May record high F = 92
| Jun record high F = 96
| Jul record high F = 105
| Aug record high F = 105
| Sep record high F = 100
| Oct record high F = 86
| Nov record high F = 73
| Dec record high F = 63
| year record high F = 108
| Jan avg record high F = 55.8
| Feb avg record high F = 60.6
| Mar avg record high F = 67.6
| Apr avg record high F = 73.9
| May avg record high F = 81.4
| Jun avg record high F = 81.9
| Jul avg record high F = 84.5
| Aug avg record high F = 87.1
| Sep avg record high F = 85.0
| Oct avg record high F = 75.6
| Nov avg record high F = 61.1
| Dec avg record high F = 55.6
| year avg record high F = 92.2
| Jan high F = 47.8
| Feb high F = 50.3
| Mar high F = 53.3
| Apr high F = 56.6
| May high F = 61.4
| Jun high F = 64.7
| Jul high F = 68.2
| Aug high F = 69.3
| Sep high F = 68.7
| Oct high F = 61.0
| Nov high F = 52.3
| Dec high F = 47.0
|year high F = 58.4
|Jan mean F = 42.5
|Feb mean F = 43.5
|Mar mean F = 45.8
|Apr mean F = 48.8
|May mean F = 54.0
|Jun mean F = 58.0
|Jul mean F = 61.2
|Aug mean F = 61.8
|Sep mean F = 59.9
|Oct mean F = 52.9
|Nov mean F = 45.9
|Dec mean F = 41.7
|year mean F =
| Jan low F = 37.3
| Feb low F = 36.7
| Mar low F = 38.4
| Apr low F = 41.1
| May low F = 46.6
| Jun low F = 51.2
| Jul low F = 54.2
| Aug low F = 54.4
| Sep low F = 51.1
| Oct low F = 44.8
| Nov low F = 39.6
| Dec low F = 36.5
|year low F = 44.3
| Jan avg record low F = 27.2
| Feb avg record low F = 27.6
| Mar avg record low F = 30.3
| Apr avg record low F = 32.9
| May avg record low F = 37.6
| Jun avg record low F = 44.1
| Jul avg record low F = 48.2
| Aug avg record low F = 47.9
| Sep avg record low F = 43.1
| Oct avg record low F = 34.7
| Nov avg record low F = 29.3
| Dec avg record low F = 26.8
| year avg record low F = 23.2
| Jan record low F = 6
| Feb record low F = 8
| Mar record low F = 18
| Apr record low F = 20
| May record low F = 25
| Jun record low F = 32
| Jul record low F = 34
| Aug record low F = 36
| Sep record low F = 30
| Oct record low F = 19
| Nov record low F = 11
| Dec record low F = 6
|year record low F= 6
| Jan precipitation inch = 13.93
| Feb precipitation inch = 8.58
| Mar precipitation inch = 9.76
| Apr precipitation inch = 6.28
| May precipitation inch = 3.46
| Jun precipitation inch = 2.40
| Jul precipitation inch = 0.91
| Aug precipitation inch = 1.52
| Sep precipitation inch = 2.73
| Oct precipitation inch = 8.27
| Nov precipitation inch = 13.72
| Dec precipitation inch = 13.38
|year precipitation inch = 84.94
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation days = 22.2
| Feb precipitation days = 18.6
| Mar precipitation days = 21.7
| Apr precipitation days = 19.1
| May precipitation days = 13.6
| Jun precipitation days = 12.4
| Jul precipitation days = 6.6
| Aug precipitation days = 6.9
| Sep precipitation days = 9.4
| Oct precipitation days = 17.6
| Nov precipitation days = 21.5
| Dec precipitation days = 22.5
|unit precipitation days = 0.01&nbsp;inch
| Jan snow inch = 0.0
| Feb snow inch = 0.1
| Mar snow inch = 0.2
| Apr snow inch = 0.0
| May snow inch = 0.0
| Jun snow inch = 0.0
| Jul snow inch = 0.0
| Aug snow inch = 0.0
| Sep snow inch = 0.0
| Oct snow inch = 0.0
| Nov snow inch = 0.2
| Dec snow inch = 0.0
|year snow inch=0.5
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 0.0
|Feb snow days = 0.1
|Mar snow days = 0.0
|Apr snow days = 0.0
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.2
|Dec snow days = 0.0
|year snow days = 
| source 1 = NOAA<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=sew |title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data |publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date = July 15, 2022}}</ref><ref>
{{cite web|url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00450008&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Aberdeen, WA
|access-date = February 17, 2023}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1890= 1638
|1900= 3747
|1910= 13660
|1920= 15337
|1930= 21723
|1940= 18846
|1950= 19653
|1960= 18741
|1970= 18489
|1980= 18739
|1990= 16565
|2000= 16461
|2010= 16896
|2020= 17013
|estyear=2023
|estimate=17014
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |date=October 30, 2024|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020–2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 30, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
}}

As of the 2022 [[American Community Survey]], there are 6,441 estimated households in Aberdeen with an average of 2.59 persons per household. The city has a median household income of $50,008. Approximately 21.0% of the city's population lives at or below the [[Poverty in the United States|poverty line]]. Aberdeen has an estimated 54.6% employment rate, with 16.6% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 84.8% holding a high school diploma.<ref>{{Cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Aberdeen city, Washington|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/aberdeencitywashington/PST045223|access-date=October 30, 2024|website=www.census.gov|language=en}}</ref>

The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (83.7), Spanish (14.1%), Other Indo-European (0.5%), Asian and Pacific Islander (0.9%), and Other (0.8%).

The median age in the city was 37.1 years.

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Aberdeen, Washington – racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
! Race / ethnicity <small>(''NH = non-Hispanic'')</small>
! Pop. 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Aberdeen city, Washington|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALSF12000.P004?g=160XX00US5300100|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=October 30, 2024}}</ref>
! Pop. 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Aberdeen city, Washington|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US5300100&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=October 30, 2024}}</ref>
! {{partial|Pop. 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Aberdeen city, Washington|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US5300100&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=October 30, 2024}}</ref>
! % 2000
! % 2010
! {{partial|% 2020}}
|-
| [[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
| 13,530
| 12,610
| style='background: #ffffe6; |11,530
| 82.19%
| 74.63%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |67.77%
|-
| [[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
| 62
| 118
| style='background: #ffffe6; |202
| 0.38%
| 0.70%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |1.19%
|-
| [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
| 552
| 515
| style='background: #ffffe6; |540
| 3.35%
| 3.05%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |3.17%
|-
| [[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
| 331
| 302 
| style='background: #ffffe6; |308
| 2.01%
| 1.79%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |1.81%
|-
| [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
| 21
| 45
| style='background: #ffffe6; |32
| 0.13%
| 0.27%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |0.19%
|-
| [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
| 16
| 19
| style='background: #ffffe6; |91
| 0.10%
| 0.11%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |0.53%
|-
| [[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or multiracial]] (NH)
| 431
| 609
| style='background: #ffffe6; |1,102
| 2.62%
| 3.60%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |6.48%
|-
| [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
| 1,518
| 2,678
| style='background: #ffffe6; |3,208
| 9.22%
| 15.85%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |18.86%
|-
| '''Total'''
| '''16,461'''
| '''16,896'''
| style='background: #ffffe6; |'''17,013'''
| '''100.00%'''
| '''100.00%'''
| style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 17,013 people, 6,449 households, and 3,881 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Aberdeen%20city,%20Washington%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=October 30, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The [[population density]] was {{convert|1564.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 7,236 housing units at an average density of {{convert|665.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. The racial makeup was 72.19% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.31% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 4.01% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.85% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.21% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 9.59% from some other races and 10.84% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] people of any race were 18.86% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web|title=How many people live in Tukwila city, Washington |url=https://data.usatoday.com/census/total-population/total-population-change/aberdeen-city-washington/160-5300100/ |access-date=October 30, 2024 |publisher=USA Today}}</ref> 26.1% of residents were under the age of 18, 6.2% were under 5 years of age, and 17.6% were 65 and older.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 16,896 people, 6,476 households, and 4,020 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1586.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 7,338 housing units at an average density of {{convert|689.0|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup was 80.40% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.80% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 3.65% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.89% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.29% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 8.04% from some other races and 4.93% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] people of any race were 15.85% of the population.

There were 6,476 households, of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no spouse present, 7.1% had a male householder with no spouse present, and 37.9% were non-families. 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.10.

The median age in the city was 35.6 years. 24.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.8% were from 25 to 44; 26% were from 45 to 64; and 13% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.8% male and 50.2% female.

===Crime===
{{Infobox UCR
|city_name= Aberdeen
|year= 2023
|violent_crime= 77
|homicide= 0
|rape= 21
|robbery= 14
|aggravated_assault= 42
|property_crime= 587
|arson= 6
|burglary= 82
|larceny_theft= 435
|motor_vehicle_theft= 64
|source_url= https://cde.ucr.cjis.gov/LATEST/webapp/#/pages/explorer/crime/crime-trend
|source_name= 2023 FBI UCR Data
|notes= 2023 population: 17,014
}}

According to the [[Uniform Crime Report]] statistics compiled by the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI) in 2023, there were 77 violent crimes and 587 property crimes per 100,000 residents. Of these, the violent crimes consisted of 0 murder, 21 forcible rapes, 14 robberies and 42 aggravated assaults, while 82 burglaries, 435 larceny-thefts, 64 motor vehicle thefts and 6 acts of arson defined the property offenses.

==Economy==
Aberdeen and the rest of Grays Harbor remain dependent on timber, fishing, and tourism industries and as a regional service center for much of the Olympic Peninsula.{{Citation needed|date=October 2019}} Grays Harbor Community Hospital employees total more than 600 workers.<ref name="employers_list">{{cite web |title=Major Employers |url=https://graysharbor.org/business/employers/ |website=Greater Grays Harbor |access-date=October 21, 2019}}</ref>  Historically the area is dependent on harvesting and exporting natural resources. The Port of Grays Harbor is the largest coastal shipping port north of California.{{Citation needed|date=October 2019}} It is still a center for the export of logs on the west coast of the U.S. and has become one of the largest centers for the shipment of autos<ref>{{cite news |title=Auto Exports Increase At Port Of Grays Harbor |url=https://www.portofgraysharbor.com/news/2011/Auto-exports-increase.php |access-date=October 21, 2019 |work=Port of Grays Harbor Newsroom |date=November 2011 |archive-date=October 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021173133/https://www.portofgraysharbor.com/news/2011/Auto-exports-increase.php |url-status=dead }}</ref> and grains to China and Korea.{{Citation needed|date=October 2019}}

On December 19, 2005, [[Weyerhaeuser]] made plans to close the Aberdeen large-log sawmill and the Cosmopolis pulp mill, and the closures took effect in early 2006.  This resulted in the loss of at least 342 jobs.  In January 2009, Weyerhaeuser closed two additional plants in Aberdeen, resulting in another 221 lost jobs.  In both cases many employees were not told by Weyerhaeuser management, but learned about the closures from local radio stations who received a press release prior to a scheduled press conference.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/01/26/local_news/01news.txt|title=Weyerhaeuser closes Aberdeen sawmill, Pacific Veneer|first=Callie|last=White|newspaper=The Daily World|date=January 26, 2009}}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

Major employers in Grays Harbor include Westport Shipyard, Sierra Pacific Industries, the Quinault Indian Nation, The Simpson Door Company, Hoquiam Plywood, Pasha Automotive, Willis Enterprises, Ocean Gold Companies, Vaughn Company, and the Stafford Creek Corrections Center, a state prison which opened in 2000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://graysharbor.org/business/workforce.php|title=Grays Harbor Workforce|work=Greater Grays Harbor Inc.|year=2015|access-date=June 13, 2015}}</ref>

Other significant employers include the cranberry-growing cooperative [[Ocean Spray (cooperative)|Ocean Spray]], worldwide retailer [[Walmart]], Sidhu & Sons Nursery USA, Inc. (AKA Briggs Nursery), Overstock.com, and Washington Crab Producers.<ref name="employers_list" />

In 2007, [[Imperium Renewables]] of Seattle invested $40 million in the construction of the [[Grays Harbor Biodiesel Plant|biodiesel plant]] at the Port of Grays Harbor.  It is estimated the plant will produce as much as {{convert|100|e6USgal|m3}} of biodiesel fuel made from plants and vegetable material annually.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imperiumrenewables.com/docs/OpeningEvent.pdf|title=Imperium Renewables Celebrates Opening of Nation's Largest Biodiesel Production Facility|work=Imperium Renewables Inc.|date=August 15, 2007|access-date=June 13, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150306053326/http://www.imperiumrenewables.com/docs/OpeningEvent.pdf|archive-date=March 6, 2015}}</ref>

In September 2010, the Weyerhaeuser Cosmopolis Pulp Mill was purchased by the Beverly Hills-based Gores Group and restarted as Cosmo Specialty Fibers, Inc. They started production of pulp on May 1, 2011.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Gores Group Acquires Cosmopolis Mill from Weyerhaeuser |url=http://investor.weyerhaeuser.com/2010-09-16-The-Gores-Group-Acquires-Cosmopolis-Mill-from-Weyerhaeuser |access-date=October 21, 2019 |work=Weyerhaeuser News Room |date=September 16, 2010}}</ref>

===Retail===
The city had two indoor shopping malls that were developed in the 1970s and early 1980s. The Wishkah Mall east of downtown Aberdeen opened in August 1976 on the riverfront and was followed in August 1981 by the South Shore Mall, which was south of the Chehalis River.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hammock |first=Dan |date=August 28, 2018 |title=In 1993, Price Plus remodel included deli and drive up espresso window |url=https://www.thedailyworld.com/life/in-1993-price-plus-remodel-included-deli-and-drive-up-espresso-window/ |work=The Daily World |accessdate=December 19, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Spokesman-Malls">{{cite news |last=Beorse |first=Bryn |date=August 19, 1981 |title=Financially depressed town 'malled' |page=C13 |work=[[The Spokesman-Review]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114896447/financially-depressed-town-malled/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |accessdate=December 19, 2022}}</ref> The newer South Shore Mall had {{convert|350,000|sqft|sqm}} and space for 80 retailers, including anchor tenants [[Sears]] and [[J.C. Penney]] following their relocation from downtown.<ref name="Spokesman-Malls"/><ref name="World-ShoppesTenants">{{cite news |last=Hammock |first=Dan |date=March 8, 2021 |title=Shoppes at Riverside tenants have until March 21 to clear out their shops |url=https://www.thedailyworld.com/business/shoppes-at-riverside-tenants-have-until-march-21-to-clear-out-their-shops/ |work=The Daily World |accessdate=December 19, 2022}}</ref> It was renamed to the [[Shoppes at Riverside]] in 2016 and closed on February 13, 2021, following an engineering report that found the soil under the foundation had settled and would pose structural risks.<ref name="World-Shoppes">{{cite news |last=Hammock |first=Dan |date=March 16, 2021 |title=Engineering report paints bleak picture of future of Shoppes at Riverside |url=https://www.thedailyworld.com/business/engineering-report-paints-bleak-picture-of-future-of-shoppes-at-riverside/ |work=The Daily World |accessdate=December 19, 2022}}</ref> A movie theater and fun center remain open in two of the four anchor spaces at the mall, which is owned by Coming Attractions Theaters.<ref name="World-Shoppes"/>

==Arts and culture==
Aberdeen has the largest public library in Grays Harbor County, and is operated as part of the [[Timberland Regional Library]] system. The city originally had a [[Carnegie library]] that opened in 1908 and was replaced in 1966 by the current building. The Timberland Regional Library took over operations in 1969 and renovated the building in 2000.<ref>{{cite web |title=TRL History |url=https://trl.org/history/ |publisher=[[Timberland Regional Library]] |accessdate=May 8, 2025}}</ref>

The city's museum was located in a historic armory built in 1922. The building and the museum's collections were destroyed in a fire in 2018.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lacitis |first=Erik |date=June 15, 2018 |title=Huge Aberdeen fire steals thousands of pieces of town history, including a Kurt Cobain exhibit |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/thousands-of-artifacts-from-aberdeens-history-gone-in-a-fire-including-a-kurt-cobain-exhibit/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=February 14, 2019}}</ref>

Aberdeen is also the home port of the tall ship ''[[Lady Washington]]'', a reproduction of a smaller vessel used by the explorer Captain [[Robert Gray (sea-captain)|Robert Gray]], featured in the ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean]]'' film [[Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl|''The Curse of the Black Pearl'']].

==Parks and recreation==
[[File:Welcome to Aberdeen cropped.jpg|thumb|A tribute to [[Kurt Cobain]] features a quote from a [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]] song.]]

Kurt Cobain Memorial Park was established in 2011, near where musician [[Kurt Cobain]] lived in Aberdeen. The park features a plaque with a quote from the song "[[Something in the Way]]", written about the bridge on the [[Wishkah River]] adjacent to the park.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kurt Cobain Lived Here: An Aberdeen Tour of Memorials, Homes of the Late Nirvana Frontman |url=https://www.graysharbortalk.com/2014/07/15/kurt-cobain-aberdeen/ |website=GraysHarborTalk |date=15 July 2014}}</ref>

==Education==
[[File:School burn.JPG|thumb|The Weatherwax building of Aberdeen High School burned down in 2002.]]
The city's [[Aberdeen School District (Washington)|school district]] has two high schools: [[Aberdeen High School (Washington)|J. M. Weatherwax High School]], or Aberdeen High School as it is now called; and Harbor High School, an [[alternative high school]] with an enrollment exceeding 200 students.  Aberdeen High has a long-time school sports rivalry with nearby Hoquiam High School.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ronco |first1=Ed |title=In Grays Harbor County, High School Rivalry Helps Feed Hungry |url=https://www.knkx.org/post/grays-harbor-county-high-school-rivalry-helps-feed-hungry |access-date=October 16, 2019 |work=KNKX |date=November 27, 2013}}</ref>

In 2002, the Weatherwax building of Aberdeen High School, built in 1909, burned to the ground in an act of arson.<ref>{{cite news |title=Teens charged in school fire |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/teens-charged-in-school-fire/ |access-date=October 16, 2019 |work=Daily Herald |agency=Associated Press |date=January 11, 2002}}</ref> The new building was completed in 2007 and held its grand opening on August 25, 2007.<ref>{{cite web |title=Aberdeen School District #5, Weatherwax, J.M., High School #1, Aberdeen, WA |url=http://pcad.lib.washington.edu/building/13559/ |website=Pacific Coast Architecture Database |publisher=University of Washington |access-date=October 16, 2019}}</ref>

Aberdeen School District also consists of one junior high: Miller Junior High; five elementary schools: Central Park Elementary, McDermoth Elementary, Stevens Elementary, AJ West Elementary and Robert Gray Elementary; and one Roman Catholic parochial school: St. Mary's Catholic School.

Aberdeen is home to [[Grays Harbor College]], located in south Aberdeen, and is represented by the Charlie Choker mascot.  The college emphasizes student opportunities and has resources to help students transfer to a four-year college to complete a degree.

==Infrastructure==

===Transportation===

Aberdeen is the western terminus of [[U.S. Route 12 in Washington|U.S. Route 12]], a major highway that crosses Washington state and continues east to [[Detroit]], Michigan.<ref>{{cite web |last=Weingroff |first=Richard F. |date=June 27, 2017 |title=U.S. 12: Michigan to Washington |url=https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/us12.cfm |work=Highway History |publisher=[[Federal Highway Administration]] |accessdate=May 8, 2025}}</ref> The city is bisected by [[U.S. Route 101 in Washington|U.S. Route 101]], which crosses the Chehalis River and connects southwestern Washington to the western and northern Olympic Peninsula. From Aberdeen, U.S. Route 101 continues south to Cosmopolis and west to [[Hoquiam, Washington|Hoquiam]]; it intersects several other highways that provide access to the coast, including [[Washington State Route 105|State Route 105]] in southern Aberdeen.<ref>{{cite WSDOT map |year=2014 |accessdate=May 8, 2025}}</ref>

The city is also the hub for [[Grays Harbor Transit]], which provides bus service for Aberdeen and surrounding cities. Its routes generally have trips that run every 30 minutes in Aberdeen and Hoquiam and at other frequencies between cities. Grays Harbor Transit also operates intercity routes to [[Olympia, Washington|Olympia]] and has connections to other transit systems.<ref>{{cite web |date=July 9, 2024 |title=Grays Harbor Transportation Authority Transit Development Plan |page=7 |url=https://irp.cdn-website.com/c24054c6/files/uploaded/2024-2029_GHT_TDP_Final.pdf |publisher=[[Grays Harbor Transit]] |accessdate=May 8, 2025}}</ref> Aberdeen Transit Center opened in March 1988 and was originally designed with a railroad depot motif.<ref>{{cite news |last=Machado |first=Armando |date=October 10, 1988 |title=Uncertainty delays Olympia transfer station |page=A1 |work=[[The Olympian]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-olympian-uncertainty-delays-olympia/172002151/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=May 8, 2025}}</ref>

==Notable people==
{{Main|:Category:People from Aberdeen, Washington}}
{{div col}}
* [[Robert Arthur (actor)|Robert Arthur]], actor, gay rights activist
* [[Elton Bennett]], artist
* [[Mark Bruener]], NFL football player <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.asd5.org/Page/4094|title=Aberdeen Bobcat Hall of Fame|work=Aberdeen High School|access-date=October 5, 2017}}</ref>
* [[Trisha Brown]], choreographer
* [[Jeff Burlingame]], author<ref>{{cite news |last=Hammock |first=Dan |date=June 26, 2017 |title=Aberdeen Founders Day celebration starts Friday evening |url=http://www.thedailyworld.com/life/aberdeen-founders-day-celebration-starts-friday-evening/ |work=The Daily World |access-date=May 27, 2019}}</ref>
* [[Robert Cantwell]], novelist
* [[Colin Cowherd]], sports media personality
* [[Bryan Danielson]], professional wrestler
* [[Calvin Fixx]], writer
* [[Lee Friedlander]], artist, photographer
* [[Billy Gohl]], labor organizer, alleged serial killer
* [[Carrie Goldberg]], attorney, author
* [[Victor Grinich]], pioneer of Silicon Valley
* [[Gary Steven Krist]], criminal ([[Barbara Mackle kidnapping]])<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Fennesy |first=Emmis |date=November 2006 |title=The Talented Dr. Krist |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qg8AAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA118 |magazine=Atlanta |publisher=Emmis Communications |pages=118, 181 |access-date=August 5, 2022}}</ref>
* [[Walt Morey]], writer, creator of ''[[Gentle Ben]]''
* [[Robert Motherwell]], painter of [[New York School (art)|New York School]]
* [[Ed Murray (Washington politician)|Ed Murray]], politician, Mayor of Seattle in 2014-17
* [[Peter Norton]], author, computer programmer, founded Peter Norton Computing
* [[Douglas Osheroff]], winner of [[Nobel Prize in Physics]]
* [[Craig Raymond]], basketball player, 12th pick of [[1967 NBA draft]]
* [[Wesley Carl Uhlman]], politician
* [[Hank Woon]], author, game designer, screenwriter
* [[John Workman]], writer, artist
* [[Yukon Eric]], professional wrestler

===Musicians===
* [[Kurt Cobain]], of [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]]
* [[Dale Crover]], of [[Melvins]]
* [[Chris Freeman (musician)|Chris Freeman]], of [[Pansy Division]]
* [[Matt Lukin]], of [[Melvins]]
* [[Krist Novoselic]], of [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]]
* [[Patrick Simmons]], of [[The Doobie Brothers]]
* [[Kurdt Vanderhoof]], of [[Metal Church]], the Lewd, and [[Presto Ballet]]
{{div col end}}

==Sister cities==
* {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Hakui, Ishikawa]], [[Japan]]<ref name=ACCCI>{{cite web|url= http://www.accci.com.au/sister.htm|title=Sister City Relationships: Annex A: Sister Relations in Washington State (USA)|work=Australia-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry of New South Wales|year=2001|access-date=June 13, 2015}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Kanazawa, Ishikawa]], [[Japan]]<ref name=ACCCI/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* [[Jeff Burlingame]], "Moon Olympic Peninsula" Avalon Travel, 2012.
* Anne Cotton, "The History of Aberdeen," Grays Harbor Regional Planning Commission, 1982.
* John C. Hughes & Ryan Teague Beckwith, [https://books.google.com/books?id=Nbg1nGp9UrIC&dq=ryan+teague+beckwith "On the Harbor: From Black Friday to Nirvana,"] Stephens Press, LLC. 2005.
* [[Murray Morgan]], "The Last Wilderness," Viking Press, 1955.
* Ed Van Syckle, "The River Pioneers," Pacific Search Press, 1982.
* Ed Van Syckle, "They Tried to Cut It All," Pacific Search Press, 1980.
* Robert A. Weinstein, "Grays Harbor, 1885-1913", Viking Press, 1978
* John Workman, "The Third Man" chapter in "Against the Grain: Mad Artist Wallace Wood" compiled by Bhob Stewart, TwoMorrows Publishing, 2003.
* John Workman, "Betty Being Bad" Fantagraphics Books, 1990.

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Aberdeen (Washington)}}
{{Commons category}}
{{Collier's poster|Aberdeen (Washington)|Aberdeen}}
* [https://www.aberdeenwa.gov/ City of Aberdeen – official website]

{{Grays Harbor County, Washington}}
{{Washington}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Aberdeen, Washington| ]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1884]]
[[Category:Cities in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Cities in Grays Harbor County, Washington]]
[[Category:Micropolitan areas of Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:1884 establishments in Washington Territory]]