Editing Bickleton, Washington

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
<!-- Infobox begins -->{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Bickleton, Washington
| settlement_type    = [[Census-designated place]]
| image_skyline      = Bickletonwa.JPG
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = The Bluebird Tavern in Bickleton
| image_map          = Klickitat_County_Washington_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Bickleton_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Bickleton in Klickitat County, Washington
<!-- Location ------->
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|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  = [[Klickitat County, Washington|Klickitat]]
<!-- Government ------->
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = 
| leader_name        = 
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = 1879
<!-- Area ------>
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_total_km2     = 12.1
| area_total_sq_mi   = 
| area_land_km2      = 12.1
| area_land_sq_mi    = 
| area_water_km2     = 0.0
| area_water_sq_mi   = 
<!-- Population ------->
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_note    = 
| population_total   = 92
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_sq_mi = 
<!-- General information -->
| timezone           = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific (PST)]]
| utc_offset         = -8
| timezone_DST       = PDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -7
| coordinates        = {{coord|45|59|53|N|120|18|25|W|region:US-WA|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 3160
<!-- Area/postal codes and others -->
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 99322
| area_code          = [[Area code 509|509]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 53-05980<ref name="Census 2010"/>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2407836<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2407836}}</ref>
| footnotes          = 
}}

'''Bickleton''' is an [[Unincorporated area#United States|unincorporated community]] and [[census-designated place]] in [[Klickitat County, Washington|Klickitat County]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], United States. Bickleton was first settled by Charles N. Bickle and established in 1879. The population was 92 at the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]],<ref name="Census 2020">{{cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Bickleton_CDP,_Washington?g=160XX00US5305980| title=Bickleton CDP, Washington - Census Bureau Profile| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| archive-url=https://archive.today/20240117160650/https://data.census.gov/profile/Bickleton_CDP,_Washington?g=160XX00US5305980| archive-date=January 17, 2024}}</ref> up from 88 at the 2010 census.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US5305980| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001), Bickleton CDP, Washington| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| work=American FactFinder| access-date=July 8, 2019| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213060737/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US5305980| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref>

==History==
Bickleton was first settled by Charles N. Bickle, who established a [[trading post]] and [[Livery yard|livery stable]] at the site. He also served as the area's first [[postmaster]]. In 1879, the town was named after Bickle.<ref name="Seven">{{cite news |last1=Seven |first1=Richard |title=Bluebirds & Bloodlines |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/pacificnw/2001/0527/cover.html |access-date=September 15, 2018 |work=Pacific Northwest Magazine |publisher=The Seattle Times |date=May 27, 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010608173746/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/pacificnw/2001/0527/cover.html |archive-date=June 8, 2001}}</ref><ref name=majors>{{Cite book| last = Majors | first = Harry M. | title = Exploring Washington | publisher = Van Winkle Publishing Co | year = 1975 | page = 154 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CoWrPQAACAAJ| isbn = 978-0-918664-00-6}}</ref> The town's economy was initially based largely on cattle [[ranch]]ing and [[wheat]] farming.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hammon |first1=Amanda |title=Bickleton's a Place Where Everybody Knows Your Name |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-9594612.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915225638/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-9594612.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 15, 2018 |access-date=September 15, 2018 |work=Yakima Herald-Republic |date=March 28, 2004 }}</ref> A series of fires in 1937 and 1947 destroyed many of the town's original buildings.<ref name=Seven/>

The oldest surviving building in Bickleton is the Bluebird Inn, a [[tavern]] which first opened in 1882. It is billed as the oldest functioning tavern in the state, although it has changed ownership numerous times and operated under different names throughout its history.<ref group=note>The Brick Tavern in [[Roslyn, Washington|Roslyn]] claims the title of the oldest continuously operating tavern in the state of Washington, opening in 1889 and operating under a single name since 1898. The Bluebird Inn, according to its owners, is the state's oldest functioning tavern, having first opened in 1882; however, it has operated under numerous names and has not been continuously licensed to operate since its founding.</ref> The tavern includes a 1903 [[Brunswick Corporation|Brunswick]] pool table, which is still used by regulars.<ref name=Seven/>

The town has held an annual picnic and [[rodeo]] continuously since 1910. The festival also features a 1905 [[Allan Herschell Company|Herschell-Spillman]] [[carousel]], which the town purchased from [[Oaks Amusement Park]] in [[Portland, Oregon]], in 1928.<ref name=Seven/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Janovich |first1=Adriana |title=Carousing at the old carousel in Bickleton |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-9628618.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916022744/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-9628618.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 16, 2018 |access-date=September 15, 2018 |work=Yakima Herald-Republic |date=June 8, 2006 }}</ref>

===Bluebirds===
[[File:Lonely Blue Bird shed.JPG|thumb|left|A shed outside of Bickleton proudly showing the bluebird connection]]

Bickleton is known as the [[bluebird]] capital of the world.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Geranios |first1=Nicholas K. |title=Nearly Over the Rainbow: Tiny Town Keeps House for Bluebirds |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-10-23-mn-277-story.html |access-date=September 15, 2018 |work=Los Angeles Times |agency=Associated Press |date=October 23, 1988}}</ref> In the 1960s, Jess and Elva Brinkerhoff were picnicking in this small town after coming from nearby [[Richland, Washington|Richland]] and put a can in a tree for some birds. It became a local fad, and now there are thousands of birdhouses purposely built to house bluebirds.

Both the [[mountain bluebird]] and the [[western bluebird]] nest in Bickleton. Maintaining the houses by cleaning old nests is a major task for the local residents. It is funded by profits from bluebird souvenirs sold to tourists at Whitmore's Whoop-n-Holler Ranch Museum.

==Geography==
Bickleton is in northeastern Klickitat County, south of the Horse Heaven Hills and the [[Yakama Indian Reservation]]. It is {{convert|66|mi}} west of [[Kennewick, Washington|Kennewick]] and {{convert|22|mi}} north of the [[Columbia River]] at [[Roosevelt, Washington|Roosevelt]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the Bickleton CDP has a total area of {{convert|12.1|sqkm|order=flip}}, all of it land.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

===Climate===
According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Bickleton has a [[Mediterranean climate#Warm-summer Mediterranean climate|warm-summer Mediterranean climate]], abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=866054&cityname=Bickleton%2C+Washington%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Bickleton, Washington]</ref>

{{Weather box
 | width       = auto
 | collapsed   = yes
 | single line = yes
 | location    = Bickleton, Washington (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1928–2018)
 | Jan record high F  = 66
 | Feb record high F  = 65
 | Mar record high F  = 70
 | Apr record high F  = 85
 | May record high F  = 92
 | Jun record high F  = 108
 | Jul record high F  = 102
 | Aug record high F  = 102
 | Sep record high F  = 97
 | Oct record high F  = 87
 | Nov record high F  = 71
 | Dec record high F  = 65
 | year record high F = 
 | Jan high F = 35.1
 | Feb high F = 38.5
 | Mar high F = 46.0
 | Apr high F = 52.8
 | May high F = 62.2
 | Jun high F = 69.7
 | Jul high F = 80.7
 | Aug high F = 80.0
 | Sep high F = 70.7
 | Oct high F = 56.4
 | Nov high F = 42.4
 | Dec high F = 33.7
 | year high F = 55.7
 | Jan mean F = 29.8
 | Feb mean F = 32.2
 | Mar mean F = 38.2
 | Apr mean F = 43.5
 | May mean F = 51.6
 | Jun mean F = 57.9
 | Jul mean F = 67.2
 | Aug mean F = 67.0
 | Sep mean F = 59.0
 | Oct mean F = 46.6
 | Nov mean F = 35.8
 | Dec mean F = 28.5
 | year mean F = 46.4
 | Jan low F = 24.4
 | Feb low F = 26.0
 | Mar low F = 30.3
 | Apr low F = 34.2
 | May low F = 41.0
 | Jun low F = 46.1
 | Jul low F = 53.8
 | Aug low F = 54.0
 | Sep low F = 47.3
 | Oct low F = 36.9
 | Nov low F = 29.1
 | Dec low F = 23.3
 | year low F = 37.2
 | Jan record low F  = -13
 | Feb record low F  = -12
 | Mar record low F  = 1
 | Apr record low F  = 15
 | May record low F  = 20
 | Jun record low F  = 27
 | Jul record low F  = 30
 | Aug record low F  = 30
 | Sep record low F  = 27
 | Oct record low F  = 8
 | Nov record low F  = -12
 | Dec record low F  = -17
 | year record low F = 
 | precipitation colour   = green
 | Jan precipitation inch = 2.01
 | Feb precipitation inch = 1.64
 | Mar precipitation inch = 1.51
 | Apr precipitation inch = 1.03
 | May precipitation inch = 1.33
 | Jun precipitation inch = 0.82
 | Jul precipitation inch = 0.25
 | Aug precipitation inch = 0.35
 | Sep precipitation inch = 0.44
 | Oct precipitation inch = 1.00
 | Nov precipitation inch = 2.12
 | Dec precipitation inch = 2.52
 | year precipitation inch = 15.02
 | unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
 | Jan precipitation days  = 10.2
 | Feb precipitation days  = 8.6
 | Mar precipitation days  = 8.7
 | Apr precipitation days  = 7.0
 | May precipitation days  = 6.1
 | Jun precipitation days  = 4.1
 | Jul precipitation days  = 2.0
 | Aug precipitation days  = 2.0
 | Sep precipitation days  = 1.9
 | Oct precipitation days  = 6.5
 | Nov precipitation days  = 9.3
 | Dec precipitation days  = 11.0
 | year precipitation days = 77.4
 | Jan snow inch = 8.1
 | Feb snow inch = 5.1
 | Mar snow inch = 1.5
 | Apr snow inch = 0.6
 | May snow inch = 0.6
 | Jun snow inch = 0.0
 | Jul snow inch = 0.0
 | Aug snow inch = 0.0
 | Sep snow inch = 0.0
 | Oct snow inch = 0.2
 | Nov snow inch = 2.4
 | Dec snow inch = 12.1
 | year snow inch = 30.6
 | unit snow days = 0.1 in
 | Jan snow days  = 3.4
 | Feb snow days  = 3.2
 | Mar snow days  = 1.6
 | Apr snow days  = 0.2
 | May snow days  = 0.1
 | Jun snow days  = 0.0
 | Jul snow days  = 0.0
 | Aug snow days  = 0.0
 | Sep snow days  = 0.0
 | Oct snow days  = 0.2
 | Nov snow days  = 1.8
 | Dec snow days  = 5.5
 | year snow days = 16.0
 | source = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name="NOWData">{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=pdt
|title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = December 11, 2023}}</ref><ref name="NCEI">{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00450668&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = December 11, 2023}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| footnote = US Decennial Census{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}
| 2000 = 113
| 2010 = 88
| 2020 = 92
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212221153/http://factfinder.census.gov/main.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=American FactFinder }}</ref> of 2000, there were 113 people, 49 households, and 31 families residing in the CDP. The [[population density]] was 8.8 people per square mile (3.4/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 65 housing units at an average density of 5.0/sq&nbsp;mi (1.9/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the CDP was 92.92% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.65% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.65% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.77% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]]. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 6.19% of the population.

There were 49 households, out of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.7% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 25.7% under the age of 18, 3.5% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 29.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.9 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $34,500, and the median income for a family was $48,125. Males had a median income of $42,500 versus $0 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the CDP was $17,580. There were 20.0% of families and 20.2% of the population living below the [[poverty line]], including 36.1% of under eighteens and none of those over 64.

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.bickleton.org Community website]

{{Klickitat County, Washington}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Horse Heaven Hills]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Klickitat County, Washington]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Washington (state)]]