Editing Cathlamet, Washington

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Cathlamet
| official_name      = Cathlamet, Washington
| settlement_type    = [[Town]]
| image_skyline      = Downtown Cathlamet, WA.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Downtown Cathlamet
| image_flag         =
| image_map          = Wahkiakum_County_Washington_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Cathlamet_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Cathlamet, Washington
<!-- Location -->
| 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  = [[Wahkiakum County, Washington|Wahkiakum]]
<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = 
| leader_name        = 
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = 
<!-- Area -->
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_53.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi   = 0.51
| area_land_sq_mi    = 0.51
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.00
| area_total_km2     = 1.32
| area_land_km2      = 1.31
| area_water_km2     = 0.00
| area_water_percent = 1.46
<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_total   = 560
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
<!-- 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       = 56
| coordinates        = {{coord|46|12|06|N|123|22|42|W|type:city_region:US-WA|display=it}}
<!-- Area/postal codes and others -->
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 98612
| area_code          = [[Area code 360|360]]
| area_code_type     = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 53-10635<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2413181<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2413181}}</ref>
| website            = [https://www.townofcathlamet.com/ Town of Cathlamet]
| footnotes          = 
}}

'''Cathlamet''' {{IPAc-en|k|æ|θ|ˈ|l|æ|m|ᵻ|t}} is a town located along the [[Washington State Route 4|Ocean Beach Highway]] in [[Wahkiakum County, Washington|Wahkiakum County]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], United States, where it is the [[county seat]]. The population was 560 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Cathlamet_town,_Washington?g=160XX00US5310635 |access-date=April 30, 2024 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:THE RIVERSIDE TOWN OF CATHLAMET BOASTS A POPULATION OF 656 - NARA - 548040.jpg|thumb|left|Cathlamet in 1973 (Main Street from Columbia Street)]]

Cathlamet was the largest, or one of the largest, villages of Columbia River [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] west of the [[Cascade Mountains]], and the home of the [[Kathlamet people]].<ref name=strong>{{Cite book
| publisher = Binfords & Mort
| last = Strong
| first = Thomas Nelson
| title = Cathlamet on the Columbia : recollections of the Indian people and short stories of early pioneer days in the valley of the lower Columbia River
| location = Portland
| accessdate = August 15, 2013
| date = 1906
| url = https://archive.org/details/cathlametoncolum00stro
}}</ref> "Cathlamet was sighted in 1792 by [[William Robert Broughton|Lt. W.R. Broughton]], while verifying [[Robert Gray (sea captain)|Capt. Robert Gray]]'s reported exploration of the Columbia River."<ref name ="Wahkiakum">{{Cite web| title = Wahkiakum County| work = Wahkiakum County Government Website
| accessdate = September 26, 2023| url = https://www.co.wahkiakum.wa.us/389/Wahkiakum-County}}</ref>{{Citation needed|reason=Source does not state this quote fully; prior source was a 404 Page Not Found|date=September 2023}} This village of cedar houses included 300-400 inhabitants when visited by [[Lewis and Clark]].<ref name = "natgeo">{{Cite web| title = Lewis & Clark—Tribes—Cathlamet Indians (Kathlamet)| work = National Geographic| accessdate = August 15, 2013| url = http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lewisandclark/record_tribes_088_14_1.html| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030423154431/http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lewisandclark/record_tribes_088_14_1.html| url-status = dead| archive-date = April 23, 2003}}</ref>

In 1846, [[James Albion Birnie]] became the first permanent white settler at Cathlamet, moving there after a career with the [[Hudson's Bay Company]].<ref name="Shults 2005">{{Cite web| last = Shults| first = Carla|author2=Geoffrey Wexler| title = Guide to the James Birnie Papers 1845-1916| work = NWDA
| accessdate = August 15, 2013| date = 2005| url = http://nwda.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv54044}}</ref><ref name="Anderson">{{Cite web| last = Anderson
| first = Nancy Marguerite| title = Fur Trade Family History: James Birnie, Laird of Cathlamet| accessdate = August 15, 2013| date = September 2, 2012
| url = http://furtradefamilyhistory.blogspot.ca/2012/09/james-birnie-laird-of-cathlamet.html}}</ref><ref name="Birnie, James">{{Cite web| title = Biography of James Birnie | work = Access Genealogy| date = June 19, 2011| accessdate = October 8, 2023| url = https://accessgenealogy.com/oregon/biography-of-james-birnie.htm}}</ref> He set up a trading post, remnants of which were reported still standing in 1906. "Birnie named the area Birnie's Retreat. The name was later changed to Cathlamet in 1851."<ref name ="Wahkiakum"/>

Cathlamet was officially incorporated on February 18, 1907. In 1938, the [[Julia Butler Hansen Bridge]] was built to carry what is now [[Washington State Route 409|State Route 409]] across the [[Columbia River]]'s [[Cathlamet Channel]] to [[Puget Island, Washington|Puget Island]].

==Geography==

Cathlamet lies on the [[Columbia River]] in southwestern Washington across from [[Puget Island]] and [[Oregon]]. The [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific Coast]] to the west and [[Longview, Washington|Longview]] to the east are accessible via [[Washington State Route 4|State Route 4]].<ref>{{cite web |date=April 2, 2018 |title=Corridor Sketch Summary – SR 4/SR 409: US 101 Jct to SR 432 Jct (W Longview) |url=https://wsdot.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-10/CSS294-SR4SR409-US101Jct-SR432JctWLongview.pdf |publisher=[[Washington State Department of Transportation]] |accessdate=November 28, 2022}}</ref> Another highway, [[Washington State Route 409|State Route 409]], crosses to Puget Island and connects with the county-operated [[Wahkiakum County Ferry]], which travels over the Columbia River to [[Westport, Oregon]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|0.50|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which, {{convert|0.49|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.01|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web |title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=December 19, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archivedate=July 2, 2012 }}</ref>

===Climate===
<div style="width: 75%;">
{{Weather box 
|location = Cathlamet, Washington
|single line = Y
|collapsed = Y
|Jan high F = 45
|Feb high F = 50
|Mar high F = 54
|Apr high F = 59
|May high F = 64
|Jun high F = 68
|Jul high F = 74
|Aug high F = 75
|Sep high F = 71
|Oct high F = 62
|Nov high F = 50
|Dec high F = 45
|year high F=
|Jan low F = 31
|Feb low F = 33
|Mar low F = 35
|Apr low F = 38
|May low F = 43
|Jun low F = 47
|Jul low F = 51
|Aug low F = 51
|Sep low F = 46
|Oct low F = 39
|Nov low F = 35
|Dec low F = 32
|year low F=
|Jan precipitation inch = 8.28
|Feb precipitation inch = 6.75
|Mar precipitation inch = 5.94
|Apr precipitation inch = 4.08
|May precipitation inch = 2.69
|Jun precipitation inch = 1.83
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.84
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.96
|Sep precipitation inch = 2.22
|Oct precipitation inch = 4.08
|Nov precipitation inch = 8.84
|Dec precipitation inch = 8.98
|precipitation colour = green
|source 1 = The Weather Channel<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.weather.com/outlook/driving/interstate/wxclimatology/monthly/USWA0065 |title= Monthly Averages for Cathlamet, WA |
publisher=Weather.com |year=2010 |accessdate=April 18, 2010}}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}
</div>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1880 = 133
| 1910 = 362
| 1920 = 422
| 1930 = 537
| 1940 = 621
| 1950 = 501
| 1960 = 615
| 1970 = 647
| 1980 = 635
| 1990 = 508
| 2000 = 565
| 2010 = 532
| 2020 = 560
| 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|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 24, 2014}}</ref>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]],<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=December 19, 2012}}</ref> there were 532 people, 258 households, and 136 families residing in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1085.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 296 housing units at an average density of {{convert|604.1|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the town was 94.7% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.2% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.9% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.1% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.8% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 2.3% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 3.4% of the population.

There were 258 households, of which 19.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 47.3% were non-families. 40.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.90 and the average family size was 2.52.

The median age in the town was 52.9 years. 15% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.6% were from 25 to 44; 30.2% were from 45 to 64; and 31% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 45.3% male and 54.7% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]],<ref name="GR2" /> there were 565 people, 246 households, and 138 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|1,426.2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 278 housing units at an average density of {{convert|701.7|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the town was 94.16% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.53% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.59% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.88% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.35% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.48% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.53% of the population.

There were 246 households, out of which 20.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.7% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.5% were non-families. 38.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.67.

In the town, the age distribution of the population shows 18.2% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 20.0% from 25 to 44, 29.4% from 45 to 64, and 26.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $33,409, and the median income for a family was $47,917. Males had a median income of $35,625 versus $30,750 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $18,588. About 9.6% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 12.6% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.

==Arts and culture==

===Festivals and events===
Cathlamet celebrates "Bald Eagle Days", a two-day, themed festival. Held usually in July, the event hosts a parade, street vendors, and an area for children's activities. The city's "Art in the Park" workshop, farmer's market, and the marina are incorporated into the event. The first Bald Eagle Days was held in 1982.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Zimmerman |first1=Diana |title=40th Bald Eagle festival is on its way |url=https://www.waheagle.com/story/2022/06/30/news/40th-bald-eagle-festival-is-on-its-way/21023.html |access-date=November 30, 2022 |work=The Wahkiakum County Eagle |date=June 30, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Zimmerman |first1=Diana |title=Bald Eagle Days start Friday |url=https://www.waheagle.com/story/2022/07/14/news/bald-eagle-days-start-friday/21072.html |access-date=November 30, 2022 |work=The Wahkiakum County Eagle |date=July 14, 2022}}</ref>

===Historic buildings and sites===
[[File:Cathlamet, Washington 01.jpg|thumb|175px|Cathlamet Public Library and Pioneer Center]]
In the downtown core resides the [[Pioneer Church]], built in 1895.<ref>{{cite web|url={{NRHP url|id=73001893}}|title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Pioneer Church |publisher=[[National Park Service]]|author= |date= |accessdate=December 17, 2024}} With {{NRHP url|id=73001893|photos=y|title=accompanying pictures}}</ref>

===Media===
Films shot in Cathlamet include ''[[Come See the Paradise]]'' (1990), ''[[Snow Falling on Cedars (film)|Snow Falling on Cedars]]'' (1999) and ''[[Men of Honor]]'' (2000).<ref>{{Cite web| last = 
| first =| title = Filming Location = Cathlamet, Washington| accessdate = January 20, 2025| date = January 20, 2025
| url = https://m.imdb.com/search/title/?locations=cathlamet,%20washington,%20usa}}</ref>

As stated in the afterword of [[Tananarive Due]]'s horror novel ''[[The Good House (novel)|The Good House]]'', the setting of Sacajawea, WA is based on Cathlamet.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://reactormag.com/uses-of-enchantment-tananarive-dues-the-good-house/|title= Uses of Enchantment: Tananarive Due’s The Good House|publisher= [[Reactor (magazine)|Reactor Magazine]]|author= Nisi Shawl |date= |accessdate= January 20, 2025}}</ref>

==Education==

Cathlamet is home to all schools, [[K–12 (education)|K-12]], of the [[Wahkiakum School District]]. The district of about 430 students pulls students from Cathlamet, [[Upper Elochoman, Washington|Upper Elochoman]], [[Lower Elochoman, Washington|Lower Elochoman]], [[East Cathlamet, Washington|East Cathlamet]], Puget Island, and [[Skamokawa Valley, Washington|Skamokawa Valley]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://wahksd.k12.wa.us/District/Department/53-Families |title=Families • Departments - WAHKIAKUM SCHOOL DISTRICT |access-date=October 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231008115601/https://wahksd.k12.wa.us/District/Department/53-Families |archive-date=October 8, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[James Birnie]], town founder and fur trader
* [[Lilian Hale]], Washington State Representative (2024)
* [[Julia Butler Hansen]], politician and member of the [[United States House of Representatives]] from 1960 to 1974<ref>[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=H000174 HANSEN, Julia Butler - Biographical Information]</ref>

==See also==
* [[Kathlamet people]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Cathlamet, Washington}}
* [https://www.townofcathlamet.com/ Town of Cathlamet] government page
* [https://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=8917 History of Cathlamet] at [[HistoryLink]]
* [https://www.washingtonruralheritage.org/digital/collection/wahkiakum Wahkiakum County Heritage - Local history collections documenting Cathlamet, WA and nearby communities of Wahkiakum County, WA.]
* [https://www.cathlamet.lib.wa.us/ Cathlamet Public Library (Blanche Bradley Memorial Library).]

{{Wahkiakum County, Washington}}
{{Washington (state) county seats}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Towns in Wahkiakum County, Washington]]
[[Category:County seats in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Washington (state) populated places on the Columbia River]]