Editing Fall City, Washington

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Fall City, Washington
|settlement_type          = [[Census-designated place]]
|image_skyline            = Fall City WA.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Downtown Fall City, 1999
|image_map                = King_County_Washington_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Fall_City_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Fall City, 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        = [[King County, Washington|King]]
<!-- Government ---->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = [[Unincorporated area]]
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|established_title        = Established
|established_date         = 1856
<!-- 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|accessdate=October 24, 2024}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 7.51
|area_land_km2            = 7.35
|area_water_km2           = 0.14
|area_total_sq_mi         = 2.90
|area_land_sq_mi          = 2.84
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.06
<!-- Population ----->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
|population_total         = 2032
|population_density_km2   = 276.80
|population_density_sq_mi = 716.91
<!-- 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             = 118
|coordinates              = {{coord|47|34|18|N|121|54|48|W|region:US-WA_type:CDP|display=inline}}
<!-- Area/postal codes and others ---->
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
|postal_code              = 98024
|area_code                = [[Area code 425|425]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 53-23200
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2408111<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2408111}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://www.fallcity.org/|fallcity.org}}
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Fall City''' is an [[unincorporated community]] and [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in [[King County, Washington|King County]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], United States, {{convert|25|mi}} east of [[Seattle]]. The community lies along the [[Snoqualmie River]] and [[Raging River]]. The population was 2,032 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/Fall_City_CDP,_Washington?g=160XX00US5323200 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=October 24, 2024}}</ref>

==History==
The first settlements in the area were two forts built in 1856 during the [[Puget Sound War]] to protect future settlers against possible uprisings by the native population. Fort Patterson, a few miles downstream, and Fort Tilton, a few miles upstream, were built with the help of Indians led by Chief [[Patkanim]],<ref name="HisLink1">{{cite web |last1=Stein |first1=Alan|title=Fall City — Thumbnail History |url=https://www.historylink.org/File/10345 |website=HistoryLink.org Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History |access-date=January 23, 2023}}</ref> and both were abandoned within two years after interactions with the local tribes remained peaceful. A historical marker can be found north of Fall City on the Fish Hatchery Road where Fort Tilton once stood.

A trading post was established near the present-day location of the Last Frontier Saloon in 1869 and became a hub of the local economy. Fall City was known at the time as "The Landing", as shallow water and rapids upstream on the Snoqualmie were impassable to the large [[dugout canoe]]s used to transport goods. In the early 1870s, the first local mill in the [[Snoqualmie Valley]] was opened at the mouth of Tokul Creek, just downstream from [[Snoqualmie Falls]] and just upstream from where Fall City would be. The Fall City post office opened June 10, 1872.<ref name="HisLink2">{{cite web |last1=Lange |first1=Greg |title=Fall City Beginnings: Fall City Post Office opens on June 10, 1872. |url=https://www.historylink.org/File/425 |website=HistoryLink.org Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History |access-date=January 23, 2023}}</ref>

Small steamboats started ferrying supplies up the river in 1875. In the late 1880s, a group of Puget Sound businessmen founded and started building the [[Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway]], including a line up into the upper Snoqualmie Valley, in an attempt to build a line over the [[Cascade Range]]. The land claim holder at the time, [[Jeremiah Borst|Jeremiah "Jerry" Borst]], had Fall City surveyed and platted in anticipation of the people the railroad would bring, but was disappointed in 1889 when the railroad line was built a mile (1.6&nbsp;km) away from the community.

But even a mile away, the railroad, combined with the first bridge over the Snoqualmie River, greatly improved the local lumber mills' and farmers' business, and made the area and its scenic features (such as [[Snoqualmie Falls]]) accessible to tourists. Hundreds moved to the area over the next two decades.

When the Sunset Highway connecting Seattle with eastern Washington through Fall City was improved in the early 1910s, it further accelerated the area's economic and residential development. By the late 1920s, most of the population either worked in the burgeoning tourist trade or commuted to work west toward [[Issaquah, Washington|Issaquah]] and [[Seattle]].

The [[Great Depression in the United States|Great Depression]], followed by gasoline rationing during [[World War II]], hurt Fall City's tourist trade. Tourism was further hampered after the war as [[U.S. Highway 10]] (now [[Interstate 90]]) was rerouted south directly from [[Preston, Washington|Preston]] to [[North Bend, Washington|North Bend]], bypassing Fall City and Snoqualmie. The local economy suffered further as local logging mills started closing.

Fall City is a [[bedroom community]] to the high-tech industry of the [[Seattle metropolitan area]], with large suburban estates just outside the community juxtaposed with the historical homes and farmsteads built in its heyday.

==Geography==
Fall City is in central King County at the confluence of the [[Snoqualmie River]] and the [[Raging River]]. The rivers are sometimes flooded during the autumn and winter. More typical is a strong east wind as [[pressure gradient]]s carry higher pressure air across [[Snoqualmie Pass]] and down the Snoqualmie Valley.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|2.90|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|2.84|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.06|sqmi|sqkm|2}} or 1.52%, are water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2024"/>

===Climate===
The area's climate has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round. According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Fall City has a [[marine west coast climate]], abbreviated "Cfb" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=727934&cityname=Fall+City%2C+Washington%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Fall City, Washington]</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1980= 1528
|1990= 1582
|2000= 1638
|2010= 1993
|2020= 2032
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|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)"/>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Fall City, 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 – Fall City CDP, Washington|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US5323200&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=October 24, 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) – Fall City CDP, Washington|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US5323200&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=October 24, 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) – Fall City CDP, Washington|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US5323200&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=October 24, 2024}}</ref>
! % 2000
! % 2010
! {{partial|% 2020}}
|-
| [[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
| 1,529
| 1,785
| style='background: #ffffe6; |1,634
| 93.35%
| 89.56%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |80.41%
|-
| [[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
| 4
| 3
| style='background: #ffffe6; |5
| 0.24%
| 0.15%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |0.25%
|-
| [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
| 14
| 19
| style='background: #ffffe6; |22
| 0.85%
| 0.95%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |1.08%
|-
| [[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
| 12
| 19
| style='background: #ffffe6; |39
| 0.73%
| 0.95%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |1.92%
|-
| [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
| 0
| 2
| style='background: #ffffe6; |6
| 0.00%
| 0.10%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |0.30%
|-
| [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
| 3
| 0
| style='background: #ffffe6; |7
| 0.18%
| 0.00%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |0.34%
|-
| [[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or multiracial]] (NH)
| 33
| 51
| style='background: #ffffe6; |137
| 2.01%
| 2.56%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |6.72%
|-
| [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
| 43
| 114
| style='background: #ffffe6; |182
| 2.63%
| 5.72%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |8.96%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''1,638'''
|'''1,993'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''2,032'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 2,032 people, 752 households, and 550 families residing in the CDP.<ref>{{Cite web|title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Fall%20City%20CDP,%20Washington%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=October 24, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The [[population density]] was {{convert|715.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 783 housing units of which 31, or 4.0%, were vacant. The racial makeup of the CDP was 82.3% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.2% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.2% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.9% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.3% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.5% from some other races and 11.5% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] people of any race were 8.96% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web|title=How many people live in Fall City CDP, Washington |url=https://data.usatoday.com/census/total-population/total-population-change/fall-city-cdp-washington/160-5323200/ |access-date=October 24, 2024 |publisher=USA Today}}</ref> 23.0% of residents were under the age of 18, % were under 5 years of age, and % were 65 and older.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 1,993 people, 762 households and 561 families residing in the CDP. The population density was {{convert|704.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 812 housing units, of which 50, or 6.2%, were vacant. The racial makeup of the CDP was 91.9% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.2% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.0% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.0% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander]], 2.6% [[Race (United States Census)|some other race]], and 3.3% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] people of any race were 5.72% of the population.

Of the 762 households, 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were headed by [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 19.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62, and the average family size was 2.94.

In the CDP, 24.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.8% were from 18 to 24, 23.0% were from 25 to 44, 33.2% were from 45 to 64, and 12.5% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.7 years. For every 100 females there were 103.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.4 males.

==Education==
{{Main article|Snoqualmie Valley School District}}
Fall City residents attend schools from the [[Snoqualmie Valley School District]].<ref name=KingCoSDMap>{{cite map |author=U.S. Census Bureau Geography Division |date=December 21, 2020 |title=2020 Census – School District Reference Map: King County, WA |page=2 |scale=1:80,000 |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st53_wa/schooldistrict_maps/c53033_king/DC20SD_C53033.pdf |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=August 3, 2022}}</ref>

Two schools in the Snoqualmie Valley School District are in Fall City: Fall City Elementary School and [[Snoqualmie Valley School District|Chief Kanim Middle School]].

==Transportation==
Fall City is bisected by [[Washington State Route 202|State Route 202]], a highway that traverses part of the Snoqualmie Valley between [[Woodinville, Washington|Woodinville]] and [[North Bend, Washington|North Bend]]. It intersects [[Washington State Route 203|State Route 203]], which connects to [[Duvall, Washington|Duvall]] and [[Monroe, Washington|Monroe]].<ref>{{cite WSDOT map |year=2014 |accessdate=December 14, 2022}}</ref> The community has limited [[public transit]] service provided by Snoqualmie Valley Transportation, which operates a shuttle from North Bend to Duvall with funding from [[King County Metro]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Ladwig |first=Carol |date=September 24, 2013 |title=Roll out: Snoqualmie Valley Shuttle service starts Monday as Metro tries a new plan |url=https://www.valleyrecord.com/news/roll-out-snoqualmie-valley-shuttle-service-starts-monday-as-metro-tries-a-new-plan/ |work=Snoqualmie Valley Record |accessdate=December 14, 2022}}</ref>

The [[Fall City Airport]] is a small private [[airport community]] {{convert|2|mi|0}} east of Fall City. The airport is owned by the Fall City Airport Association and has no [[air traffic control]] tower.<ref>Federal Aviation Administration. "Fall City", September 2014 <https://nfdc.faa.gov/nfdcApps/airportLookup/airportDisplay.jsp?airportId=1WA6></ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Fall City, Washington}}
* [https://www.fallcity.org/ CDP of Fall City – unofficial website]
* [https://www.historylink.org/File/10345 History of Fall City] at [[HistoryLink]]

{{King County, Washington}}
{{Washington}}

<!-- historic residential district has King County Community Landmark status -->

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Census-designated places in King County, Washington]]
[[Category:Landmarks in King County, Washington]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1856]]