Editing La Center, Washington

{{Short description|City in Clark County, Washington}}
{{redirect|La Center|another place|LaCenter, Kentucky|the steamboat|La Center (sternwheeler)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = La Center
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|image_skyline            = 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
<!-- Maps ----------------->
|image_map                = Clark_County_Washington_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_La_Center_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of La Center, Washington
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
<!-- 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        = [[Clark County, Washington|Clark]]
<!-- Government ----------->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = Mayor-Council
|leader_title             = Mayor
|leader_name              = Thomas Strobehn
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         = 1871
|established_title2       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date2        = August 27, 1909
<!-- Area ----------------->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2021">{{cite web|title=2021 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2021_Gazetteer/2021_gaz_place_53.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=February 17, 2023}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 6.794
|area_land_km2            = 6.731
|area_water_km2           = 0.062
|area_total_sq_mi         = 2.623
|area_land_sq_mi          = 2.599
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.024
<!-- Population ----------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 3795
|pop_est_as_of            = 2021
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="USCensusEst2021"/>
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
|population_total         = 3424
|population_density_km2   = 507.27
|population_density_sq_mi = 1313.78
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Pacific Time Zone|PST]]
|utc_offset               = -8
|timezone_DST             = PDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -7
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 52
|coordinates              = {{coord|45|52|12|N|122|40|21|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}<ref name=gnis/>
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 98629
|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               = 53-36710
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2411566<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2411566}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://ci.lacenter.wa.us/|ci.lacenter.wa.us}}
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''La Center''' is a city in [[Clark County, Washington|Clark County]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], United States. The population was 3,424 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/La_Center_city,_Washington?g=1600000US5336710 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=February 17, 2023}}</ref>

==History==
In the 1870s, La Center was a business center and head of navigation on the [[East Fork Lewis River|East Fork]] of the [[Lewis River (Washington)|Lewis River]]. In late summer, the regular schedules of the steamers [[Mascot (sternwheeler)|''Mascot'']] and [[G.W. Walker|''Walker'']], paddle-wheeling to Portland, were often interrupted by low water. Passengers and freight were transferred to [[scow]]s, which were poled up the river or towed by horses along the bank. With the arrival of railroads and highways, La Center lost importance and lapsed into a small village serving the surrounding farming district. La Center was officially incorporated on August 27, 1909. Its population in 1940 was 193.<ref>''Washington - A guide to the Evergreen State'', WPA American Guide Series, Washington State Historical Society, 1941</ref>

The city is home to three card rooms or casinos which allow gambling on card games and poker, but not slots. The three casinos are the New Phoenix, Last Frontier and Fortune.

==Geography==
La Center has a total area of {{convert|1.28|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which, {{convert|1.27|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/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archivedate=January 25, 2012}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 288
|1920= 167
|1930= 219
|1940= 193
|1950= 204
|1960= 244
|1970= 300
|1980= 439
|1990= 451
|2000= 1654
|2010= 2800
|2020= 3424
|estyear=2021
|estimate=3795
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2021">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |date=February 17, 2023|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=February 17, 2023}}</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|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 19, 2013}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
}}

As of 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $55,333, and the median income for a family was $57,375. Males had a median income of $45,893 versus $28,750 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $21,224. About 3.6% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 6.1% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 2,800 people, 942 households, and 804 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2204.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 981 housing units at an average density of {{convert|772.4|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 91.3% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.0% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.8% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.9% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.5% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 3.4% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 4.6% of the population.

There were 942 households, of which 45.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 14.6% were non-families. 11.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.97 and the average family size was 3.17.

The median age in the city was 36.6 years. 30.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.6% were from 25 to 44; 26.1% were from 45 to 64; and 9.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.2% male and 50.8% female.

==Arts and culture==

===Historic buildings and sites===
La Center is home to the Highland Lutheran Church, built in 1887. Known as the Centennial Church, the building remains in its initial appearance, including an original mural. A kitchen addition was undertaken in 1900 and a structural remodel was completed in the 1980s. The church is considered as one of the oldest houses of worship in Washington state.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Barker |first1=Cade |title=Highland Lutheran Church to celebrate 140th anniversary |url=https://www.thereflector.com/stories/highland-lutheran-church-to-celebrate-140th-anniversary,324461 |access-date=September 20, 2023 |work=The Reflector |date=August 28, 2023}}</ref>

==Notable residents==
* [[Richard Curtis (politician)|Richard Curtis]], politician
* [[Eric Johnson Jr.]], professional auto racer

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=9450 History of La Center] at [[HistoryLink]]

{{Clark County, Washington}}
{{Washington}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Cities in Clark County, Washington]]
[[Category:Portland metropolitan area]]
[[Category:1909 establishments in Washington (state)]]