Editing Oakville, Washington

{{short description|City in Washington, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Oakville
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|image_skyline            = Oakville - Approaching from the West.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|nickname                 = Timber Town, USA<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hardina |first1=Nicole |title=Little Washington: A Nostalgic Look at the Evergreen State's Smallest Towns |date=2020 |publisher=Adventure Publications |isbn=978-1-59193-845-3 |page=26}}</ref>
|image_map                = Grays_Harbor_County_Washington_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Oakville_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Oakville, Washington
<!-- Location ----->
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Washington|County]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Grays Harbor County, Washington|Grays Harbor]]
<!-- Government ----->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = [[Mayor–council government|Mayor–council]]
|leader_title             = Mayor
|leader_name              = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         = December 18, 1905
<!-- 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|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 1.43
|area_total_sq_mi         = 0.55
|area_land_km2            = 1.43
|area_land_sq_mi          = 0.55
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
<!-- Population ------->
|population_total         = 715
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>
|population_density_km2   = 
|population_density_sq_mi = 
<!-- 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             = 92
|coordinates              = {{coord|46|50|24|N|123|14|01|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
<!-- Area/postal codes and others -->
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 98568
|area_code                = [[Area code 360|360]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 53-50430
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2411298<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2411298}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|http://www.oakvillecityhall.com/|OakvilleCityHall.com}}
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Oakville''' is a city in [[Grays Harbor County, Washington|Grays Harbor County]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], United States. It was incorporated in 1905, with booming lumber, railway, and farming industries creating the early foundation of the community.<ref name="Railroad Commission 1909">{{cite book|last1=State of Washington|title=Second and Third Annual Reports of the Railroad Commission of Washington|date=1909|publisher=E.L. Boardman|page=94|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5XRDAQAAMAAJ|access-date=July 9, 2018}}</ref> The population was 715 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=2020 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US5350430 |work=American FactFinder |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=March 15, 2022}}</ref>

==History==
In 1818, the United States and Great Britain agreed to a treaty of joint occupancy in the [[Oregon Country]], which included the land that would eventually become Oakville, Washington.<ref name="U.S. Historian">{{cite web|title=The Oregon Territory, 1846|url=https://history.state.gov/milestones/1830-1860/oregon-territory|website=Department of State, United States of America: Office of the Historian|access-date=July 10, 2018}}</ref> Over the next several decades, citizens of the United States began to settle in the area. As traveling by boat was easier than moving through the dense forests, many used the river system, entering from the port of [[Grays Harbor]] and canoeing inland via the [[Chehalis River (Washington)|Chehalis River]].<ref name="Davis">{{cite book|last1=Davis|first1=Kelle A.|title=From Lower Fords Prairie to Poverty Flats: Stories of Some of the White Settlers of the Oakville Area, 1850 to 1900|date=1990|publisher=Davis Creek Farm}}</ref> The British government [[Oregon Treaty|gave full ownership of the area]] to the United States in 1846.<ref name="U.S. Historian" />

In 1850, the land in the area was mainly open [[prairie]], maintained by yearly fires started deliberately by local tribes, which kept the forest from encroaching and which encouraged the bloom of [[Camassia|camas]], a staple food, and other plants.<ref name="Davis" /> The prairie lands were attractive to settlers arriving in the area, helped by the indigenous people, and towns began to be platted up and down the [[Chehalis River (Washington)|Chehalis River]].<ref name="Davis" />

In the 1870s, a party of several families relocated to the area from [[Crawford County, Illinois]].<ref name="Davis" /> The leader of the party, James Reed Harris, had purchased the [[Donation Land Claim Act|donation claim]] for the area from John Hole for $1200.<ref name="Davis" /> He applied for a post office, and after some discussion, it was decided to use the name "Oakville," inspired by the [[Quercus garryana|Garry oak trees]] in the area.<ref name="Davis" /><ref name="City Homepage" /> The post office opened on December 31, 1873.<ref name="Curtiss" />

Logging and railroad construction soon brought other settlers to the area; the [[plat]] of the city site was filed on September 27, 1887.<ref name="Curtiss">{{cite book|last1=Curtiss|first1=Paul D.|title=Northern Pacific, Tacoma Division: Grays Harbor Line|date=2006}}</ref> Around 1890, [[Northern Pacific Railway]] was laying tracks through the city.<ref name="Davis" /> By the turn of the century, a Northern Pacific train station had been established in the city, and the area had several general stores, a new school, and a couple of hotels.<ref name="Davis" /><ref name="Train 1">{{cite book|title=The Official Railway Guide: North American Freight Service Edition|date=1900|publisher=National Railway Publication Company|page=1004 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GbMsAQAAMAAJ&q=train+station+%22oakville,+wa%22&pg=RA1-PA1004|access-date=July 9, 2018}}</ref> Oakville was officially incorporated on December 18, 1905.<ref name="City Homepage">{{cite web|title=Welcome to the City of Oakville|url=http://www.oakvillecityhall.com/|website=City of Oakville|access-date=July 9, 2018}}</ref>

In 1909, a report by the Railroad Commission of Washington described Oakville:
<blockquote>"Oakville is a town of about 400 inhabitants, located on the line of the Northern Pacific trailer in the center of an important lumbering and taking district. The timber resources of this section are of immense value and the bottom lands are well adapted to general farming. Oakville is a growing town and will develop more rapidly as the resources of the surrounding district are more thoroughly exploited."<ref name="Railroad Commission 1909" /></blockquote>

[[Lumber]] was a major industry in the early days of the city; in 1916, Oakville Lumber Company, Big Fir Lumber Company, Vance Lumber Company, and others were in operation, along with the Callow Mill.<ref name="Lumber - Timberman">{{cite journal|journal=The Timberman|date=1916|volume=18|title=Timberman|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ovcwAQAAMAAJ|access-date=July 9, 2018|publisher=M. Freeman Publications}}</ref> The city was "noted for large shipments of [[Rhamnus purshiana|cascara]] bark."<ref name="Beauty">{{cite book|last1=Giles|first1=Harry F.|title=The Beauties of the State of Washington: A Book for Tourists|date=1915|publisher=Frank M. Lamborn|location=Olympia|page=44|url=https://www.gutenberg.org/files/30139/30139-h/30139-h.htm|access-date=July 9, 2018}}</ref> Factories were also part of the city's economy, with the E.H. Hilton & Co. Oiled Clothes Factory in operation by 1915,<ref name="Oiled Clothes">{{cite web|title=E.H. Hilton & Co. Oiled Clothes Factory, Oakville, WA|url=http://www.washingtonhistory.org/collections/item.aspx?irn=119145&record=5|website=[[Washington State Historical Society]]|access-date=July 9, 2018}}</ref> and the Oakville Co-Operative Cheese Company incorporating a few years later.<ref name="Lister" />

The historic Oakville State Bank was incorporated on August 14, 1909 by C.R. Harper and C.C. Scates. The bank changed names and ownership several times over the next century.<ref>{{cite web|title=MsSC 130: Oakville State Bank|url=http://www.washingtonhistory.org/collections/item.aspx?irn=69456&record=14|website=Washington State Historical Society|access-date=July 9, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Robbery 2">{{cite news|last1=Forsyth|first1=Ashley|title=Bank robbed seven times Saturday|url=http://www.chronline.com/news/bank-robbed-seven-times-saturday/article_5cdc2ed3-b880-563f-8b15-33e89c7fce32.html|access-date=July 9, 2018|agency=The Daily Chronicle|date=July 5, 2004}}</ref> It is said to be the last bank in Washington to be robbed by a rider on horseback.<ref name="City Homepage" /> Other businesses in the early days of the city included a jewelry store, a shoe company, and a hardware store.<ref name="Jewelry">{{cite web|title=Jewelry Store, Oakville, WA|url=http://www.washingtonhistory.org/collections/item.aspx?irn=130183&record=8|website=Washington State Historical Society|access-date=July 9, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Hardware Fire">{{cite news|title=Fire burns 127 year old building in Oakville|url=http://www.kxro.com/fire-burns-127-year-old-building-oakville/|access-date=July 9, 2018|agency=[[KXRO|KXRO News]]|date=July 5, 2017}}</ref> 

The city's librarian Clara Trudgeon had been appointed by the State [[Traveling library|Traveling Library]] by 1908, making Oakville eligible to be a recipient of one of the 150 cases of books the state had in rotation.<ref name="Railroad Commission 1909" /> The weekly newspaper was ''The Oakville Cruiser.''<ref name="Gazetteer 13-14">{{cite news|title=Gazetteer|agency=Washington State Gazetteer|date=1913–1914}}</ref> By 1919, the city had an active community center, and the high school had received accreditation as a four-year school.<ref name="Lister">{{cite book|title=Fourth Message of Governor Ernest Lister to the State Legislature|date=1919|publisher=Frank M. Lamborn|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Iy9KAQAAMAAJ|access-date=July 9, 2018}}</ref>

<gallery class=center mode=packed heights=125px>

Oakville - Lonnborg Family - 1890.jpg|Settlers at their homestead on the west side of Oakville, circa 1890.
Oakville - Laying Track on the Rail Road.jpg|alt=The photo caption reads, "Laying track on the U.P.R.R. near Oakville, WN. Photo by G. Pearson."|Track being laid for the railroad near Oakville, circa 1890.
Oakville - George Pearson - 1906.jpg|Oakville in 1906|alt=A monotone image of a logging town, circa 1906, with a train in the foreground and buildings behind.

</gallery>

===Oakville blobs===

On August 7, 1994, a resident reported that a translucent, gelatinous substance had rained down in the night; she expressed concern that it may have caused her and her mother to become ill, and speculated it may have been the reason her kitten died.<ref name="Weird">{{cite book|last1=Davis|first1=Jeff|last2=Eufrasio|first2=Al|last3=Moran|first3=Mark|title=Weird Washington: Your Travel Guide to Washington's Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets|date=2008|publisher=Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.|pages=94–95|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yxyulCHkLTwC|isbn=9781402745454}}</ref> When the substance, colloquially known as "Oakville blobs," appeared again, samples were collected and tested by a local doctor, who initially stated that the substance contained human blood cells.<ref name="Weird" /><ref name="Paulson">{{cite news|title=What are these ... blobs|first=Tom|last=Paulson|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YV8zAAAAIBAJ&dq=oakville%20mystery&pg=1798%2C3705243|newspaper=[[The Free Lance-Star]]|date=August 20, 1994b|access-date= October 21, 2012}}</ref> Further testing by the Department of Ecology refuted these results, as tests showed that there were no nuclei present.<ref name="Weird" />{{Dubious|date=January 2025}} Several theories were given by residents, including wondering whether the substance might have been waste from a commercial plane toilet or whether it may have been particles of deceased jellyfish that had evaporated and been incorporated into a rain cloud.<ref name="NY Times" /> The blobs were also found to contain two species of bacteria.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What were the 'Oakville blobs'? |url=https://www.sciencefocus.com/science/what-were-the-oakville-blobs/ |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=[[BBC Science Focus]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Nick |date=2022-05-17 |title=What Were the Oakville Blobs and What Caused Them? |url=https://www.discoveryuk.com/mysteries/what-were-the-oakville-blobs-and-what-caused-them/ |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=[[Discovery Channel (British and Irish TV channel)|Discovery UK]] |language=en-US}}</ref> There are no remaining testing samples of the blobs.<ref name="OBPFO">{{cite news |last1=Van De Venter |first1=Karlee |title='Oakville blob' phenomena featured on Netflix show of the unexplained |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/oakville-blob-phenomena-featured-on-netflix-show-of-the-unexplained,338044 |access-date=April 15, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |publisher=[[Tri-City Herald|Tri-City Herald (Kennewick, Washington)]] |date=April 9, 2024}}</ref>

The incident received coverage in several media outlets, including ''[[The New York Times]]'',<ref name= "NY Times">{{cite news|title=Mystery Blobs were once alive|last=The New York Times|author-link=The New York Times|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2519&dat=19940820&id=bZtiAAAAIBAJ&pg=3943,6442421|newspaper=[[Observer-Reporter]]|date=August 20, 1994|access-date=October 21, 2012}}</ref> and a segment was produced about the event for an episode of ''[[Unsolved Mysteries]]'', ''[[Monsters and Mysteries in America]]'',<ref name="Weird"/><ref name="OBPFO"/>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|0.50|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all of it land.<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]]|access-date=December 19, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112090031/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=January 12, 2012}}</ref>

Oakville is on the northern shore of the [[Chehalis River (Washington)|Chehalis River]], just downstream from the convergence of the Chehalis and [[Black River (Chehalis River)|Black]] Rivers.  This is an area subject to annual flooding, with major floods occurring most recently in 2007 and 1996.  Both of these floods were federally declared disasters due to the extensive damage to human life, livestock, and property in the region.<ref name= "Washington State Department of Transportation p. ">{{cite web|last=Washington State Department of Transportation|author-link=Washington State Department of Transportation|date=August 17, 2012|url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/02EA0044-235B-44B9-9A26-783E4B68E56B/0/081712_DraftAlternativeFloodProtectionReport_Aug20Edits_Opt.pdf|title=WSDOT Draft Report: I-5 protection from 13th Street to Mellen Street near Centralia and Chehalis|publisher=[[Washington State Department of Transportation]]|access-date=October 21, 2012}}</ref> In 2016, the [[Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority]] authorized $55,000 to be used to collect data, geography, and history on the flooding in the city, which reports indicated to be affecting approximately 35 homes and causing on average three road closures per event, with this flooding occurring typically twice a year.<ref name="Flood Analysis">{{cite web|title=Oakville, GHC, WSDOT Flood Relief Analysis Project|url=https://www.ezview.wa.gov/?alias=1942&pageid=36782|website=EZ View|access-date=July 10, 2018}}</ref>

To its north, Oakville is bordered by the hills of the [[Capitol State Forest]]. The area is filled with hills, valleys, rivers, and dense forests.<ref name="Adventure" />

===Climate===
According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Oakville 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=110654&cityname=Oakville%2C+Washington%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Oakville, Washington]</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Oakville
|single line = Y
|collapsed = Y
| Jan record high F = 66
| Feb record high F = 75
| Mar record high F = 80
| Apr record high F = 91
| May record high F = 98
| Jun record high F = 100
| Jul record high F = 105
| Aug record high F = 105
| Sep record high F = 100
| Oct record high F = 90
| Nov record high F = 74
| Dec record high F = 66
|year record high F = 105
| Jan high F = 45.3
| Feb high F = 49.7
| Mar high F = 54.2
| Apr high F = 60.1
| May high F = 66.5
| Jun high F = 71.5
| Jul high F = 77.1
| Aug high F = 77.3
| Sep high F = 72.4
| Oct high F = 62.1
| Nov high F = 51.8
| Dec high F = 45.9
|year high F = 61.2
| Jan low F = 32.2
| Feb low F = 33.4
| Mar low F = 34.7
| Apr low F = 37.4
| May low F = 41.7
| Jun low F = 46.8
| Jul low F = 49.7
| Aug low F = 49.9
| Sep low F = 46.0
| Oct low F = 41.1
| Nov low F = 36.3
| Dec low F = 33.8
|year low F = 40.3
| Jan record low F = -8
| Feb record low F = 3
| Mar record low F = 13
| Apr record low F = 20
| May record low F = 22
| Jun record low F = 22
| Jul record low F = 33
| Aug record low F = 25
| Sep record low F = 23
| Oct record low F = 16
| Nov record low F = 2
| Dec record low F = -6
|year record low F=  
|precipitation colour=green
| Jan precipitation inch = 8.25
| Feb precipitation inch = 6.34
| Mar precipitation inch = 5.84
| Apr precipitation inch = 3.83
| May precipitation inch = 2.35
| Jun precipitation inch = 1.78
| Jul precipitation inch = 0.68
| Aug precipitation inch = 1.15
| Sep precipitation inch = 2.44
| Oct precipitation inch = 4.99
| Nov precipitation inch = 7.72
| Dec precipitation inch = 9.02
|year precipitation inch= 54.39
| Jan precipitation days = 18
| Feb precipitation days = 15
| Mar precipitation days = 17
| Apr precipitation days = 14
| May precipitation days = 11
| Jun precipitation days = 8
| Jul precipitation days = 4
| Aug precipitation days = 5
| Sep precipitation days = 8
| Oct precipitation days = 13
| Nov precipitation days = 18
| Dec precipitation days = 19
|unit precipitation days = 0.01&nbsp;inch
| Jan snow inch = 3.2
| Feb snow inch = 0.9
| Mar snow inch = 0.8
| Apr snow inch = 0
| May snow inch = 0
| Jun snow inch = 0
| Jul snow inch = 0
| Aug snow inch = 0
| Sep snow inch = 0
| Oct snow inch = 0
| Nov snow inch = 0.3
| Dec snow inch = 1.4
|year snow inch=
|source 1 = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?wa6011|title=OAKVILLE, WA (456011)|access-date=November 15, 2015|publisher=Western Regional Climate Centre}}</ref>
|date=November 2015
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 465
|1920= 396
|1930= 469
|1940= 418
|1950= 372
|1960= 377
|1970= 460
|1980= 537
|1990= 493
|2000= 675
|2010= 684
|2020= 715
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
}}

===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]]|access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref> there were 684 people, 260 households, and 176 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1368.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 291 housing units at an average density of {{convert|582.0|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 86.5% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.6% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 5.1% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.9% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 4.1% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 2.6% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 6.6% of the population.

[[File:Oakville - Fire Station.jpg|thumb|left|alt=A sign for a fire station, with the building behind it.|The fire station serving Oakville, Washington.]]
There were 260 households, of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 8.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.3% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.08.

The median age in the city was 37.1 years. 26% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27% were from 25 to 44; 25.7% were from 45 to 64; and 14% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.1% male and 50.9% female.

===2000 census===
[[File:Oakville - Bank.jpg|thumb|alt=A portion of a brick building, with an aged sign saying "Bank". |The sign for the historic bank in Oakville, Washington.]]
As of the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], there were 675 people, 233 households, and 170 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 1,407.3 people per square mile (543.0/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 260 housing units at an average density of 542.1 per square mile (209.1/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the city was 81.04% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.19% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 7.11% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.59% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.15% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 3.41% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 6.52% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 7.41% of the population. 18.6% were of [[Germans|German]], 6.8% [[United States|American]], 6.6% [[Norwegians|Norwegian]], 5.6% [[Irish people|Irish]] and 5.1% [[Europe]]an ancestry.

There were 233 households, out of which 42.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.0% were non-families. 21.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.35.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 34.4% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,357, and the median income for a family was $32,500. Males had a median income of $32,431 versus $23,214 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $13,428. About 17.5% of families and 18.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 25.7% of those under age 18 and 23.1% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
[[File:Oakville - Little Bit General Store.jpg|thumb|left|What was once the "Little Bit General Store" in 1902 now operates as the bedding store Holy Lamb Organics in the 21st century.]]
In the first few decades of Oakville, the area had a booming trade in [[lumber]], with logging and mills providing a flourishing foundation to the economy, and with many other businesses springing up to sell to the workers these trades brought in.<ref name="Railroad Commission 1909" /> As the timber industry faded, many of the other businesses shut down as well.

As of 2018, Oakville's main businesses included a small grocery store, a few diners, an organic bedding manufacturer [https://www.holylamborganics.com/pages/about-us-1 Holy Lamb Organics],<ref>{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.holylamborganics.com/pages/about-us-1 |website=Holy Lamb Organics |access-date=May 6, 2024}}</ref> an auction house, and a chip plant, as well as some farms on the outskirts of the city. Oakville also has a chamber of commerce.<ref name="City Homepage" />

==Arts and culture==
Oakville is bordered on the east by the [[Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation]]. The tribe offers many services to its members in the community, helping to maintain the cultural heritage of the area.<ref name="NPAIHB">{{cite web |title=Chehalis Tribe |url=https://www.chehalistribe.org/activities/baby-boards/ |website=Native Portland Area Indian Health Board |access-date=11 July 2018}}</ref>

Oakville is home to the Sharon [[National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry|Grange]]. Founded in August 1923 in [[Porter, Washington]], the association moved to Oakville after taking residence in the Sharon schoolhouse. The grange is known for its annual oyster dinner.<ref>{{cite news |author1=The Chronicle staff |title=Sharon Grange in Oakville to host community breakfast and silent auction to fund building repairs this Saturday |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/sharon-grange-in-oakville-to-host-community-breakfast-and-silent-auction-to-fund-building-repairs,341937 |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=[[The Chronicle (Centralia, Washington)|The Chronicle]] |date=June 12, 2024}}</ref>

The city is served by [[Timberland Regional Library]]. The library shares a building with city hall.<ref name="City Homepage" />
===Festivals and events===
The city has several annual events. In July, it hosts an [[Independence Day (United States)|Independence Day]] parade, temporarily closing a stretch of [[U.S. Route 12 in Washington|U.S. Highway 12]].<ref name="Vidette">{{cite news|last1=Nesheim|first1=Leif|title=The State's Last Horseback Bank Robbery|url=https://issuu.com/thevidette/docs/destinationgraysharbor062311|access-date=July 9, 2018|work=Destination: Grays Harbor|publisher=The Vidette Staff|date=2012}}</ref> Later in the summer, it is home to the Zucchini Jubilee.<ref name="Vidette" /> Other local traditions have included a tree lighting and an egg hunt.<ref name="Vidette" /> The city also regularly hosts a Saint Patrick's Day dinner, a harvest festival, and a spaghetti dinner.<ref name="City Homepage" />

The city has commemorated the Oakville State Bank robbery throughout the years by hosting reenactments of the crime, with groups competing to give the best performance.<ref name="Robbery 1">{{cite news|last1=Mason|first1=Kimberly|title=Oakville Celebrates Independence With Parade and Reenactment of Horseback Bank Robbery|url=http://www.chronline.com/oakville-celebrates-independence-with-parade-and-reenactment-of-horseback-bank/article_4150ad72-8880-11df-8394-001cc4c03286.html|access-date=July 9, 2018|agency=The Chronicle|date=July 4, 2010}}</ref>

==Parks and recreation==
The city has a playground, a picnic shelter, and a basketball court located at Al Brandt Municipal Park, across from city hall.<ref name="Vidette" /> The area surrounding the city is host to a variety of outdoor activities, with boating, fishing, and swimming taking place in the [[Chehalis River (Washington)|Chehalis]] and [[Black River (Chehalis River)|Black]] rivers to the south, and hiking, hunting, camping, horseback riding, and mountain biking in [[Capitol State Forest]] to the north.

The Oakville Regional Event Center hosts a variety of competitions, from rodeos to adventure races.<ref name="Adventure">{{cite news|last1=Brewer|first1=Christopher|title=Adventure Racers Run, Paddle, Bike, Trek for Pride, Glory in Oakville|url=http://www.chronline.com/news/adventure-racers-run-paddle-bike-trek-for-pride-glory-in/article_e4533e7e-7258-11df-94a2-001cc4c03286.html|access-date=July 10, 2018|agency=The Daily Chronicle}}</ref>

==Government== 
The city is governed by a mayor and a city council. The council meets twice a month.

The city also maintains a municipal court, a cemetery, water utility, and a fire department. In the fiscal years of 2013 and 2014, the City was operating on annual budgets of approximately $800,000.<ref name="Audit">{{cite web|last1=Kelley|first1=Troy|title=Report on Accountability|url=http://portal.sao.wa.gov/ReportSearch/Home/ViewReportFile?isFinding=false&arn=1015750|website=Washington State Auditor's Office|access-date=July 11, 2018}}</ref>

The city regularly partners with the chamber of commerce to plan community events.

==Education==
[[File:Oakville - High School.jpg|thumb|alt=On the side of a gymnasium, the sign reads "Oakville High School".|The sign on the gymnasium of the high school in Oakville, Washington.]]
Oakville School District No. 400 has one elementary school, one middle school, and one high school. {{As of|May 2018}}, it serves 241 students in Grays Harbor County.<ref name="OSPI Report">{{cite web|title=Washington State Report Card: Oakville School District, 2017-2018|url=http://reportcard.ospi.k12.wa.us/Summary.aspx?schoolId=91&OrgType=4&reportLevel=District|website=Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction|access-date=March 24, 2019}}</ref> The Board of Directors governs the operations of the district; this board has five members, who are elected to terms lasting four years. The day-to-day operations of the district are managed under the leadership of the superintendent, who is appointed by the school board.<ref name="Auditor">{{cite web|author1=Washington State Auditor's Office|title=Accountability Audit Report: Oakville School District No. 400, Grays Harbor County - For the period September 1, 2014 through August 31, 2015"|url=http://portal.sao.wa.gov/ReportSearch/Home/ViewReportFile?isFinding=false&arn=1016818|access-date=July 9, 2018|date=May 31, 2016}}</ref> Based on a 2016 report, the district employs approximately thirty people in the roles of teachers and support staff and the district operates on a general fund budget of approximately $3.5 million.<ref name="School Budget">{{cite web|title=Oakville Administrative Review Summary 2016 Budget|url=https://www.k12.wa.us/sites/default/files/public/childnutrition/reports/schoolmeals/OAKVILLE.pdf|publisher=Oakville School District|access-date=June 9, 2023}}</ref>

The original Oakville elementary school, built in 1953, began to be demolished in November 2021 after a bond program to rebuild and renovate the school system campus was passed in 2020. The $5.6 million measure covered the cost of a new elementary building and help to refurbish several areas at the high school. A separate, small schools modernization grant of $4.6 million covered additional upgrades on the campus.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fitzgerald |first1=Emily |title=Oakville School District Begins Demolishing Elementary School, Renovating High School |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/oakville-school-district-begins-demolishing-elementary-school-renovating-high-school,278860 |access-date=9 December 2021 |work=The Chronicle |date=November 17, 2021}}</ref> Additional programs, funded separately from the construction bond by business, charity, and government grants, were implemented during the time, such as the beginnings of a preschool curriculum, additional building upgrades and renovations, and the creation of a library at the elementary building. The new school was completed and opened in late 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fitzgerald |first1=Emily |title=Celebration of Hope: Oakville School District Holds Ribbon Cutting for New and Renovated School Buildings |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/celebration-of-hope-oakville-school-district-holds-ribbon-cutting-for-new-and-renovated-school,303512 |access-date=June 9, 2023 |work=The Chronicle |date=November 11, 2022}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Hazel Pete]] (March 21, 1914 – January 2, 2003), basket weaver from the Chehalis tribe
* [[Katherine Van Winkle Palmer]] (1895 – September 12, 1982), paleontologist
* [[Frank Hinman Waskey]] (April 20, 1875 – January 18, 1964), delegate from the District of Alaska

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.oakvillecityhall.com/ City Homepage]
*[https://www.oakvilleschools.org/ School District Website]

{{Grays Harbor County, Washington}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Cities in Grays Harbor County, Washington]]