Editing Tekoa, Washington

{{for|the mountain|Tekoa Mountain (Washington)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Tekoa, Washington
| official_name      = City of Tekoa
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| image_skyline      = Tekoa, WA (36887712132).jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = 
| image_map          = Whitman_County_Washington_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Tekoa_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Tekoa, 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  = [[Whitman County, Washington|Whitman]]
<!-- 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_km2     = 3.18
| area_land_km2      = 3.18
| area_water_km2     = 0.00
| area_total_sq_mi   = 1.23
| area_land_sq_mi    = 1.23
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.00
<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 817
| 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       = 2520
| coordinates        = {{coord|47|13|29|N|117|04|23|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
<!-- Area/postal codes and others -->
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 99033
| area_code          = [[Area code 509|509]]
| area_code_type     = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 53-70560
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2412043<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2412043}}</ref>
| website            = [http://www.tekoawa.com/ www.tekoawa.com]
| footnotes          = 
}}
[[File:Panoramic Town View, circa 1915, Tekoa, Washington.jpg|thumb|Tekoa in 1915]]
'''Tekoa''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|i|k|oʊ}} {{respell|TEE|koh}}) is a rural city in [[Whitman County, Washington|Whitman County]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], United States. The population was 817 at the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 2023 |title=Census Bureau profile: Tekoa, Washington |url=https://data.census.gov/all?q=Tekoa%20city,%20Washington |access-date=May 11, 2024 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

Based on per capita income, one of the more reliable measures of affluence, Tekoa ranks 420th of 522 areas in the state of Washington to be ranked.

The city is centered in the rolling fields of the [[Palouse]] region and served by [[Washington State Route 27|State Route 27]]. It features the landmark [[Milwaukee Road]] trestle, which now carries the [[Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail]], and the historic Empire Theatre, an [[Art Deco]] theater built in 1940 that was later restored.<ref>{{cite web |title=Palouse Scenic Byway |url=https://www.scenicwa.com/palouse-scenic-byway |website=scenicwa.com |publisher=Scenic Washington |access-date=August 18, 2022}}</ref>

Every June, the town of Tekoa holds their annual celebration, the Slippery Gulch Festival, featuring a parade, egg toss, and fireworks.

==History==

The area that includes the present-day Town of Tekoa was settled by the [[Coeur d'Alene people]]. In 1886, David A. Huffman and George T. Huffman settled there. The townsite was platted in 1888 and was named after the Biblical town.<ref name=majors>{{Cite book| last = Majors | first = Harry M. | title = Exploring Washington | publisher = Van Winkle Publishing Co | year = 1975 | page = 112 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CoWrPQAACAAJ| isbn = 978-0-918664-00-6}}</ref>

Tekoa was incorporated in 1889 with just under 300 people at the base of Tekoa Mountain (elevation 2,490 feet), on the extreme eastern end of the Palouse, and to the west of the Benewah Range of Idaho. In 1908 the railroad trestle above the town was built. By 1910 the population had grown to 1,694. Over the next 60 years, Tekoa began a population decline as mechanized farming reduced the need for workers, and railway was abandoned. By 1990 the town had fewer than 750 residents, but during the 1990s the population rose to 826 at the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]].

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|1.14|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]]|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>

Tekoa is located at the confluence where Little Hangman Creek enters [[Latah Creek]].<ref name="USGS">{{cite web |title=Tekoa Quadrangle |url=https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/ht-bin/tv_browse.pl?id=8a26f91128ce692fb062274beafe37a9 |website=usgs.gov |publisher=U.S. Geological Survey |access-date=August 18, 2022 |format=Topographical Map |date=2020}}</ref>

===Climate===
This region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6&nbsp;°F.  According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Tekoa 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=843854&cityname=Tekoa%2C+Washington%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Tekoa, Washington]</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1890 = 301
| 1900 = 717
| 1910 = 1694
| 1920 = 1520
| 1930 = 1408
| 1940 = 1383
| 1950 = 1189
| 1960 = 911
| 1970 = 808
| 1980 = 854
| 1990 = 750
| 2000 = 826
| 2010 = 778
| 2020 = 817
| 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=October 3, 2013}}</ref>
}}

===2010 census===
At 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> the city population comprised 778 persons, 307 households, and 191 families. The population density was {{convert|682.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 360 housing units at an average density of {{convert|315.8|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|racial makeup]] of the city was 92.0% White, 0.1% African American, 3.3% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.3% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.8% of the population.

Of the 307 households 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.8% were non-families. 32.9% of households were one person and 16.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 3.03.

The median age was 44.4 years. 25.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.7% were from 25 to 44; 25.9% were from 45 to 64; and 23% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.0% male and 53.0% female.

===2000 census===
At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]], there were 826 people in 318 households, including 220 families, in the city. The population density was 727.2 people per square mile (279.8/km{{sup|2}}). There were 363 housing units at an average density of 319.6 per square mile (122.9/km{{sup|2}}). The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|racial makeup]] of the city was 93.46% White, 0.36% African American, 2.18% Native American, 0.85% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.12% from other races, and 2.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.57% of the population.

Of the 318 households 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 29.2% of households were one person and 15.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the city the age distribution of the population shows 27.7% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 20.5% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 22.8% 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 84.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.

The median household income was $30,833 and the median family income  was $36,771. Males had a median income of $32,014 versus $19,307 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,344. About 13.2% of families and 14.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 20.5% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

==Notable people==
* [[Mildred Bailey]], popular 1930s jazz singer, was born in Tekoa.
* [[Oliver L. Barrett]] (1892–1943), sculptor and educator<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-eugene-guard-oliver-laurence-barrett/157413269/ |title=Oliver Laurence Barrett |date=1943-08-09 |last=Turley |first=Gladys |newspaper=The Register–Guard |page=3 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |access-date=2024-10-19}}{{Open access}}</ref>
* [[Al Rinker]], singer and former partner of [[Bing Crosby]] in the Rhythm Boys
* [[Susannah Scaroni]], Paralympic athlete.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-21 |title=Here are the Washington athletes competing at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris |url=https://www.king5.com/article/sports/olympics/washington-team-usa-roster-2024-paralympic-games-paris/281-1d5e64fc-7dc6-4803-b479-c02bc6994f89 |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=king5.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McCord |first=Madison |date=31 August 2024 |title=Tekoa native Susannah Scaroni wins third Paralympic medal with silver in 5,000-meters |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2024/aug/31/tekoa-native-susannah-scaroni-wins-third-paralympi/ |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=The Spokesman-Review}}</ref>
 
==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.tekoawa.com/ Official website]

{{Whitman County, Washington}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1889 establishments in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Cities in Whitman County, Washington]]
[[Category:Cities in Washington (state)]]