Editing Touchet, Washington

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Touchet, Washington
| settlement_type    = [[Census-designated place|CDP]]
| image_skyline      = Touchey_looking_toward_main_street_IMG_1484.JPG
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = 
| image_map          = Walla_Walla_County_Washington_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Touchet_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Touchet, 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  = [[Walla Walla County, Washington|Walla Walla]]
<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = 
| leader_name        = 
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = 
<!-- Area -->
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_total_km2     = 3.1
| area_land_km2      = 3.1
| area_water_km2     = 0.0
| area_total_sq_mi   = 1.2
| area_land_sq_mi    = 1.2
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.0
<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = <ref name="2020 Census">{{cite web |date=May 2023 |title=Census Bureau profile: Touchet, Washington |url=https://data.census.gov/all?q=Touchet%20CDP,%20Washington |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=May 10, 2024}}</ref>
| population_total   = 425
| 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       = 446
| coordinates        = {{coord|46|02|28|N|118|40|21|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
<!-- Area/postal codes and others -->
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 99360
| 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         = 53-72030<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2409342<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2409342}}</ref>
| website            = 
| footnotes          = 
}}

'''Touchet''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|uː|ʃ|i}} {{respell|TOO|shee}}) is a [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in [[Walla Walla County, Washington]], United States. The population was 421 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]].

==History==
Prior to removal to reservations, there was a village of [[Walla Walla people]] located near the present townsite. This site was called Tuushi, meaning "baking salmon on sticks over coals", a name based on a coyote myth.<ref name="E.S Hunn, 2015">E.S Hunn, E. T. Morning Owl, P.E. Cash Cash, J. K. Engum (2015) "Caw Pawa Laakni They are Not Forgotten", Tamastslikt Cultural Institute</ref>  Bands of [[Palus (tribe)|Palouse]], [[Yakama]]s, [[Umatilla (tribe)|Umatilla]], [[Walla Walla (tribe)|Walla Walla]] and [[Wanapum]], that used this area were collectively called [[Nez Perce tribe|Nez Perce]] by [[Lewis and Clark Expedition|Lewis and Clark]] when they passed through the [[Walla Walla Valley]] on their return journey in 1806.<ref name=dougherty>{{cite web |last=Dougherty |first=Phil |date=July 11, 2006 |title=Columbia County — Thumbnail History |url=https://historylink.org/File/7801 |work=[[HistoryLink]] |accessdate=May 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwvchamber.com/index.html?s%3D1%26c%3D59%26p%3D224 |accessdate=October 10, 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528205728/http://www.wwvchamber.com/index.html?s=1&c=59&p=224 |archivedate=May 28, 2008 |title=Walla Walla Valley Chamber of Commerce }}</ref>

Settlers from the east came to the valley in the early 1850s, but shortly left due to [[Yakima War|conflicts with the Native people]]. Homesteaders returned to the valley in 1859.<ref name=paulus>{{cite web |last=Paulus Jr. |first=Michael J. |date=February 13, 2008 |title=Columbia County is formed on November 11, 1875|url=https://historylink.org/File/8482 |work=[[HistoryLink]] |accessdate=May 11, 2020}}</ref>

The [[Walla Walla & Columbia River Railroad]] from [[Wallula, Washington|Wallula]] to [[Walla Walla, Washington|Walla Walla]] was not completed until 1875, but by March 1874, 16 miles of track were completed up to Touchet. By the end of that year Touchet farmers shipped 4,000 tons of wheat and received 1,100 tons of merchandise.<ref name=gibson>{{cite web |last=Gibson |first=Elizabeth |date=March 7, 2006 |title=Walla Walla & Columbia River Railroad is completed from Wallula to Walla Walla on October 23, 1875|url=https://historylink.org/File/7630 |work=[[HistoryLink]] |accessdate=May 11, 2020}}</ref>

Touchet has never been officially incorporated.

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|1.2|mi2|km2}}, all of it land.

===Climate===
According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Touchet has a [[Mediterranean climate#Warm-summer Mediterranean climate|warm-summer Mediterranean climate]], abbreviated "Csa" on climate maps.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=629854&cityname=Touchet%2C+Washington%2C+United+States+of+America&units=|title=Touchet, Washington Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|work=Weatherbase|accessdate=March 19, 2016}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 2000 = 396
| 2010 = 421
| 2020 = 425
}}
As of the census<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 396 people, 135 households, and 112 families residing in the CDP. The population density was {{convert|326.1|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 140 housing units at an average density of {{convert|115.3|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the CDP was 92.68% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.76% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 4.29% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.27% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 15.66% of the population.

There were 135 households, out of which 48.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.9% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.3% were non-families. 15.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the CDP, the age distribution of the population shows 34.6% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 107.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.8 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $37,500, and the median income for a family was $50,278. Males had a median income of $37,031 versus $22,115 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the CDP was $15,684. About 10.9% of families and 13.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 18.8% of those under age 18 and 27.0% of those age 65 or over.

==See also==
{{Commons category|Touchet, Washington}}
* [[Touchet Formation]]
* [[Touchet River]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Walla Walla County, Washington}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Census-designated places in Walla Walla County, Washington]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Washington (state)]]