Editing Waitsburg, Washington

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Waitsburg, Washington
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|motto                    =
|image_skyline            = Waitsburg, Washington - 1.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Waitsburg in 2019
|image_map                = Walla_Walla_County_Washington_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Waitsburg_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Waitsburg, 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        = [[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           = <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           = 3.01
|area_land_km2            = 3.01
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 1.16
|area_land_sq_mi          = 1.16
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census-Profile"/>
|population_total         = 1166
|population_density_km2   = 408.62
|population_density_sq_mi = 1058.47
<!-- 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             = 1253
|coordinates              = {{coord|46|16|11|N|118|09|03|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
<!-- Area/postal codes and others -->
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 99361
|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               = 53-75565
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2412165<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2412165}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|http://www.cityofwaitsburg.com}}
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Waitsburg''' is a city in [[Walla Walla County, Washington]], United States. The population was 1,166 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census-Profile">{{cite web |year=2020 |title=Waitsburg city, Washington |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US5375565 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=August 10, 2022}}</ref> Waitsburg has a unique [[City government in the state of Washington|city classification]] in Washington state, being the state's only city which still operates under its [[Charter city|territorial charter]].

Located on the [[Touchet River]] in an rural area of Southeastern Washington, Waitsburg has long been tied to the agricultural economy of its surrounding region. The milling of wheat played a prominent role in the first century of Waitsburg's existence, though in recent decades the economy has pivoted towards [[viticulture]] and tourism due to its location within the [[Walla Walla AVA]]. The downtown core of the community, dating to the 1880s, is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] as the Waitsburg Historic District.

==History==
Prior to settlement by European American pioneers, the area that is now Waitsburg was home to the [[Palouse people]]. The juncture of the Touchet River and Coppei Creek, where Waitsburg would eventually develop, was recorded in the journals of the [[Lewis and Clark Expedition]] during their return trip in 1806.<ref name="HistoryLink">{{cite web |last1=Paulus Jr. |first1=Michael J. |title=Waitsburg — Thumbnail History |url=https://www.historylink.org/file/9862 |work=[[HistoryLink]] |access-date=September 27, 2024 |date=August 12, 2011}}</ref> 

Waitsburg was first settled in 1859 by Robert Kennedy. Another early settler, Albert Gallatin Lloyd, helped settle persistent confrontations with the Palouse people by negotiating a treaty allowing the native population to camp on the land that he claimed. The arrangement established by that treaty, though not backed up by law, continued informally into the 1940s.<ref name="HistoryLink"/> William Perry Bruce and his wife, Caroline, moved to Waitsburg in 1861, some two decades before Waitsburg was officially incorporated on November 25, 1881. In 1882, they built a large home in the town, which today functions as a museum.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

Early settlers raised cattle and horses and grew grain along the banks of the Touchet River and the creeks which feed into it. During the 1860s, dryland farming of the adjacent hills led to expansion of wheat production around Waitsburg. That development, along with the discovery of gold in the valley of the [[Clearwater River (Idaho)|Clearwater River]] to the east, brought an influx of population to the area. Due to the mining boom in the Clearwater region, a stagecoach line was established connecting [[Walla Walla, Washington|Walla Walla]] in the west with [[Lewiston, Idaho]], at the juncture of the Clearwater and [[Snake River|Snake Rivers]], to the east, passed through what would become Waitsburg, bringing travelers heading to and from the mines. This connection between the nascent Waitsburg community and the mining district led to a meeting between Dennis Willard, a landowner in the Waitsburg area, and Sylvester M. Wait, in Lewiston in 1864. Willard convinced Wait of the potential to ship wheat flour down the Touchet valley and allowed him to establish a mill on his land that same year.<ref name="HistoryLink"/> The city of Waitsburg would later be named for Sylvester M. Wait.<ref name=majors>{{Cite book|last=Majors|first=Harry M.|title=Exploring Washington|publisher=Van Winkle Publishing Co|year=1975|page=138|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CoWrPQAACAAJ|isbn=978-0-918664-00-6}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Meany|first=Edmond S.|title=Origin of Washington geographic names|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015027074981;view=1up;seq=346|year=1923|publisher=University of Washington Press|location=Seattle|page=330}}</ref>

[[File:Public school, Waitsburg, Washington, ca 1893 (WASTATE 117).jpeg|thumb|left|Waitsburg School circa 1893]]
With the establishment of the mill, a community began to coalesce around Wait's mill which included a school, saloon, store, hotel and post office.<ref name="HistoryLink"/> The town was platted in 1869 and named Waitsburg.<ref name="Revisit"/> By 1870, the town was home to over 100 residents in 35 dwellings and an assortment of businesses. N. J. A. Smith, an early settler and schoolmaster, called Waitsburg the only place of note between Walla Walla and Lewiston. Waitsburg's notability continued to expand throughout the 1870s, during which it would be connected by telegraph line to [[Portland, Oregon]] and with the establishment of a newspaper, the [[Waitsburg Times|''Waitsburg Times'']].<ref name="HistoryLink"/>

[[File:Washington Flouring Mills, Waitsburg, Washington, ca 1893 (WASTATE 586).jpeg|thumb|Waitsburg Mill circa 1893]]
Disaster struck on September 13, 1880, when a fire ravaged the town's business district. The area was quickly rebuilt, this time with brick, and a year later, in 1881, the [[Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company]] completed a line through Waitsburg connecting it by rail with Walla Walla and the outside world. On November 25, 1881, the city was officially incorporated as the City of Waitsburg. The original charter was revised five years later, in 1886, and the revised charter has been in place ever since. It was under the revised charter that official city services like police, fire and utilities came to the community. Waitsburg's commercial importance as a mill town continued to grow throughout this decade and the Walt's Mill, no longer owned by Walt and eventually known as Washington Mills was expanded and improved, notably with the introduction of steel machinery. By the end of the decade in 1890, Waitsburg's population exceeded 800 people.<ref name="HistoryLink"/>

The mill continued to be the economic heart of Waitsburg through the late 1800s and into the mid-20th century. In 1936 it was converted from a water-powered mill to electric. It would operate as an electric mill for over two decades until it was closed down in 1957. The abandoned mill stood until a fire destroyed it in 2009.<ref name="HistoryLink"/> Despite the closure of the mill, Waitsburg remained relatively stable economically and in terms of population throughout the second half of the 20th century as a commercial center supporting the surrounding agricultural region. 

Since the turn of the 21st century, Waitsburg's economic fortunes have been bolstered by the growth of the wine industry.<ref name="HistoryLink"/> The community is located in the [[Walla Walla AVA]] and has become a destination for wine tourists. During the first two decades of the 21st century, numerous businesses were established catering to these tourists including specialty restaurants, bars and hotels.<ref name="HistoryLink"/><ref name="Sunset" /> Waitsburg's [[Bar Barcello]] was one of 10 nominees for the 2024 [[James Beard Award]] for Best New Restaurant.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Musho |first1=Lee |date=May 14, 2024 |title=Meet the James Beard Nominees for Best New Restaurant |url=https://www.eater.com/ad/maps/james-beard-nominees-for-best-new-restaurant-map-2024 |website=eater.com |publisher=Vox Media |access-date=September 28, 2024}}</ref>

===Historic places===

Waitsburg has three properties and one designated [[historic district]] that are on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] (NRHP). The oldest is the [[William Perry Bruce House]], a Victorian [[Italianate]] home built in 1883 by town founder [[William Perry Bruce]]; it was later converted into a [[public library]] and now houses the Bruce Memorial Museum, run by the local [[historical society]].<ref>{{cite web|title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: William Perry Bruce House|url={{NRHP url|id=75001878}}|publisher=National Park Service|author=Robert Wayne Hergert|date=March 12, 1975}}</ref> [[Preston Hall (Waitsburg, Washington)|Preston Hall]], a former school building built in 1913, was added to the register in 1993. The modern [[Waitsburg High School]], opened in 1927, is also listed on the NRHP. The [[Waitsburg Historic District]], which encompasses most of Downtown Waitsburg, includes 23 properties that were built between 1880 and 1930.<ref name="Revisit">{{cite web |title=Waitsburg |url=https://revisitwa.org/waypoint/waitsburg/ |work=Revisiting Washington |publisher=[[Washington Trust for Historic Preservation]] |accessdate=March 14, 2025}}</ref>

{{Gallery
|title=NRHP entries in Waitsburg
|width=160 | height=170 |noborder=yes
|align=center
|File:W. P. Bruce House2 NRHP 75001878 Walla Walla County, WA.jpg 
 |[[William Perry Bruce House]]
|File:Preston Hall NRHP 92001590 Walla Walla County, WA.jpg
 |[[Preston Hall (Waitsburg, Washington)|Preston Hall]]
|File:Waitsburg High School2 NRHP 01000431 Walla Walla County, WA.jpg
 |[[Waitsburg High School]]
|File:Waitsburg-Washington.JPG
 |[[Waitsburg Historic District]]
}}

==Geography==
[[File:Waitsburg Washington aerial photo - looking southwest 2.jpg|thumb|Waitsburg with the Touchet River in the foreground]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|1.12|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}}</ref>

Waitsburg is located in the valley of the [[Touchet River]] in Southeastern Washington. The Touchet River passes along the northern edge of the town and is joined by Wilson Creek, which passes through the eastern portion of Waitsburg, and Coppei Creek, which flows through the western portion. The thin valley of the Touchet River sits at roughly 1,300 feet above sea level at Waitsburg with hillsides rising to roughly 1,700 feet within a mile of the town to both the north and the south.<ref name="USGS">{{cite map |year=2023 |title=Waitsburg Quadrangle |scale=1:24,000 |publisher=United States Geological Survey |url=https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/ht-bin/tv_browse.pl?id=1aa6f7fb56db3b0aaf3672b4797f0373 |access-date=September 27, 2024}}</ref> The surrounding terrain of rolling hills is covered with farmland dominated by wheat and barley.<ref name="Sunset">{{cite web |title=Waitsburg, Washington |url=https://www.sunset.com/travel/travel-directory/waitsburg-washington |website=sunset.com |publisher=Sunset Magazine |access-date=September 27, 2024}}</ref>

===Climate===
This region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6&nbsp;°F (22&nbsp;°C). According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Waitsburg 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=30254&cityname=Waitsburg%2C+Washington%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Waitsburg, Washington]</ref>

{{Weather box
|width=auto
|location = Waitsburg, Washington
|single line = Yes
|metric first = Yes
|collapsed = y
|Jan high F = 40
|Feb high F = 45
|Mar high F = 53
|Apr high F = 61
|May high F = 69
|Jun high F = 77
|Jul high F = 87
|Aug high F = 86
|Sep high F = 76
|Oct high F = 64
|Nov high F = 49
|Dec high F = 41
|year high F = 62
|Jan low F = 25
|Feb low F = 29
|Mar low F = 34
|Apr low F = 38
|May low F = 44
|Jun low F = 50
|Jul low F = 55
|Aug low F = 54
|Sep low F = 47
|Oct low F = 39
|Nov low F = 32
|Dec low F = 27
|year low F = 39
|Jan precipitation inch = 2.4
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.9
|Mar precipitation inch = 2.1
|Apr precipitation inch = 1.6
|May precipitation inch = 1.6
|Jun precipitation inch = 1.3
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.5
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.5
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.9
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.6
|Nov precipitation inch = 2.5
|Dec precipitation inch = 2.5
|year precipitation inch = 19.3
|source 1 = Weatherbase <ref name=Weatherbase>
{{cite web
|url =http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=30254&cityname=Waitsburg-Washington-United-States-of-America
|publisher=Weatherbase
|title=Weatherbase.com
|year=2014
}}
Retrieved on June 4, 2014.
</ref>
|date=June 2014
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1880 = 248
| 1890 = 817
| 1900 = 1011
| 1910 = 1237
| 1920 = 1174
| 1930 = 869
| 1940 = 936
| 1950 = 1015
| 1960 = 1010
| 1970 = 953
| 1980 = 1035
| 1990 = 990
| 2000 = 1212
| 2010 = 1217
| 2020 = 1166
| 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=July 21, 2014}}</ref>
}}

===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]]|accessdate=December 19, 2012}}</ref> there were 1,217 people, 475 households, and 328 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1086.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 522 housing units at an average density of {{convert|466.1|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 93.1% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.2% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.5% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.7% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.2% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.9% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 2.3% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 5.3% of the population.

There were 475 households, of which 37.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.9% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.04.

The median age in the city was 41 years. 26.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.2% were from 25 to 44; 28.4% were from 45 to 64; and 16.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.6% male and 50.4% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], there were 1,212 people, 490 households, and 314 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,279.5 people per square mile (492.6/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 522 housing units at an average density of 551.1 per square mile (212.2/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the city was 94.80% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.58% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.41% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.66% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.16% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.39% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.81% of the population.

There were 490 households, out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 29.7% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,527, and the median income for a family was $40,865. Males had a median income of $31,625 versus $21,518 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $16,803. About 10.6% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 14.8% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.

==Transportation==

[[U.S. Route 12 in Washington|U.S. Route 12]] passes through Waitsburg and continues south to [[Walla Walla, Washington|Walla Walla]] and east to [[Clarkston, Washington|Clarkston]]. In downtown, it intersects [[Washington State Route 124|State Route 124]], which travels west towards the [[Tri-Cities, Washington|Tri-Cities]] area.<ref>{{cite WSDOT map |year=2014 |accessdate=March 14, 2025}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Waitsburg, Washington|Waitsburg}}
* {{Official website|http://www.cityofwaitsburg.com/}}

{{Walla Walla County, Washington}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Cities in Walla Walla County, Washington]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1859]]
[[Category:1859 establishments in Washington Territory]]