Asotin, Washington

Asotin, Washington
City
Asotin viewed from the elevated land to the south. Land across the river is in Idaho.
Location of Asotin, Washington
Coordinates: 46°20′20″N 117°2′47″W / 46.33889°N 117.04639°W / 46.33889; -117.04639Coordinates: 46°20′20″N 117°2′47″W / 46.33889°N 117.04639°W / 46.33889; -117.04639
Country	United States
State	Washington
County	Asotin
Area [1]
• Total	1.33 sq mi (3.44 km2)
• Land	1.14 sq mi (2.96 km2)
• Water	0.18 sq mi (0.48 km2)
Elevation	801 ft (244 m)
Population  (2010)[3]
• Total	1,251
• Estimate  (2019)[2]	1,289
• Density	1,128.72/sq mi (435.86/km2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code	99402
Area code	509
FIPS code	53-03075
GNIS feature ID	1503074[4]
Website	cityofasotin.org

Asotin /əˈsoʊtən/ is the county seat of Asotin County, Washington, United States.^[5] The population of the city was 1,251 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Lewiston, ID-WA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History[]

The name Asotin is derived from a Nez Perce language term meaning "eel creek,"^[6][7] founded in 1878 by Alexander Sumpster. A river ferry stop at Asotin was set up by 1881.^[6]

Geography[]

Asotin is located at

46°20′20″N 117°2′47″W / 46.33889°N 117.04639°W / 46.33889; -117.04639 (46.338847, -117.046441).^[8] It is a few miles south of Clarkston, on the west bank of the Snake River. The elevation is 801 feet (244 m) above sea level.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.19 square miles (3.08 km²), of which, 1.05 square miles (2.72 km²) is land and 0.14 square miles (0.36 km²) is water.^[9]

Climate[]

This region experiences very warm and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6 °F (22.0 °C). According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Asotin has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.^[10]

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1890	200		—
1900	470		135.0%
1910	820		74.5%
1920	852		3.9%
1930	697		−18.2%
1940	686		−1.6%
1950	740		7.9%
1960	745		0.7%
1970	637		−14.5%
1980	943		48.0%
1990	981		4.0%
2000	1,095		11.6%
2010	1,251		14.2%
2019 (est.)	1,289	[2]	3.0%
source:[11]U.S. Decennial Census[12]

2010 census[]

As of the census^[3] of 2010, there were 1,251 people, 500 households, and 352 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,191.4 inhabitants per square mile (460.0/km²). There were 537 housing units at an average density of 511.4 per square mile (197.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.5% White, 1.0% African American, 1.5% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 1.0% Pacific Islander, 0.2% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.2% of the population.

There were 500 households, of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 29.6% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.93.

The median age in the city was 41 years. 25.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.8% were from 25 to 44; 27.8% were from 45 to 64; and 17.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.8% male and 53.2% female.

2000 census[]

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,095 people, 419 households, and 321 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,040.1 people per square mile (402.6/km²). There were 440 housing units at an average density of 418.0 per square mile (161.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.08% White, 0.18% African American, 1.00% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.18% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.55% of the population.

There were 419 households, out of which 38.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 18.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.2% were non-families. 19.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 29.3% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,083, and the median income for a family was $37,115. Males had a median income of $34,844 versus $21,063 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,257. About 16.4% of families and 19.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.2% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people[]

• Franklin Lee Baldwin (1913-1987), weird fiction fan and Duane W[eldon] Rimel (1915-1996), author of weird & fantasy tales, as well as crime and 'adult' novels; both corresponded with horror writer H.P. Lovecraft.^{[citation needed]}
• Jesse Davis, an offensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins of the NFL.
• Kenneth W. Ford (1908–1997), American businessman who established Roseburg Forest Products.^[13]
• Herbert Niccolls, Jr., (age 12) shot and killed Asotin County Sheriff John Wormell on 5 August 1931 in what the locals term the “crime of the century.” Niccolls had broken into the People's Supply Store in Asotin, intending to steal candy and cigarettes. Within minutes, Sheriff Wormell knocked on the door at the front of the store, "Come on out; I am the sheriff of Asotin County." Wormell is a 72-year-old former state representative, 4-term sheriff, and descendant of one of the first settlers in Asotin County. Receiving no response, Sheriff Wormell enters the store; with him is store owner Peter Klaus. As Wormell and Klaus search the store, Niccolls, hiding behind a vinegar barrel, panicked and jumped to his feet, firing at Wormell who is standing less than 5 feet away. The bullet struck Wormell in the head, killing him instantly. The case attracted national attention. On 26 October 1931 Niccolls’ trial began in Asotin. The courthouse was full, and the Methodist Church down the street sold fried chicken to the crowd. His grandmother, testifying on his behalf, hurt his case when she said that she believed him to be possessed by a demon. On 27 October 1931 the case went to the jury. On 28 October 1931 he received life in prison at the state penitentiary in Walla Walla. The boy flourished in the structured prison environment; he became an avid reader and was gifted in math. He received homework weekly from the , and in 1938 he received his high school diploma. He then took correspondence classes from Washington State College. In 1941 he was pardoned by Gov. Clarence Martin. Nicholls went on to live a successful, crime-free life before dying in 1983. Before the murder, Herbert was living with his paternal grandmother, Mary Addington, a strict disciplinarian who, by some accounts, routinely beat him with a club for the slightest infraction. On 4 August 1931 he ran away, carrying a .32-caliber Iver-Johnson pistol that he had recently stolen.^[14]

References[]

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Asotin.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Asotin, Washington.

External links[]

• Official website