Gold Bar, Washington

Gold Bar, Washington
City
Gold Bar, Washington from State Route 2
Location of Gold Bar, Washington
Coordinates: 47°51′15″N 121°41′36″W / 47.85417°N 121.69333°W / 47.85417; -121.69333Coordinates: 47°51′15″N 121°41′36″W / 47.85417°N 121.69333°W / 47.85417; -121.69333
Country	United States
State	Washington
County	Snohomish
Area[1]
• Total	1.03 sq mi (2.67 km2)
• Land	1.03 sq mi (2.67 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation	207 ft (63 m)
Population (2010)[2]
• Total	2,075
• Estimate (2015)[3]	2,112
• Density	2,014.6/sq mi (777.8/km2)
Time zone	Pacific (PST) (UTC-8)
• Summer (DST)	PDT (UTC-7)
ZIP code	98251
Area code	360
FIPS code	53-27365
GNIS feature ID	1520077[4]
Website	www.cityofgoldbar.us

Gold Bar is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. The population was 2,075 at the 2010 census. In 2012 the town faced disincorporation^[5] to avoid bankruptcy.

History

Gold Bar started as a prospectors camp in 1889, named by a miner who found traces of gold on a river gravel bar. After Gold Bar became a construction camp for the Great Northern Railway, anti-Chinese sentiment was inflamed by a shooting fray started by disreputable camp followers. To save the lives of the threatened Chinese, construction engineer Eduard Bauer slipped them out of camp in hastily constructed coffins. Gold Bar was officially incorporated on September 16, 1910. The 1940 population was 307.^[6]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.03 square miles (2.67 km²), all of it land.^[1]

Gold Bar is adjacent to Wallace Falls State Park.

Climate

The climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year round. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Gold Bar has a marine west coast climate, abbreviated "Cfb" on climate maps.^[7]

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census^[2] of 2010, there were 2,075 people, 782 households, and 519 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,014.6 inhabitants per square mile (777.8/km²). There were 837 housing units at an average density of 812.6 per square mile (313.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.1% White, 0.6% African American, 0.7% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.7% Pacific Islander, 7.0% from other races, and 4.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.1% of the population.

There were 782 households of which 37.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.6% were non-families. 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.20.

The median age in the city was 36.6 years. 26.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.1% were from 25 to 44; 28.8% were from 45 to 64; and 7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 52.8% male and 47.2% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,014 people, 705 households, and 525 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,887.2 people per square mile (726.7/km²). There were 769 housing units at an average density of 720.6 per square mile (277.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.56% White, 0.40% African American, 0.70% Native American, 1.29% Asian, 0.40% Pacific Islander, 1.39% from other races, and 4.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.28% of the population.

There were 705 households out of which 44.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.7% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families. 18.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.30.

In the city the age distribution of the population shows 33.5% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 35.2% from 25 to 44, 17.3% from 45 to 64, and 6.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 108.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $45,714, and the median income for a family was $48,152. Males had a median income of $40,250 versus $25,815 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,712. About 5.6% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 2.4% of those age 65 or over.

Attractions

Gold Bar is known as a white-water rafting destination for those seeking to float the Skykomish River. One of the most popular low elevation hikes in the metro Seattle area, the trail to Wallace Falls, is located on the north margin of the city. More than 160,000 people visit Wallace Falls State Park annually.^[10]

References

Municipalities and communities of Snohomish County, Washington, United States
County seat: Everett
Cities	Arlington Bothell‡ Brier Edmonds Everett Gold Bar Granite Falls Lake Stevens Lynnwood Marysville Mill Creek Monroe Mountlake Terrace Mukilteo Snohomish Stanwood Sultan Woodway
Towns	Darrington Index
CDPs	Alderwood Manor Arlington Heights Bothell East Bothell West Bryant Bunk Foss Canyon Creek Cathcart Cavalero Chain Lake Clearview Eastmont Esperance Fobes Hill Hat Island High Bridge Kayak Point Lake Bosworth Lake Cassidy Lake Ketchum Lake Roesiger Lake Stickney Larch Way Lochsloy Machias Maltby Martha Lake May Creek Meadowdale Mill Creek East Monroe North North Lynnwood North Marysville North Sultan Northwest Stanwood Oso Picnic Point Silvana Silver Firs Sisco Heights Startup Sunday Lake Swede Heaven Three Lakes Verlot Warm Beach Woods Creek
Other unincorporated communities	Florence Getchell Hazel Reiter Robe Silverton Sisco Trafton
Ghost town	Monte Cristo
Indian reservation	Tulalip
Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties