Yacolt is a town in Clark County, Washington, United States. The 2023 population is estimated to be 1,626. It is located about northeast of

Vancouver Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the cit ...

which is part of the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area.

History

Yacolt is derived from the Klickitat word "Yahkohtl," meaning "haunted place" or "place of (evil) spirits." The area was also known as "the valley of lost children". In September 1902 the town, which consisted of only 15 buildings at the time, was nearly destroyed by the Yacolt Burn, the largest fire in state history. Yacolt was rebuilt over time and officially incorporated on July 31, 1908.

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, the town has a total area of , all of it land.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 1,566 people, 454 households, and 384 families living in the town. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...

was . There were 484 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 95.8%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 0.5%

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, 1.1% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino of any race were 2.1% of the population. There were 454 households, of which 55.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.3% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 15.4% were non-families. 10.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.45 and the average family size was 3.68. The median age in the town was 25 years. 38.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 11.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.9% were from 25 to 44; 17% were from 45 to 64; and 5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 50.9% male and 49.1% female.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 1,055 people, 319 households, and 256 families living in the town. The

was 2,075.2 people per square mile (798.7/km²). There were 344 housing units at an average density of 676.7 per square mile (260.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.26%

, 0.47%

, 1.14% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.09% from other races, and 2.65% from two or more races.

or Latino of any race were 1.90% of the population. 22.1% were of American, 17.9% German, 8.6% English, 7.0% Norwegian, and 5.2% Irish ancestry. There were 319 households, out of which 54.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.9% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.7% were non-families. 16.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.31 and the average family size was 3.71. In the town, the population was spread out, with 40.2% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 13.4% from 45 to 64, and 7.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.7 males. The median income for a household in the town was $39,444, and the median income for a family was $43,438. Males had a median income of $37,500 versus $24,306 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the town was $12,529. About 6.4% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 8.8% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.

Parks and recreation

The Chelatchie Prairie Railroad, a train ride excursion organization, is based in Yacolt. The railroad uses tracks built near the turn of the 20th century that eventually went into disuse in 1984. Restoration efforts in the 1990s led to the creation of the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad program in 2001. Hosting events tied to holidays throughout the year, such as the Headless Horseman Train Ride during the Halloween season, the railroad is best known for its Christmas Train Ride (also known as the Santa Train), an annual event that traverses through the mountainous area bringing riders to Yacolt Falls, a rock tunnel, and Moulton Station. The diesel train, a 1941 ALCO S2, pulls passenger cars originally built between from the 1910s into the 1920s.

Education

Yacolt is located in the Battle Ground Public Schools district.
Text list
/ref> The only public school located in Yacolt is Yacolt Primary School. Yacolt is zoned to Yacolt Primary, Amboy Middle School, and Battle Ground High School.

Notable people

* Tonya Harding, figure skater"It's official: Harding marries Yacolt man."
Retrieved October 10, 2019 * Joe Kent, former

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

officer and political candidate

References

External links

* {{Authority control Towns in Clark County, Washington Towns in Washington (state) 1908 establishments in Washington (state)