Bickleton, Washington facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bickleton, Washington
Census-designated place
The Bluebird Tavern in Bickleton
Location of Bickleton in Klickitat County, Washington
Country	United States
State	Washington
County	Klickitat
Area
• Total	4.7 sq mi (12.1 km2)
• Land	4.7 sq mi (12.1 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	3,018 ft (920 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	88
• Density	18.8/sq mi (7.25/km2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code	99322
Area code(s)	509
FIPS code	53-05980
GNIS feature ID	1512007

Bickleton is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Klickitat County, Washington, United States. Bickleton was first settled by Charles N. Bickle and established in 1879. The population was 88 at the 2010 census, down from 113 at the 2000 census.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 12.9 square miles (33.4 km²), all of it land.

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Bickleton has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 113 people, 49 households, and 31 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 8.8 people per square mile (3.4/km²). There were 65 housing units at an average density of 5.0/sq mi (1.9/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 92.92% White, 2.65% Native American, 2.65% Pacific Islander, 1.77% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.19% of the population.

There were 49 households, out of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.7% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 25.7% under the age of 18, 3.5% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 29.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.9 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $34,500, and the median income for a family was $48,125. Males had a median income of $42,500 versus $0 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $17,580. There were 20.0% of families and 20.2% of the population living below the poverty line, including 36.1% of under eighteens and none of those over 64.

Tourism

The Bluebird Tavern and the town of Bickleton, Washington.

The town now has a gas station, yet you must have an account in order to use it.It has a tavern as well, the Bluebird Inn. Opened in 1882, it is billed as the oldest functioning tavern in the state and the original pool table, a 1903 Brunswick is still used by regulars. The town also features a restored 1905 Herschell-Spillman carousel.

A lonely shed outside of Bickleton proudly showing the bluebird connection.

Bluebirds

Bickleton is known as the bluebird capital of the world. In the 1950s Jess and Elva Brinkerhoff were picnicking in this small town after coming from nearby Richland and put a can in a tree for some birds. It became a local fad and now there are thousands of birdhouses purposely built to house bluebirds.

Both the mountain bluebird and the western bluebird nest in Bickleton. Maintaining the houses by cleaning old nests is a major task for the local residents. It is funded by profits from bluebird souvenirs sold to tourists at Whitmore's Whoop-n-Holler Ranch Museum.