Bucoda, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bucoda, Washington
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Town
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Town hall
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| Nickname(s):
World's Tiniest Town with the Biggest Halloween Spirit
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Location of Bucoda, Washington
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Thurston |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.60 sq mi (1.56 km2) |
| • Land | 0.58 sq mi (1.51 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2) |
| Elevation | 266 ft (81 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 600 |
| • Estimate
(2021)
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598 |
| • Density | 1,015.44/sq mi (392.40/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
98530
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| Area code | 360 |
| FIPS code | 53-08605 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1531901 |
Bucoda (/bjuːˈkoʊdə/) is a small town in Thurston County, Washington, United States. In 2020, about 600 people lived there. The town is known for its fun nickname: "World's Tiniest Town with the Biggest Halloween Spirit."
Contents
What's in a Name? The Story of Bucoda
The area was first called Seatco. This was a local word that meant "evil spirit" or "devil." People living there didn't like this name. So, in 1890, the state government changed it to Bucoda.
One popular idea is that the name Bucoda comes from parts of three important people's last names. These people were William Buckley, a Mr. Coulter, and J.E. Davis.
A Look Back: Bucoda's History
The first American settler in what is now Bucoda was Aaron Webster. He arrived in 1854. Later, in the 1860s, Oliver Shead bought Webster's land and sawmill. The Northern Pacific Railroad built a train station in Seatco in 1872.
In the 1880s, people tried to mine coal in the area. But the coal wasn't very good, so mining didn't happen often.
Washington's First Prison
From 1874 or 1878, Bucoda was home to Washington's first prison. This prison was a three-story wooden building. It was known as a very tough place. Prisoners often had to do hard and dangerous work. The prison was supposed to close in 1888. It was last used in 1890 when the state opened a new prison in Walla Walla, Washington.
Becoming a Town
Bucoda officially became a town on June 7, 1910. Emil Krupp was the first mayor. The town once had a water tower, but it was taken down in the early 1980s.
A large lumber mill called Mutual Lumber Mill was very important to Bucoda. It was so busy that the town was once called the "Town with the Million Dollar Payroll." The mill burned down, was rebuilt, and then burned down again.
Remembering Mayor Rob Gordon
In January 2025, a new law was passed. It renamed the town's post office the Mayor Rob Gordon Post Office. Mayor Gordon had lived in Bucoda for a long time. He worked for the fire department and on the town council. He passed away from cancer the summer before.
Where is Bucoda? Geography Facts
Bucoda is a small town. It covers about 0.59 square miles (1.56 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Who Lives in Bucoda? Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 945 | — | |
| 1920 | 442 | — | |
| 1930 | 703 | 59.0% | |
| 1940 | 541 | −23.0% | |
| 1950 | 473 | −12.6% | |
| 1960 | 390 | −17.5% | |
| 1970 | 421 | 7.9% | |
| 1980 | 519 | 23.3% | |
| 1990 | 536 | 3.3% | |
| 2000 | 628 | 17.2% | |
| 2010 | 562 | −10.5% | |
| 2020 | 600 | 6.8% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 598 | 6.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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Bucoda's Population in 2010
In 2010, 562 people lived in Bucoda. There were 222 households, which are groups of people living together. The town had about 986 people per square mile.
Most people in Bucoda were White (91.6%). Some were African American (1.2%), Native American (0.9%), or Asian (0.5%). About 5.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 30% of households had children under 18. The average age in Bucoda was 40.3 years old.
Fun and Culture in Bucoda
Since 2009, Bucoda has been known as "Boo-coda" every October. This is because of its month-long Halloween celebrations. The town is famous for its "Scary Nights Haunted House." It also has parades with hearses, which are vehicles used for funerals.
Parks and Recreation
The South Sound Speedway is a racetrack located northwest of Bucoda's downtown area. Here, you can watch exciting Figure 8 races.
Bucoda in Media
Bucoda, Washington, was the setting for an episode of a horror podcast called The Magnus Archives. A small part of the movie, The Mountain, starring Jeff Goldblum, was also filmed at a restaurant in Bucoda.
Images for kids
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The Mayor Rob Gordon Post Office
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Bucoda Fire Station
See also
In Spanish: Bucoda (Washington) para niños
