Castle Rock, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Castle Rock, Washington
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| Nickname(s):
The Rock
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Location of Castle Rock, Washington
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Cowlitz |
| Incorporated | June 20, 1890 |
| Area | |
| • City | 2.32 sq mi (6.01 km2) |
| • Land | 2.10 sq mi (5.42 km2) |
| • Water | 0.23 sq mi (0.59 km2) |
| Elevation | 59 ft (18 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • City | 2,446 |
| • Density | 1,096.90/sq mi (423.60/km2) |
| • Urban | 2,154 |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
98611
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| Area code | 360 |
| FIPS code | 53-10565 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1512072 |
Castle Rock is a city in Cowlitz County, Washington, United States. It is located between the Willapa Hills and the famous Mount St. Helens. Castle Rock is in the middle of Washington's timber country, which is a type of Pacific temperate rain forest. The city is part of the Longview, Washington area. In 2020, about 2,446 people lived there.
Contents
Discovering Castle Rock's Past
Castle Rock gets its name from a large, castle-like rock. This rock is a natural volcanic rock formation that stands 190 feet tall. It overlooks the Cowlitz River on the south side of the city. For a long time, this rock was an important landmark. Both the Cowlitz Indians and traders from the Hudson's Bay Company used it as a guide as early as 1832. Today, you can visit The Rock Community Park. It has hiking trails, picnic spots, and a special marker that tells its history.
How Castle Rock Started
The city of Castle Rock began mainly on land claimed by Eliza and William Huntington. They settled here in 1852. The city was officially planned on December 12, 1888. It became an incorporated city on June 20, 1890. Castle Rock grew because it was a busy port for steamboats on the Cowlitz River. It was also a trading hub for local farms. The first sawmill in the area made cedar shingles. They used the Western red cedar trees that grow plentifully in this region.
Life in the Early 1900s
By 1940, Castle Rock had a population of 1,182 people. The city's economy was based on dairy farming, truck farming (growing vegetables for market), and making lumber.
Exploring Castle Rock's Location
Castle Rock is about 117 miles south of Seattle. It is also 58 miles north of Portland, Oregon. You can find it at these coordinates: 46°16′26″N 122°54′18″W / 46.27389°N 122.90500°W. The city is located between the Cowlitz River and Interstate 5. It's just one mile south of where the Cowlitz River meets the Toutle River.
Size and Shape of the City
According to the United States Census Bureau, Castle Rock covers a total area of about 1.76 square miles (4.56 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 1.59 square miles (4.12 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.17 square miles (0.44 square kilometers), is water. Castle Rock is the northernmost city in Cowlitz County.
Getting Around Castle Rock
Castle Rock has several ways to get around and connect to other places.
Roads and Highways
The Spirit Lake Memorial Highway (State Route 504) starts here. This highway takes you to the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. It also leads to the Spirit Lake recreation area, Seaquest State Park, and Silver Lake. A smaller road, State Route 504 Spur, extends into the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.
The West Side Highway runs north along the Cowlitz River. It connects Castle Rock to Cloud Mountain and the towns of Olequa and Vader, Washington. If you go south on the West Side Highway, which becomes State Route 411, you can reach Longview, Washington. The Ocean Beach Highway (State Route 4) also connects to Castle Rock. This means the city is about 75 miles from the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge and the Pacific Ocean.
Public Transportation
The Castle Rock Park & Ride is a place where you can catch a bus. It's on Huntington Avenue, right next to Interstate 5 Exit 49. Bus service is provided by Lower Columbia CAP Rural Public Transit. These buses can take you to Longview and other parts of Castle Rock using Interstate 5.
Trails for Fun and Exercise
The Riverfront Trail is a special path for walking, biking, and other activities. It runs along both sides of the Cowlitz River. On the east side, the trail starts at Lions Pride Park. It goes past The Rock Community Park and continues for about 1.5 miles to the PH10 bridge. On the west side, the trail goes for about 1100 feet to the Castle Rock Sports Complex. In 2004, the City of Castle Rock won an award for its great trail system.
Castle Rock's Population Over Time
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 681 | — | |
| 1900 | 750 | 10.1% | |
| 1910 | 998 | 33.1% | |
| 1920 | 829 | −16.9% | |
| 1930 | 1,239 | 49.5% | |
| 1940 | 1,182 | −4.6% | |
| 1950 | 1,255 | 6.2% | |
| 1960 | 1,424 | 13.5% | |
| 1970 | 1,647 | 15.7% | |
| 1980 | 2,162 | 31.3% | |
| 1990 | 2,067 | −4.4% | |
| 2000 | 2,130 | 3.0% | |
| 2010 | 1,982 | −6.9% | |
| 2020 | 2,446 | 23.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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Schools in Castle Rock
Castle Rock has three schools for students of different ages. These are Castle Rock Elementary, Castle Rock Middle School, and Castle Rock High School. The middle school's team mascot is the Pirate. Both the elementary school and the high school share the same mascot, which is the Rocket.
See also
In Spanish: Castle Rock (Washington) para niños
