Colton, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Colton
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| Colton, Washington | |
Aerial view of Colton in 2023
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Location of Colton, Washington
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Whitman |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.62 sq mi (1.60 km2) |
| • Land | 0.62 sq mi (1.60 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,562 ft (781 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 401 |
| • Density | 647/sq mi (250.6/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
99113
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| Area code | 509 |
| FIPS code | 53-13890 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1504078 |
Colton is a small town located in Whitman County, Washington, United States. In 2020, about 401 people lived there. It's a quiet place in the southeastern part of Washington state.
Contents
Discovering Colton's Past
Colton was first settled in 1879 by J.A. Cole. The town was officially founded in 1882 by J.B. Stanley. It became an incorporated town in 1890. This means it was recognized as its own official community.
How Colton Got Started
In 1879, some people from a nearby town called Uniontown were not happy with how things were going there. So, they decided to start a new town. In June 1879, the land for Colton was measured and mapped out on Gregor Kosher's farm.
Right away, businesses started moving to the new town. L.J. Wolford moved his hotel, and Chris Adamson moved his blacksmith shop. Dr. Cole built the first new building. J.B. Standley opened a small store there. The town got its name from the first three letters of Cole's name and the last three letters of Clinton, who was Mr. Wolford's son. Mr. Wolford's family was the first to live in Colton.
Early Services in Colton
On October 10, 1879, John Standley became the postmaster and opened a post office in his store. This made it easier for people to send and receive mail. In 1880, Colton got its own school district. The first school opened in the Cole Building, and Mrs. Viola Flowers was the first teacher.
Colton in Pop Culture
Colton was even a filming location for a music video! Country music artist Kenny Chesney filmed parts of his 1995 hit song Me and You in Colton.
Where is Colton Located?
Colton is in the Palouse region of southeastern Washington. It's very close to the border with Idaho. The town is located right along U.S. Route 195, which is a major highway.
What is Colton's Size?
The town of Colton covers a total area of about 0.62 square miles (1.60 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
How Far is Colton From Other Cities?
Colton is connected to several other towns and cities. Here are some distances:
- Pullman is about 14 miles (23 km) north.
- Lewiston, Idaho is about 22 miles (35 km) south-southeast.
- Clarkston is about 23 miles (37 km) south.
- Moscow, Idaho is about 24 miles (39 km) north-northeast.
- Colfax is about 28 miles (45 km) north-northwest.
- Spokane is about 87 miles (140 km) north.
- Walla Walla is about 127 miles (204 km) southwest.
- Kennewick is about 151 miles (243 km) west-southwest.
- Boise, Idaho is about 288 miles (463 km) south.
Colton's Weather
Colton has a type of weather called a warm-summer Mediterranean climate. This means the summers are warm but not extremely hot, and they are usually dry. The average monthly temperatures do not go above 71.6°F (22°C).
Who Lives in Colton?
The population of Colton has changed over the years. Here's a look at how many people have lived there during different census years:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 251 | — | |
| 1910 | 393 | 56.6% | |
| 1920 | 382 | −2.8% | |
| 1930 | 269 | −29.6% | |
| 1940 | 262 | −2.6% | |
| 1950 | 207 | −21.0% | |
| 1960 | 253 | 22.2% | |
| 1970 | 279 | 10.3% | |
| 1980 | 307 | 10.0% | |
| 1990 | 325 | 5.9% | |
| 2000 | 386 | 18.8% | |
| 2010 | 418 | 8.3% | |
| 2020 | 401 | −4.1% | |
| Source: U.S. Decennial Census |
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Colton's Population in 2010
According to the 2010 census, there were 418 people living in Colton. These people made up 164 households, and 126 of those were families. The town had about 708.5 people per square mile.
Most of the people living in Colton were White (95.5%). A small percentage were Native American, Asian, or from other backgrounds. About 3.1% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
In 2010, about 33.5% of households had children under 18 living with them. Most households (68.9%) were married couples living together. The average household had about 2.55 people, and the average family had about 2.91 people.
The average age of people in Colton was 44.2 years. About 26.1% of residents were under 18, and 15.6% were 65 or older. The population was almost evenly split between males (51.0%) and females (49.0%).
Notable People From Colton
Colton has been home to some interesting people:
- Mike Kramer – He was a successful football coach for college teams like Eastern Washington and Montana State.
- Albert Rooks – He was a brave captain of a ship called the USS Houston during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor, which is a very high award for bravery, after he passed away.
- Lowell Ward Rooks (1893−1973) – He was an army officer and Albert Rooks's brother.
- Opal Whiteley – She was a writer known for her nature writings and diaries.
See also
In Spanish: Colton (Washington) para niños
