Custer, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Custer, Washington
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Location of Custer, Washington
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Whatcom |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.8 sq mi (4.7 km2) |
| • Land | 1.8 sq mi (4.7 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 43 ft (13 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 518 |
| • Density | 288/sq mi (110.2/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
98240
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| Area code | 360 |
| FIPS code | 53-16375 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1512132 |
Custer is a small community in Whatcom County, Washington, United States. It's called a "census-designated place" (CDP). This means it's a group of homes and businesses that the government counts for statistics. However, it's not an officially organized city or town with its own local government.
In 2020, about 518 people lived in Custer. This was an increase from 366 people counted in 2010.
Geography of Custer
Custer covers an area of about 1.8 square miles (4.7 square kilometers). All of this area is land, with no large bodies of water inside its borders.
People of Custer
In 2000, there were 299 people living in Custer. The community had 108 households, and 81 of these were families. The population density was about 164 people for every square mile.
Many types of families lived in Custer. About 35% of households had children under 18 living with them. Most households (67.6%) were married couples. The average household had about 2.77 people.
The people in Custer had different ages. About 28.8% of the population was under 18 years old. About 12% of the people were 65 years or older. The average age in Custer was 36 years.
History of Custer
Custer got its name in 1886. It was named after Albert W. Custer, who was one of the first people to settle there. He was also the first person to open a store and be the postmaster for the town.
Originally, Custer was located at a different spot. But between 1890 and 1892, the town moved to its current location. This move happened because the railroad was being built and came through the new area.
In December 2020, there was a train derailment near Custer. This accident caused about 30,000 gallons of oil to spill. Most of the oil either burned away or evaporated. However, some oil, possibly up to 8,000 gallons, could not be collected.
After the spill, the air quality in the area returned to normal within a few weeks. The soil was also cleaned up. However, testing the groundwater and continuing the cleanup efforts are expected to take several years.
Famous People from Custer
The famous country music singer Loretta Lynn lived in Custer for a while. She was a resident in the 1950s and early 1960s. At that time, she was a young wife and mother, just starting her amazing music career.
See also
In Spanish: Custer (Washington) para niños
