Elma, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elma, Washington
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City hall
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Location of Elma, Washington
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Grays Harbor |
| Settled | 1853 |
| Incorporated | March 22, 1888 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.58 sq mi (6.69 km2) |
| • Land | 2.55 sq mi (6.60 km2) |
| • Water | 0.03 sq mi (0.08 km2) |
| Elevation | 49 ft (15 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,438 |
| • Estimate
(2022)
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3,469 |
| • Density | 1,314.12/sq mi (507.40/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
98541
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| Area code(s) | 360 |
| FIPS code | 53-21450 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1512188 |
Elma is a friendly city located in Grays Harbor County, in the state of Washington, United States. In 2020, about 3,438 people called Elma home.
Contents
History
Elma was first settled way back in 1853 by a person named D.F. Byles. The city later got its name from Elmer Brown, who was a soldier during the Union. Elma officially became a city on March 22, 1888.
Geography
Elma is located at 47°0′20″N 123°24′23″W / 47.00556°N 123.40639°W. This means it's in a specific spot on the map!
The city covers a total area of about 1.92 square miles (4.97 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with only a small part being water.
Climate
Elma has a type of weather called a warm-summer Mediterranean climate. This means that summers are usually warm and dry, which is great for outdoor activities. Winters, on the other hand, are cool and can be very wet. It rains or snows on about half of the days each year.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 345 | — | |
| 1900 | 894 | 159.1% | |
| 1910 | 1,532 | 71.4% | |
| 1920 | 1,253 | −18.2% | |
| 1930 | 1,545 | 23.3% | |
| 1940 | 1,370 | −11.3% | |
| 1950 | 1,543 | 12.6% | |
| 1960 | 1,811 | 17.4% | |
| 1970 | 2,227 | 23.0% | |
| 1980 | 2,720 | 22.1% | |
| 1990 | 3,011 | 10.7% | |
| 2000 | 3,049 | 1.3% | |
| 2010 | 3,107 | 1.9% | |
| 2020 | 3,438 | 10.7% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 3,469 | 11.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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Elma's Community in 2010
In 2010, there were 3,107 people living in Elma. These people lived in 1,209 homes, and 788 of those were families.
Most of the people in Elma were White (85.8%). There were also smaller groups of African American, Native American, and Asian residents. About 6.6% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
About 34.7% of homes had children under 18 living there. The average household had about 2.53 people. The average age of people in Elma was 36.1 years old.
Education
The Elma School District has four schools that help students learn and grow.
- Elma Elementary School teaches young children in an Early Childhood Program, and students from kindergarten through 5th grade.
- Elma Middle School is for students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades.
- Elma High School serves older students from 9th through 12th grade.
- East Grays Harbor High School offers different ways to learn for students who need alternative education.
The sports teams for Elma High School and Middle School are called the Eagles, and their colors are blue and white. East Grays Harbor High School's mascot is a gryphon, and their colors are black and turquoise.
Elma High School also has a special program called Running Start. This program lets students in 11th and 12th grades take college classes. They can earn college credit while still in high school through Grays Harbor College and Washington State University.
For very young children, Elma has several daycares, a co-op preschool, and a Head Start facility. These programs help kids get ready for school.
Transportation
The Elma Municipal Airport (WN65) is located south of the main downtown area. It has one runway for planes to take off and land. This airport used to have a flight operation in the 1970s, but now it is privately owned.
Famous People from Elma
Elma has been home to some talented people!
- Kyle Basler was an amazing athlete at Elma High School. He played football, basketball, and baseball, even winning state championships in football and basketball in 1997-1998. He went on to be a punter for Washington State University and even played for the Cleveland Browns in the NFL and the Frankfurt Galaxy in NFL Europa.
- Jamie Craighead was named the Washington state Class 2A Women's High School Player of the Year in 1998. She played basketball at the University of Oregon and helped them win a big tournament in 2002. Later, she became a head coach for women's basketball teams at Sacramento State and San Jose State.
- Rod "the Rifle" Derline was a basketball star who led Elma High School to the state championship game in 1970. He played for Seattle University and was even drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics in the NBA. He played for the Sonics during the 1974-1975 and 1975-1976 seasons.
- Lloyd Jones was a state senator in Alaska.
- Bud Ward was a well-known golfer.
See also
In Spanish: Elma (Washington) para niños
