Gold Bar, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gold Bar, Washington
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Welcome sign on U.S. Route 2
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Location of Gold Bar, Washington
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Snohomish |
| Incorporated | September 16, 1910 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.06 sq mi (2.74 km2) |
| • Land | 1.06 sq mi (2.74 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 207 ft (63 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,403 |
| • Estimate
(2022)
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2,398 |
| • Density | 2,220.96/sq mi (857.19/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| ZIP Code |
98251
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| Area code | 360 |
| FIPS code | 53-27365 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1520077 |
Gold Bar is a small city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. It sits along the Skykomish River, between the towns of Sultan and Index. You can reach it by following U.S. Route 2. In 2020, about 2,403 people lived there.
Contents
History of Gold Bar
Long before American settlers arrived, the Skykomish people lived in the area where Gold Bar is now. They had a large village there, home to about 40 families, which was around 240 people. This community stretched all the way to the Wallace River. It even had the biggest potlatch house on the Skykomish River. The village was a starting point for hunters going into the Sultan Basin.
The modern town of Gold Bar began in 1869 as a camp for gold miners. A miner found small amounts of gold on a gravel bar in the river, which gave the place its name. Later, Gold Bar became a construction camp for the Great Northern Railway. During this time, there were some serious conflicts. To protect Chinese workers, construction engineer Eduard Bauer cleverly helped them leave the camp safely. Gold Bar officially became a city on September 16, 1910. By 1940, its population was 307 people.
In 2012, the city faced financial challenges. The city government thought about giving up its city status to avoid going bankrupt. This was due to low sales tax money and high costs from dealing with public information requests and lawsuits. However, the city council decided not to give up. Instead, they asked voters to approve a new property tax, but the voters said no in November 2012.
Geography of Gold Bar
Gold Bar covers about 1.03 square miles (2.7 square kilometers) of land. It has no water area within its city limits. The Skykomish River borders the city center to the south. The Wallace River is to the north.
Gold Bar is very close to Wallace Falls State Park. This popular park is located about 2 miles (3 kilometers) northeast of the city.
Climate in Gold Bar
The weather in Gold Bar is generally mild. Temperatures do not change much between highs and lows. The area receives enough rain throughout the year. According to a system that classifies climates, Gold Bar has a marine west coast climate. This means it has cool, wet winters and warm, drier summers.
Population of Gold Bar
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 353 | — | |
| 1930 | 304 | −13.9% | |
| 1940 | 307 | 1.0% | |
| 1950 | 305 | −0.7% | |
| 1960 | 315 | 3.3% | |
| 1970 | 504 | 60.0% | |
| 1980 | 794 | 57.5% | |
| 1990 | 1,078 | 35.8% | |
| 2000 | 2,014 | 86.8% | |
| 2010 | 2,075 | 3.0% | |
| 2020 | 2,403 | 15.8% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 2,398 | 15.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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2010 Census Information
In 2010, the city of Gold Bar had 2,075 people living in 782 households. About 519 of these were families. The city had about 2,015 people per square mile (778 people per square kilometer). There were 837 homes in total.
Most residents, about 85.1%, were White. Other groups included African American (0.6%), Native American (0.7%), Asian (1.0%), and Pacific Islander (0.7%). About 7.0% were from other races, and 4.9% were from two or more races. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up 10.1% of the population.
In the households, 37.9% had children under 18 living with them. About 48.1% were married couples. The average household had 2.65 people, and the average family had 3.20 people.
The average age in Gold Bar was 36.6 years. About 26.4% of residents were under 18. About 7% were 65 years or older. The population was 52.8% male and 47.2% female.
Fun Things to Do in Gold Bar
Gold Bar is a popular spot for white-water rafting on the Skykomish River. Many people enjoy floating down the river's exciting rapids.
One of the most popular hiking trails in the Seattle area is the path to Wallace Falls. This trail is located right on the northern edge of Gold Bar. More than 160,000 people visit Wallace Falls State Park every year.
Gold Bar also hosts an event called Gold Dust Days. This street fair happens every fourth weekend in July. It features many vendors selling goods, local music, and delicious food. There is also a car show on the Saturday of the event.
See also
In Spanish: Gold Bar (Washington) para niños
