Kalama, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kalama
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| Kalama, Washington | |
Downtown Kalama
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Location of Kalama, Washington
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Cowlitz |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.83 sq mi (9.91 km2) |
| • Land | 3.57 sq mi (9.25 km2) |
| • Water | 0.26 sq mi (0.67 km2) |
| Elevation | 39 ft (12 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,959 |
| • Density | 783.75/sq mi (302.60/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
98625
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| Area code | 360 |
| FIPS code | 53-34645 |
Kalama (say "ka-LAM-ma") is a city in Cowlitz County, Washington, United States. It's a part of the larger Longview, Washington area. In 2020, about 2,959 people lived there. Kalama is known for its history with the railroad and its location along the Columbia River.
Contents
The Name Kalama
The name "Kalama" has a few possible origins. One idea is that General John W. Sprague of the Northern Pacific Railroad named the town in 1871. He might have used the Native American word "calama," which means "pretty maiden."
Another story suggests the name comes from the Lewis and Clark Journals in 1806. They mentioned a "Cath la haws Creek" or "Calams River," which is now the Kalama River. Later, in 1811, Gabriel Franchère wrote about an Indian village at the mouth of the Kalama River called "Thlakalamah."
There's also a link to John Kalama (c. 1814 – c. 1870), a carpenter from the Hawaiian island of Maui. He came to the Pacific Northwest in the 1830s. In Hawaiian, "Kalama" means "tree of ebony" or "the torch."
Kalama's Past
Kalama was first home to Native American tribes, especially the Cowlitz Indian Tribes. The first white settler recorded was Ezra Meeker and his family in 1853. He later sold his land to John Davenport, who settled there permanently.
In 1870, the Northern Pacific Railway chose Kalama as a major hub. They bought a large area of land to build their railroad's starting point and a new headquarters. This brought many railroad workers to the area.
Railroad Town
Kalama grew very quickly because of the Northern Pacific railroad. In just a few months in 1870, the working population jumped to about 3,500 people. The railroad built a dock, a sawmill, shops, hotels, and even a hospital. The town soon had a motto: "Rail Meets Sail," meaning trains connected with ships.
Many people, including Chinese laborers, came to work for the railroad. They even had their own area called China Gardens. At its busiest, Kalama had about 5,000 residents. However, in 1874, the railroad moved its main office to Tacoma. By 1877, only about 700 people remained in Kalama.
Kalama officially became a town on November 29, 1871. It was the county seat for Cowlitz County from 1872 to 1922. Kalama was also an important stop for a railroad ferry that crossed the Columbia River to Goble, Oregon. This ferry helped connect train services from 1883 until 1909, when new bridges were built near Portland.
The Northern Pacific Railway started building its Pacific Division from Kalama in March 1870. The first spike was driven in May 1871. Regular train service from Tacoma to Kalama began on January 5, 1874. A large railroad ferry called Tacoma started crossing the Columbia River in 1884. It could carry many passenger or freight cars.
Historic Buildings
St. Joseph's Catholic Parish was built in 1874. This was around the same time the railroad between Kalama and Tacoma started running. It was the first and only Catholic church in Kalama.
Where Kalama Is Located
Kalama covers about 3.83 square miles. You can reach Kalama from I-5 using Exits 27, 30, and 32. The industrial area is along the river, while the main business district is on the east side of I-5.
Homes are built up the hills to the east. Some of these homes have amazing views of the Columbia River. The busy train tracks connecting Portland and Seattle run alongside I-5 through the town.
Climate
Kalama has a "warm-summer Mediterranean climate." This means it has warm, dry summers. The average monthly temperatures usually stay below 71.6°F (22°C).
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 129 | — | |
| 1890 | 325 | 151.9% | |
| 1900 | 554 | 70.5% | |
| 1910 | 816 | 47.3% | |
| 1920 | 1,228 | 50.5% | |
| 1930 | 940 | −23.5% | |
| 1940 | 1,028 | 9.4% | |
| 1950 | 1,121 | 9.0% | |
| 1960 | 1,088 | −2.9% | |
| 1970 | 1,106 | 1.7% | |
| 1980 | 1,216 | 9.9% | |
| 1990 | 1,210 | −0.5% | |
| 2000 | 1,783 | 47.4% | |
| 2010 | 2,344 | 31.5% | |
| 2020 | 2,959 | 26.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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In 2010, Kalama had 2,344 people living in 967 households. Most residents (91.3%) were White. About 1.3% were Native American and 1.2% were Asian. Around 4.9% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age in Kalama in 2010 was 41.4 years old. About 23.5% of the people were under 18. And 16.6% were 65 years or older.
Montgomery House
The Montgomery House Bed and Breakfast was built in 1908. It stands on land that once belonged to the Cowlitz Indian tribe. This house was even featured in a 2009 documentary film. As of 2013, it is no longer a bed and breakfast and is being updated.
Famous People From Kalama
- Jackson Gillis, a television writer, was born in Kalama.
- Anna Kashfi, the first wife of actor Marlon Brando, lived in Kalama for a long time until she passed away. She and her son are buried there.
- Country singer-songwriter Tucker Wetmore grew up in Kalama. He played football for Kalama High School.
Images for kids
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Kalama in 1900
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See also
In Spanish: Kalama (Washington) para niños
