La Center, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
La Center
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Location of La Center, Washington
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Clark |
| Founded | 1871 |
| Incorporated | August 27, 1909 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.623 sq mi (6.794 km2) |
| • Land | 2.599 sq mi (6.731 km2) |
| • Water | 0.024 sq mi (0.062 km2) |
| Elevation | 52 ft (16 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,424 |
| • Estimate
(2021)
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3,795 |
| • Density | 1,313.78/sq mi (507.27/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
98629
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| Area code | 360 |
| FIPS code | 53-36710 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2411566 |
La Center is a city located in Clark County, Washington, in the United States. In 2020, about 3,424 people lived there.
Contents
History of La Center
In the 1870s, La Center was an important business hub. It was the furthest point up the East Fork of the Lewis River that boats could travel. This made it a key spot for trade and travel.
Steamers like the Mascot and Walker regularly traveled to Portland. However, in late summer, the river often became too shallow. When this happened, passengers and goods had to move to smaller boats called scows. These scows were either pushed with long poles or pulled by horses along the riverbank.
Over time, new railroads and highways were built. This meant people and goods could travel more easily by land. Because of this, La Center became less important as a river port. It turned into a smaller village that mostly served the farms nearby.
La Center officially became a city on August 27, 1909. By 1940, its population was 193 people. Today, the city is home to a few places where people can play card games like poker.
Geography of La Center
La Center covers a total area of about 1.28 square miles (3.32 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 1.27 square miles (3.29 square kilometers), is land. A small part, about 0.01 square miles (0.03 square kilometers), is water.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 288 | — | |
| 1920 | 167 | −42.0% | |
| 1930 | 219 | 31.1% | |
| 1940 | 193 | −11.9% | |
| 1950 | 204 | 5.7% | |
| 1960 | 244 | 19.6% | |
| 1970 | 300 | 23.0% | |
| 1980 | 439 | 46.3% | |
| 1990 | 451 | 2.7% | |
| 2000 | 1,654 | 266.7% | |
| 2010 | 2,800 | 69.3% | |
| 2020 | 3,424 | 22.3% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 3,795 | 35.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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In 2010, La Center had 2,800 people living in 942 households. The city's population density was about 2,205 people per square mile (851 people per square kilometer).
Most of the people living in La Center were White (91.3%). Other groups included African American (1.0%), Native American (0.8%), and Asian (1.9%). About 4.6% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in La Center was 36.6 years. About 30.7% of residents were under 18 years old. The population was almost evenly split between males (49.2%) and females (50.8%).
Arts and Culture
Historic Buildings and Sites
La Center is home to the Highland Lutheran Church, which was built in 1887. This church is also known as the Centennial Church. It still looks much like it did when it was first built, and it even has an original painting inside.
A kitchen was added to the church in 1900. The building also had some repairs and updates in the 1980s. The Highland Lutheran Church is considered one of the oldest places of worship in the state of Washington.
Notable Residents
- Richard Curtis, a politician
- Eric Johnson Jr., a professional car racer
See also
In Spanish: La Center (Washington) para niños
