Lamont, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lamont
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| Lamont, Washington | |
Location of Lamont, Washington
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Whitman |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.29 sq mi (0.75 km2) |
| • Land | 0.29 sq mi (0.75 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,955 ft (596 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 79 |
| • Density | 272/sq mi (105.3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
99017
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| Area code | 509 |
| FIPS code | 53-38215 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1506067 |
Lamont is a small town in Whitman County, Washington, United States. In 2020, about 79 people lived there.
Contents
History of Lamont
Lamont became an official town on October 22, 1910. It was named after Daniel Lamont, who was a vice president for the Northern Pacific Railway, a big train company.
Railroad Beginnings
Lamont first started as an important stop for trains. It was a "terminal" for the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway (SP&S). This railway was a project by two big train companies, Northern Pacific and Great Northern Railways. Lamont was located on the train line that went between Spokane and Pasco.
The train terminal in Lamont had many facilities. These included a depot (a train station), a yard for trains, and a large roundhouse with 22 stalls. A roundhouse is a building where train engines are stored and repaired. There were also places to get water and oil for steam trains, and a coal dock for other steam trains. Train crews would travel to Lamont, rest there, and then travel back home.
However, the railroad soon decided that Lamont was too far out of the way to be a main terminal. When the roundhouse burned down in 1913, the train companies decided to have crews travel directly between Pasco and Spokane without stopping overnight in Lamont.
Changes Over Time
Even after the roundhouse fire, trains still stopped in Lamont for fuel and water. During World War II, in 1944, a new steel coal dock was moved to Lamont to replace an older wooden one. Steam trains stopped running through Lamont on June 22, 1956. After that, trains were pulled by diesel-electric engines.
New fueling stations for diesel engines were built in Lamont after World War II. But these were also closed in 1957 when trains started fueling up in Pasco instead.
Lamont was important for the railroad because it shipped a lot of grain and livestock (farm animals). The tall grain elevators are still a landmark in the town today.
Railroad Mergers and Line Closure
In 1970, several large train companies, including the Great Northern Railway, Northern Pacific Railway, Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railway, and the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway, all joined together. They formed a new company called the Burlington Northern Railroad.
After this merger, the train lines between Pasco and Spokane were used like a double track. Heavy lumber (wood) trains often went east through the old SP&S line (which went through Lamont). Westbound trains used the old Northern Pacific line. But in the late 1970s, more and more grain was being shipped. So, the direction was changed, and the heavy grain trains started going west through Lamont on the old SP&S line.
In the mid-1980s, the Burlington Northern Railroad decided to use less track in Washington State. The old SP&S line didn't have many businesses along it, and it had problems with falling rocks and flooding. So, in 1987, all through trains were moved off the old SP&S line. In 1991, the train tracks were removed. The State of Washington then turned the old railroad line into a trail for people to use. Some parts of the old roundhouse and other train facilities can still be seen today.
Geography of Lamont
Lamont is located at coordinates 47.200456 degrees North and -117.904513 degrees West.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town covers a total area of about 0.29 square miles (0.75 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Population of Lamont
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 165 | — | |
| 1930 | 130 | −21.2% | |
| 1940 | 135 | 3.8% | |
| 1950 | 101 | −25.2% | |
| 1960 | 111 | 9.9% | |
| 1970 | 88 | −20.7% | |
| 1980 | 101 | 14.8% | |
| 1990 | 91 | −9.9% | |
| 2000 | 106 | 16.5% | |
| 2010 | 70 | −34.0% | |
| 2020 | 79 | 12.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2010 Census Information
In 2010, there were 70 people living in Lamont. These people lived in 33 households, and 23 of these were families. The town had about 241 people per square mile. There were 40 housing units, which are places where people can live.
Most of the people in Lamont (90.0%) were White. A small number were African American (1.4%) or Asian (1.4%). About 7.1% of the people were from two or more races. About 1.4% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Of the 33 households:
- 24.2% had children under 18 living with them.
- 51.5% were married couples living together.
- 9.1% had a female head of the household with no husband present.
- 9.1% had a male head of the household with no wife present.
- 30.3% were not families (meaning individuals living alone or roommates).
- 30.3% of all households had someone living alone.
- 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.
The average household had about 2.12 people. The average family had about 2.57 people.
The average age of people in Lamont was 47.5 years old.
- 18.6% of residents were under 18.
- 9.9% were between 18 and 24.
- 14.3% were between 25 and 44.
- 37.1% were between 45 and 64.
- 20% were 65 years old or older.
In terms of gender, 54.3% of the population was male and 45.7% was female.
See also
In Spanish: Lamont (Washington) para niños
