McCleary, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
McCleary, Washington
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Location of McCleary, Washington
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Grays Harbor |
| Founded | Late-1898 |
| Incorporated | January 6, 1943 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.07 sq mi (5.37 km2) |
| • Land | 2.05 sq mi (5.31 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.06 km2) |
| Elevation | 276 ft (84 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,997 |
| • Estimate
(2022)
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2,040 |
| • Density | 860.49/sq mi (332.30/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
98557
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| Area code(s) | 360 |
| FIPS code | 53-41225 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1506537 |
McCleary (/məkˈklæriː/) is a small city in Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States. It is located in the western part of Washington state. In 2020, about 1,997 people lived there.
Contents
History of McCleary, Washington
How McCleary Was Founded
The city of McCleary is named after its founder, Henry McCleary. He arrived in the area in 1897. Henry McCleary built two sawmills and a company that made doors.
Later, on December 31, 1941, he sold his land and companies to the Simpson Logging Company. McCleary officially became an incorporated city on January 9, 1943.
The Henry McCleary House
The house of Henry McCleary, designed by Joseph Wohleb, is still standing today. It is located in Olympia, Washington. This historic house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important building in American history.
McCleary's Annual Bear Festival
Since 1959, McCleary has hosted an exciting event called the annual Bear Festival. This festival includes live performances and a fun parade. It started as a way to celebrate the spring bear hunt. This hunt helped control the local bear population, which could harm timber harvests. The festival even used to serve bear stew to the community!
Geography and Location of McCleary
McCleary is located at coordinates 47.055359 degrees North and -123.268859 degrees West. This helps pinpoint its exact spot on a map.
The city covers a total area of about 2.07 square miles (5.37 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 2.05 square miles (5.31 square kilometers), is land. A small part, about 0.02 square miles (0.06 square kilometers), is water.
Population and People of McCleary
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1950 | 1,175 | — | |
| 1960 | 1,115 | −5.1% | |
| 1970 | 1,265 | 13.5% | |
| 1980 | 1,419 | 12.2% | |
| 1990 | 1,235 | −13.0% | |
| 2000 | 1,454 | 17.7% | |
| 2010 | 1,653 | 13.7% | |
| 2020 | 1,997 | 20.8% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 2,040 | 23.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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Population in 2010
According to the 2010 census, 1,653 people lived in McCleary. There were 699 households and 427 families. The city had about 806 people per square mile (311 people per square kilometer).
Most of the people in McCleary were White (93.5%). Other groups included African American, Native American, and Asian people. About 2.4% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Households and Age Groups
In 2010, nearly 30% of households had children under 18 living with them. About 43.5% were married couples. The average household had 2.36 people.
The median age in McCleary was 37.4 years. About 24.6% of residents were under 18 years old. Around 17.1% were 65 years or older. The city had slightly more females (52.3%) than males (47.7%).
Education in McCleary
Early Schools and Growth
In 1901, McCleary had a single classroom that served 60 students. The official school district was created in 1909. A school building was then built at the current school location.
Since then, the McCleary school has been remodeled four times. Today, it serves 13 preschoolers and 281 students from kindergarten to 8th grade.
Scholarship Program
In 1988, the McCleary school district started a special scholarship program. Students who complete 8th grade at McCleary Elementary School can receive a scholarship. This scholarship is given when they graduate from high school.
The scholarship amount is $55 for each year they attended McCleary, starting from kindergarten. Students can use this money for college or for any type of skilled training or trade school. Most high school students from McCleary attend Elma or Capital High School.
City Infrastructure and Environment
Restoring Fish Habitats
McCleary has worked on an important project to help local fish. This project is part of the Chehalis Basin Strategy. It focuses on restoring natural fish passages for spawning salmon and trout in Middle Fork Wildcat Creek. This creek is a branch of Cloquallum Creek in McCleary.
The project involved removing three old culverts. Culverts are tunnels that carry water under a road. These culverts were replaced with new bridges over the creek. The old culverts sometimes caused local flooding because debris would build up.
Project Benefits
The project in 2022 cost about $1.7 million. Over $400,000 of this came from the county. This work helped expand the forest and water habitats along the Middle Fork by over 4.0 miles (6.4 kilometers). This makes it easier for fish to move and live in the creek.
Sister City
McCleary has a sister city relationship with Rossington, England, in the United Kingdom. Sister cities often share cultural and educational exchanges.
Notable People from McCleary
- Angelo Pellegrini, a well-known author.
- Clarence Chesterfield Howerton, a famous circus performer.
See also
In Spanish: McCleary (Washington) para niños
