Napavine, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Napavine
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| Nickname(s):
The City on Top of the Hill
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| Motto(s):
Welcome to Napavine: for a day, or for a lifetime
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Location of Napavine, Washington
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Lewis |
| Incorporated | 1913 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.90 sq mi (7.52 km2) |
| • Land | 2.89 sq mi (7.49 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2) |
| Elevation | 459 ft (140 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,888 |
| • Density | 691.91/sq mi (267.19/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
98565
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| Area code(s) | 360 |
| FIPS code | 53-47980 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1506926 |
Napavine is a city in Lewis County, Washington, United States. It is also part of the Centralia, WA micropolitan area. In 2020, about 1,888 people lived there.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name Napavine has an interesting story. Some records say that J.W. Cutting created the name in the 1870s. He might have used the name of a Newaukum tribal leader called Napawyna. However, it's also possible that the leader was named after the town. Another idea is that Scottish immigrant James Urquhart named the area "Napavine." He might have used the Indian word "Napavoon," which means "small prairie."
A Look Back in Time
People started settling in the Cowlitz area in the early 1850s. In 1883, James Urquhart planned out the town. Napavine officially became a town on November 21, 1913.
An important event in the area's history happened in 1902. Two people who had escaped from prison were in the area. One of them, David Merrill, was found shot outside Napavine. A local woman, Mary Waggoner, found his body while picking berries. She tried to claim a reward for finding him, but she was not successful.
A train station was built in Napavine in the late 1910s. It offered rides to passengers until 1960. The station kept serving the area until it closed for good in April 1968. Many local people did not want it to close. The Northern Pacific Railway station in Napavine was the highest point on the train line between Portland and Seattle.
Where is Napavine?
Napavine is located on a large hill. This hill is about 400 feet (122 meters) above sea level. The city covers about 2.39 square miles (6.19 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a very small amount of water.
Who Lives Here?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 340 | — | |
| 1930 | 181 | −46.8% | |
| 1940 | 220 | 21.5% | |
| 1950 | 242 | 10.0% | |
| 1960 | 314 | 29.8% | |
| 1970 | 377 | 20.1% | |
| 1980 | 611 | 62.1% | |
| 1990 | 745 | 21.9% | |
| 2000 | 1,361 | 82.7% | |
| 2010 | 1,766 | 29.8% | |
| 2020 | 1,888 | 6.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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In 2010, there were 1,988 people living in Napavine. There were 609 households, which are groups of people living together. Many households (63%) had children under 18 living with them. The average age in the city was about 33 years old. About 31% of residents were under 18.
What People Do for Work
Napavine is mainly a "bedroom community." This means that many people who live in Napavine travel to nearby cities for work. These cities include Centralia, Chehalis, and Olympia.
Fun Things to Do
Festivals and Events
Napavine hosts a yearly event called the Napavine Funtime Festival. It started in 1973. For many years, the festival featured a "Princess Napawinah." This princess was based on an 18th-century Newaukum Tribal leader.
In 2023, some people and Native American groups raised concerns about the princess's clothing. They felt it did not properly represent Native American cultures. Because of these concerns, the city council decided to change the festival's theme. In 2024, the festival's theme was "Tiger Pride," honoring the local high school mascot.
Napavine also has a community Easter Egg Hunt. Since the 1980s, it has held an annual Christmas Parade, also called the Santa Parade. This parade starts at the Napavine Community Park and goes through the downtown area.
Tourism
You can find the Uncle Sam billboard in Napavine. It's on private land. Since the 1960s, the owners have used this billboard to share their political views.
Parks and Recreation
Napavine has several parks for everyone to enjoy.
- Napavine Community Park is the largest and newest park. It has an outdoor stage (amphitheater) and a skate park.
- Robert Cook Day Park (also known as Robert Cook Playground) is in a neighborhood.
- Mayme Shaddock Park is near the school district. It has the Jim Haslett Kitchen, which was finished in 2024. This kitchen was named after a councilman who supported the park for a long time.
In 2009, Napavine was considered as a possible location for a large equestrian center. An equestrian center is a place for horse riding and events. However, this plan did not happen. Instead, funds were used to build a sports complex in Centralia.
Schools in Napavine
The Napavine School District runs the public schools in the city.
- Napavine High School is known for its sports teams. Its football team won the state championship in 2008, 2016, and 2022. The girls' basketball team won the state championship in 2024. They won with a 3-point shot in the last seconds of the game!
- Napavine also has the Napavine Christian Academy, which is owned by the Baptist church.
Famous People from Napavine
- Patricia Anne Morton: She was the first woman to be a special agent for Diplomatic Security.
- Skyler Wheeler: He is a politician in Iowa.
See also
In Spanish: Napavine (Washington) para niños
