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Pomeroy
Downtown Pomeroy circa 1988
Downtown Pomeroy circa 1988
Location of Pomeroy, Washington
Location of Pomeroy, Washington
Country United States
State Washington
County Garfield
Area
 • Total 1.78 sq mi (4.60 km2)
 • Land 1.78 sq mi (4.60 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
1,857 ft (566 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 1,425
 • Estimate 
(2019)
1,395
 • Density 785.47/sq mi (303.21/km2)
Time zone UTC−8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP code
99347
Area code 509
FIPS code 53-55120
GNIS feature ID 1512575

Pomeroy is a city in Garfield County, Washington, United States. The population was 1,425 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of and only city in Garfield County.

Geography

Pomeroy is located at 46°28′24″N 117°35′53″W / 46.47333°N 117.59806°W / 46.47333; -117.59806 (46.473334, -117.598119).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.78 square miles (4.61 km2), all of it land.

History

The Nez Perce trail existed in the area before history was recorded, and the first written record of caucasians passing through the area were Lewis and Clark in 1805. Captain Benjamin Bonneville also passed through the future site of the town while he was surveying for the US government in 1834. In 1860, an Irish settler named Parson Quinn settled just east of present-day Pomeroy, and lived there for the next 40 years. Rancher Joseph M. Pomeroy purchased the land in 1864, and platted the town's site in May 1878.

Pomeroy was officially incorporated on February 3, 1886. The town has been the seat of Garfield County ever since 1882, despite fierce competition in the 1880s with neighboring towns Pataha and Asotin. The struggle to name a county seat would continue through both houses of the Washington Territorial Legislature in 1883, to Governor William A. Newell of the Washington Territory, and eventually reached the Congress in 1884.

On July 18, 1900 (despite a city ordinance which mandated fire-proof materials for downtown buildings; there had been fires in 1890 and 1898 as well) fire destroyed half of the small town's business district. The recovery took two years as the destroyed buildings were rebuilt using brick - a building boom for the small community. In 1912, the City voted to outlaw the manufacture or sale of alcohol. This prohibition quickly led to rampant bootlegging and corruption which lasted until the 21st Amendment passed in 1933.

Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Pomeroy
The Catholic Church in Pomeroy, Washington, United States.

On August 21, 2003, following efforts by the Pomeroy Historic Committee, a 10-block section of Pomeroy's downtown was placed on the National Historic Register.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1890 661
1900 953 44.2%
1910 1,605 68.4%
1920 1,804 12.4%
1930 1,600 −11.3%
1940 1,723 7.7%
1950 1,775 3.0%
1960 1,677 −5.5%
1970 1,823 8.7%
1980 1,716 −5.9%
1990 1,393 −18.8%
2000 1,517 8.9%
2010 1,425 −6.1%
2019 (est.) 1,395 −2.1%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,425 people, 642 households, and 401 families residing in the city. The population density was 800.6 inhabitants per square mile (309.1/km2). There were 723 housing units at an average density of 406.2 per square mile (156.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.9% White, 0.3% Native American, 1.3% Asian, 1.3% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.2% of the population.

There were 642 households, of which 25.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.5% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.74.

The median age in the city was 50 years. 19.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 18.6% were from 25 to 44; 32.5% were from 45 to 64; and 24.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.5% male and 52.5% female.

Climate

Pomeroy, as is typical for this region, has a borderline Mediterranean/continental Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csb/Dsb) with dry summers featuring hot afternoons and cool mornings, and chilly, if not severe, and wetter winters.

Climate data for Pomeroy, Washington (1971−2000)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °F (°C) 39.5
(4.2)
45.7
(7.6)
53.2
(11.8)
60.5
(15.8)
68.1
(20.1)
76.2
(24.6)
85.6
(29.8)
85.2
(29.6)
76.3
(24.6)
63.2
(17.3)
47.4
(8.6)
40.2
(4.6)
61.8
(16.6)
Daily mean °F (°C) 31.3
(−0.4)
36.3
(2.4)
42.3
(5.7)
48.6
(9.2)
55.4
(13.0)
62.3
(16.8)
69.2
(20.7)
68.7
(20.4)
60.7
(15.9)
49.8
(9.9)
38.8
(3.8)
32.5
(0.3)
49.7
(9.8)
Average low °F (°C) 23.1
(−4.9)
26.9
(−2.8)
31.3
(−0.4)
36.7
(2.6)
42.6
(5.9)
48.4
(9.1)
52.8
(11.6)
52.1
(11.2)
45.0
(7.2)
36.3
(2.4)
30.2
(−1.0)
24.8
(−4.0)
37.5
(3.1)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.03
(52)
1.71
(43)
1.63
(41)
1.35
(34)
1.59
(40)
1.15
(29)
0.63
(16)
0.82
(21)
0.87
(22)
1.19
(30)
2.09
(53)
2.06
(52)
17.12
(433)
Source: NOAA (normals, 1971−2000)

Events

The following events are organized annually by the Pomeroy Chamber of Commerce: Pioneer Day & Tumbleweed Festival - second weekend in June Garfield County Fair - Sept. 16-19 Starlight Parade & Festival of Trees - Friday after Thanksgiving

Education

PomeroyJSHS01
Pomeroy Junior/Senior High School, 2016

Students in Pomeroy are part of Pomeroy School District 110 and complete their secondary public school education at Pomeroy Junior/Senior High School.

Notable people

  • Samuel G. Cosgrove (1847–1909), 6th governor of Washington
  • Mary Dye - Politician. Member of Washington House of Representatives.
  • Elgin V. Kuykendall (1870–1958), attorney, judge, and member of the Washington State Senate
  • Michael P. Malone (1940–1999), historian and president of Montana State University

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Pomeroy (Washington) para niños

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