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Ruston, Washington
Neighborhoods at Stack Hill
Neighborhoods at Stack Hill
Location of Ruston, Washington
Location of Ruston, Washington
Country United States
State Washington
County Pierce
Area
 • Total 0.26 sq mi (0.67 km2)
 • Land 0.26 sq mi (0.66 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation
43 ft (13 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 749
 • Estimate 
(2019)
845
 • Density 3,300.78/sq mi (1,276.60/km2)
Time zone UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
98407
Area code 253
FIPS code 53-60510
GNIS feature ID 1512629
Website rustonwa.org

Ruston is a city in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 749 at the 2010 census.

Although it is nearly indistinguishable from the adjacent city of Tacoma, the predominantly residential area still retains its status as a separate municipality long after it ceased to be a company town. The local government opted to reclassify Ruston as a city in late 2012.

History

In 1890 industrialist W.R. Rust established Tacoma Smelting & Refining Company and a company town for his employees, naming the place "Smelter". On October 22, 1906, residents voted to change to the name to Ruston, in honor of Mr. Rust. Ruston was officially incorporated on November 10, 1906. It is surrounded on one side by Commencement Bay and all other sides the city of Tacoma. The primary industry for decades was the ASARCO copper smelting plant on the waterfront. The smelter and its landmark smokestack have been gone for years, and a massive Superfund cleanup at the former site has been underway since the early 1990s. This area has been renamed Point Ruston as construction on a large residential and commercial development has commenced which could add over 1,000 residents to the city.

The Ruston town council passed a measure to become a noncharter code city under Washington law in late 2012. Officials indicated that the "Town of Ruston" moniker will continue to be used, however.

IMAG1554-point-ruston-tacoma
Mixed use buildings containing theater, stores, and apartments constructed in early 21st century.

Geography

Ruston is located at 47°17′49″N 122°30′38″W / 47.29694°N 122.51056°W / 47.29694; -122.51056 (47.296906, -122.510513). It is surrounded on three sides by the city of Tacoma. To the north is Puget Sound.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.34 square miles (0.88 km2), of which, 0.26 square miles (0.67 km2) is land and 0.08 square miles (0.21 km2) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1910 780
1920 1,128 44.6%
1930 818 −27.5%
1940 739 −9.7%
1950 838 13.4%
1960 694 −17.2%
1970 668 −3.7%
1980 612 −8.4%
1990 693 13.2%
2000 738 6.5%
2010 749 1.5%
2019 (est.) 845 12.8%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 749 people, 336 households, and 194 families living in the town. The population density was 2,880.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,112.3/km2). There were 430 housing units at an average density of 1,653.8 per square mile (638.5/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 87.0% White, 2.9% African American, 1.1% Native American, 2.7% Asian, 0.7% Pacific Islander, 0.9% from other races, and 4.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.0% of the population.

There were 336 households, of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.3% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.78.

The median age in the town was 39.5 years. 20.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 30.6% were from 25 to 44; 31.7% were from 45 to 64; and 10% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.7% male and 51.3% female.

See also

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

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