Toledo, Washington facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Toledo, Washington
City
Shops on Cowlitz Street, Toledo, Washington (2019)
Location of Toledo, Washington
Country	United States
State	Washington
County	Lewis
Area
• Total	0.40 sq mi (1.03 km2)
• Land	0.39 sq mi (1.02 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation	121 ft (37 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	631
• Density	1,956.85/sq mi (755.55/km2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code	98591
Area code(s)	360
FIPS code	53-71785
GNIS feature ID	1512731

Toledo is a city in Lewis County, Washington, United States. The population was 631 at the 2020 census.

History

Toledo was officially incorporated on October 10, 1892. Toledo was named by Celeste Rochon after a pioneer side wheel paddle steamer operated by Captain Oren Kellogg of the Kellogg Transportation Company. The boat traveled the Cowlitz River. A picture of the riverboat is hanging downtown next to the drugstore. However, it wasn't the first non-Indigenous settlement in Lewis County, as the Pugets Sound Agricultural Company opened and maintained the Cowlitz Farm in 1839, near Toledo.

The first school in Toledo was called the OK School. It was a one-room school house. Most of the kids that lived out of the town limits had to ride a boat across the river to and from school until the bridge was built.

The current Middle School was originally the High School until the new High School was built in the late 70s-early 80s. While the middle school was being remodeled in 1995 the children were relocated for the year to St. Mary's Church and School.

The Cowlitz Indian Tribe made a special Totem Pole for Toledo High School. The town has always used the "Indian" as the School's mascot (of course after receiving permission from the tribe). Recently, a painting was donated to the High School of "Old Ike" who was the last full blooded Cowlitz Indian. His portrait still hangs within the halls of the High School.

Geography

Toledo is located at 46°26′21″N 122°50′53″W / 46.43917°N 122.84806°W / 46.43917; -122.84806 (46.439283, -122.848191).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.40 square miles (1.04 km²), all of it land.

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Toledo has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 725 people, 274 households, and 199 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,812.5 inhabitants per square mile (699.8/km²). There were 304 housing units at an average density of 760.0 per square mile (293.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.0% White, 2.6% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 2.3% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.0% of the population.

There were 274 households, of which 42.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% were married couples living together, 20.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 27.4% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.04.

The median age in the city was 35.2 years. 28.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 11.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22% were from 25 to 44; 24% were from 45 to 64; and 14.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.6% male and 53.4% female.

Education

Public education is provided by the Toledo School District, which serves both the City of Toledo and surrounding population. Campuses for students in elementary, middle, and high school are named after the city.

The first school in Toledo was called the OK School. It was a one-room schoolhouse. Most of the kids that lived out of the town limits had to ride a boat across the river to and from school until the bridge was built. The school district consolidated 33 separate one-room schools in 1922. The school system mascot was the "Indians", a moniker that would exist for a century. The current middle school was originally the high school until the new high school was built in 1974. While the middle school was being remodeled in 1995, the children were relocated for the year to St. Mary's Church and School.

The Class of 1988 commissioned a totem pole from a chainsaw artist. This pole was presented to the high school by the class and continues to grace the front entrance. Since 1922, the school has used the "Indian" as the School's mascot. The Cowlitz Indian Tribe officially endorsed this mascot by Tribal Council action in February 2019. Artwork in the high school includes two Remington bronzes, an oil portrait of David Ike, last full-blooded Cowlitz Indian and several carvings by indigenous artists. Gary Ike, a long-time supporter of the school and its programs, is honored throughout the school and athletic venues in thanks for his many years of service to the school and community.

In November 2018, the community voted to build a new high school. Using funds from a special state grant and School Construction Assistance Program (SCAP) funding from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, the upgraded high school was to be constructed on the site of the existing school. Expansive construction of the new Toledo High School began in February 2020 and opened in autumn 2021. The school is built around the original gymnasium and features artwork honoring the Cowlitz Indian Tribe.

In 2021, the school district, required by a Washington state law banning Native American mascots and imagery enacted that year, changed its nickname to the Riverhawks.

See also

In Spanish: Toledo (Washington) para niños