Vantage, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vantage, Washington
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Location of Vantage in Washington
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Kittitas |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.3 sq mi (0.8 km2) |
| • Land | 0.3 sq mi (0.8 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 663 ft (202 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 54 |
| • Density | 180/sq mi (68/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
98950
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| Area code(s) | 509 |
| FIPS code | 53-74200 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1511390 |
Vantage is a small community in Kittitas County, Washington, United States. It's called a census-designated place (CDP) because it's a special area used for gathering population data. In 2020, about 54 people lived there. Vantage is located right along the Columbia River.
Contents
History of Vantage
Ancient Times and Native Americans
The land around Vantage has been home to the Wanapum Native American people for a very long time. They lived here even before recorded history. You can find many old rock paintings, called petroglyphs, on the cliff walls. These carvings tell stories from the past.
The Wanapum also used petrified wood from the area. This is wood that has turned into stone over millions of years. They used it to make tools like arrowheads.
Saving Ancient Art
In the 1960s, the Wanapum Dam was built. This caused the Columbia River to rise and flood the area where many petroglyphs were found. To save these important artworks, about 60 of the more than 300 carvings were carefully cut from the basalt cliffs.
Near Vantage, you can visit the Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park. It's one of the most amazing fossil forests in the world. In 1965, it was named a National Natural Landmark.
Early Transportation and Bridges
In the early 1900s, people in nearby Ellensburg needed an easier way to travel east. So, in 1914, a small ferry boat was started at Vantage. This ferry carried cars across the Columbia River.
The ferry was a simple barge with ramps. It could only carry two cars at a time. Sometimes, cars (and even people!) fell into the river. Because of this, the state decided to build a bridge.
Building the First Bridge
In 1927, a new bridge opened at Vantage. It was 1,640-foot (500 m) long. This bridge was a very important part of the Sunset Highway. This was the main road connecting the east and west sides of Washington at the time.
Building the bridge was hard work. Workers had to go into special pressurized rooms called caissons. These rooms were 70-foot (21 m) under the riverbed. Some workers became very sick from the pressure changes. Once finished, the bridge was 70-foot (21 m) above the water. This allowed boats to pass underneath.
The Bridge's New Home
This first bridge served Vantage for 35 years. In 1962, a new, modern bridge replaced it. The old bridge was taken apart and moved to a new location. It was rebuilt over the Snake River at Lyons Ferry.
Today, this old bridge is the oldest steel cantilever bridge still standing in Washington. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
When the Wanapum Dam was finished in the early 1960s, the original town of Vantage was moved. It was relocated to higher ground to avoid the rising water.
Geography of Vantage
Vantage is located at 46°56′48″N 119°59′30″W / 46.94667°N 119.99167°W. It sits right along the Columbia River.
The area of Vantage is about 0.3 square miles (0.8 km2). All of this area is land. The original town of Vantage was flooded when the Wanapum Dam began operating.
Climate in Vantage
Vantage has a climate with hot summers and cold winters. The highest temperature ever recorded was 115°F (46°C) in August. The lowest was -28°F (-33°C) in January. The area does not get much rain.
| Climate data for Vantage | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 69 (21) |
71 (22) |
82 (28) |
96 (36) |
105 (41) |
109 (43) |
113 (45) |
115 (46) |
103 (39) |
89 (32) |
75 (24) |
70 (21) |
115 (46) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 40 (4) |
48 (9) |
59 (15) |
67 (19) |
76 (24) |
83 (28) |
92 (33) |
91 (33) |
81 (27) |
66 (19) |
50 (10) |
38 (3) |
66 (19) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 26 (−3) |
27 (−3) |
32 (0) |
38 (3) |
46 (8) |
53 (12) |
58 (14) |
56 (13) |
47 (8) |
37 (3) |
30 (−1) |
23 (−5) |
39 (4) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −28 (−33) |
−24 (−31) |
3 (−16) |
21 (−6) |
24 (−4) |
34 (1) |
41 (5) |
39 (4) |
26 (−3) |
9 (−13) |
−19 (−28) |
−19 (−28) |
−28 (−33) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.92 (23) |
0.65 (17) |
0.71 (18) |
0.57 (14) |
0.51 (13) |
0.59 (15) |
0.27 (6.9) |
0.18 (4.6) |
0.32 (8.1) |
0.60 (15) |
1.08 (27) |
1.18 (30) |
7.58 (191.6) |
Population of Vantage
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2000 | 70 | — | |
| 2010 | 74 | 5.7% | |
| 2020 | 54 | −27.0% | |
In 2000, there were 70 people living in Vantage. Most people were White or Hispanic or Latino. Many agricultural workers also live in the Vantage area, and a large number of them move around for work.
The average age of people in Vantage in 2000 was 36 years old.
Things to Do in Vantage
Local Businesses
Vantage has a few places for visitors and locals. You can find gas stations, two restaurants, and a private RV park/campground. The Wild Horse Wind Farm, which uses wind turbines to make electricity, is also located on nearby hills.
Outdoor Fun and Recreation
Vantage is a great spot for outdoor activities. It's known for the Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park and the Wanapum Recreational Area. Many people also use Vantage as a base camp when they go to concerts at Gorge Amphitheatre.
Rock Climbing Adventures
One of the most popular activities in Vantage is rock climbing. Climbers visit "Echo Basin," which has cool basalt columns perfect for climbing. People started climbing here in the 1950s and 1960s. The area became very popular in the 1980s.
Today, there are over 400 climbing routes in Vantage. These routes have different difficulty levels, from easy to very challenging. Climbers visit almost all year round to enjoy the unique rock formations.
See also
In Spanish: Vantage (Washington) para niños
