White Center, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
White Center, Washington
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Location of White Center, Washington
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | King |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.25 sq mi (5.83 km2) |
| • Land | 2.24 sq mi (5.81 km2) |
| • Water | 0.008 sq mi (0.02 km2) |
| Elevation | 381 ft (116 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 16,631 |
| • Density | 7,388/sq mi (2,852.7/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP codes |
98106, 98146, 98168
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| Area code(s) | 206 |
| FIPS code | 53-78225 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1512801 |
White Center is a special kind of community in King County, Washington, United States. It's called a census-designated place (CDP). This means it's an area that looks like a town but isn't officially a city with its own local government.
White Center is located between West Seattle and Burien. In 2020, about 16,631 people lived there.
You might hear White Center called "Rat City." This nickname came from a military training center that was there during World War II. A famous roller derby team from Seattle, the Rat City Rollergirls, even started training in White Center!
Contents
Exploring White Center's Location
White Center is found in the western part of King County. It covers about 5.83 square kilometers (2.25 square miles). Most of this area is land, with a tiny bit of water.
The community is surrounded by other places. To the north and west is the big city of Seattle. To the east is an area called Boulevard Park, and to the south is the city of Burien. A main road, Washington State Route 509, runs along its eastern side.
Downtown Seattle is about 11 kilometers (7 miles) north of White Center. The center of Burien is about 5 kilometers (3 miles) to the south. Inside White Center, you'll also find Hicklin Lake.
Who Lives in White Center?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1980 | 19,362 | — | |
| 1990 | 20,531 | 6.0% | |
| 2000 | 20,975 | 2.2% | |
| 2010 | 13,495 | −35.7% | |
| 2020 | 16,631 | 23.2% | |
| Census area in 1980 & 1990 enumerated as White Center-Shorewood. |
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In 2010, there were 13,495 people living in White Center. People from many different backgrounds call White Center home. About 47% of the people were White, 9% were Black or African American, and 22.9% were Asian. Many people also identified as Hispanic or Latino, making up 21.5% of the population.
The community has a mix of families and individuals. About 35% of homes had people under 18 years old. The average household had about 2.73 people.
The median age in White Center was about 36.1 years old. This means half the people were younger than 36.1 and half were older.
Learning and Schools in White Center
White Center is part of the Highline School District. This district serves many communities in southwestern King County.
There are several elementary schools in White Center, including:
- Beverly Park Elementary
- Mount View Elementary
- Southern Heights Elementary
- White Center Heights Elementary
For older students, there are also middle and high schools:
- Rainier Prep Public Charter School
- Cascade Middle School
- New Start High School
- Evergreen High School
White Center's Past
How White Center Got Its Name
Back in 1918, two people named George White and Hiram Green decided what to call this growing community. They flipped a coin, and George White won! That's how the area became known as White Center.
Becoming Part of a City
White Center is an urban area that is not officially part of any city. For many years, there have been talks about whether Seattle should include White Center within its city limits.
In 2010, an area south of White Center, called North Highline, became part of the nearby city of Burien. However, Seattle decided not to include White Center in 2009. Later, in 2012, people voted against White Center joining Burien.
In 2016, the state government offered Seattle $7 million if it would annex White Center. For this to happen, the people living in White Center would need to vote for it, and the Seattle City Council would also need to agree.
Famous People From White Center
Some notable people have come from White Center, including:
- Richard Hugo, a well-known poet
- Floyd Johnson, a professional boxer
- Jack Thompson, a football player
See also
In Spanish: White Center (Washington) para niños
