Wilkeson, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wilkeson, Washington
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Location of Wilkeson, Washington
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Pierce |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.47 sq mi (1.21 km2) |
| • Land | 0.47 sq mi (1.21 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 804 ft (245 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 499 |
| • Density | 1,103.00/sq mi (425.68/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
98396
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| Area code | 360 |
| FIPS code | 53-78925 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1528154 |
Wilkeson is a small town located in Pierce County, Washington, United States. In 2020, about 499 people lived there.
Contents
History of Wilkeson
People first came to the Wilkeson area in the 1870s looking for coal. Coal was a very important resource back then. By 1877, a special train line, the Northern Pacific Railway, was built to carry coal from Wilkeson to Tacoma.
The president of the Northern Pacific Railway, Henry Villard, hired a geologist named Bailey Willis. Willis helped explore the coal fields around Wilkeson. Many parts of the town were bought by the railway company.
In 1885, the Wilkeson Coal and Coke Company built special ovens called coke ovens. These ovens turned coal into a fuel called coke, which was used to make steel. Besides coal, Wilkeson also sent out timber and sandstone.
Town's Founding and Growth
Wilkeson officially became a town on July 18, 1909. It was named after Samuel Wilkeson, whose son, Frank Wilkeson, was a journalist and early settler.
At its busiest time, Wilkeson was a lively place. It had its own newspaper, a factory that made cigars, two power plants, and two theaters. There were also two bakeries and a bottling plant.
Challenges and Changes
Sadly, large fires in 1910 and 1912 destroyed much of the town. By 1937, the production of coke in Wilkeson stopped completely. For a while, Wilkeson was known as a "ghost town" because many people had left.
However, in the late 1900s, people started moving back to Wilkeson. Many of them travel to nearby cities like Enumclaw, Bellevue, and Seattle for work. The town has made improvements, partly paid for by a tree farm it manages. Volunteers even helped replace sewer lines.
Geography and Location
Wilkeson covers an area of about 0.47 square miles (1.21 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Surrounding Areas
The town is located between Carbonado and Burnett. The city of Buckley is about 5 miles (8 kilometers) north of Wilkeson.
Wilkeson is also close to the northwest part of Mount Rainier National Park. You can get into the park south of town at the Carbon River entrance. Some unpaved roads east of Wilkeson go deep into the park.
Climate in Wilkeson
Wilkeson has a climate where summers are warm but not too hot, and they are usually dry. The average monthly temperatures do not go above 71.6°F (22°C). This type of weather is called a warm-summer Mediterranean climate.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 104 | — | |
| 1910 | 899 | — | |
| 1920 | 803 | −10.7% | |
| 1930 | 448 | −44.2% | |
| 1940 | 369 | −17.6% | |
| 1950 | 386 | 4.6% | |
| 1960 | 412 | 6.7% | |
| 1970 | 317 | −23.1% | |
| 1980 | 316 | −0.3% | |
| 1990 | 366 | 15.8% | |
| 2000 | 395 | 7.9% | |
| 2010 | 477 | 20.8% | |
| 2020 | 499 | 4.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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Wilkeson was once much larger. In 1910, its population was 1,437 people.
2010 Census Information
According to the 2010 census, there were 477 people living in Wilkeson. These people lived in 169 households, and 129 of these were families.
Most of the people living in Wilkeson were White (96.2%). A small number were African American (0.6%), Native American (0.4%), or from other races. About 3.4% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
About 40% of the households had children under 18 living there. Most households (58%) were married couples. The average household had 2.82 people, and the average family had 3.20 people.
The average age in Wilkeson was 33.9 years old. About 29.4% of residents were under 18. About 7.5% were 65 years old or older. The town had slightly more males (50.9%) than females (49.1%).
Arts and Culture
Annual Events
Wilkeson hosts the National Handcar Races every year. This fun event takes place on the third Saturday in July.
Historic Buildings and Sites
Wilkeson is home to some important historic places:
- The Holy Trinity Orthodox Church is the oldest Orthodox church in Washington state. It was built in 1900.
- The Wilkeson School was built in 1909 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
You can also find old reminders of Wilkeson's mining past. These include the bee hive coke ovens, an old mine shaft, and an abandoned concrete coal works. The 30 remaining coke ovens are also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Images for kids
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Evans Creek ORV (Off Road Vehicle) park near Mt. Rainier.
See also
In Spanish: Wilkeson (Washington) para niños
