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Wilson Creek
Wilson Creek, Washington
Sign leading into Wilson Creek off of Washington State Route 28
Sign leading into Wilson Creek off of Washington State Route 28
Location of Wilson Creek, Washington
Location of Wilson Creek, Washington
Country United States
State Washington
County Grant
Area
 • Total 0.97 sq mi (2.50 km2)
 • Land 0.97 sq mi (2.50 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
1,280 ft (390 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 204
 • Density 222.57/sq mi (85.97/km2)
Time zone UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
98860
Area code(s) 509
FIPS code 53-79135
GNIS feature ID 1512808

Wilson Creek is a small town located in Grant County, Washington, in the United States. According to the 2020 census, about 204 people live there.

History of Wilson Creek

The land around Wilson Creek and Crab Creek was once home to Native American peoples. Settlers began to arrive in the late 1800s. The town was first called "Nanum Creek." It was later renamed after one of the first pioneers who settled there in 1886.

Early settlers like John Marlin and the Urquhart Brothers built their homes in the 1870s. A military road was built nearby, connecting Fort Walla Walla to Camp Chelan. In 1892, a railroad was built through the area. Wilson Creek was officially mapped out in 1903 and became an incorporated town on May 8, 1903.

Growth and Development

When Grant County was created in 1909, Wilson Creek was its biggest town. About 600 people lived there at the time. However, the town did not grow much after that. By the mid-1900s, other towns like Ephrata and Quincy became larger.

Even with slower growth, Wilson Creek created a port district in March 1960. The Port of Wilson Creek has an airport. The airport's runway was updated in 1984 and again in the 2000s. The runway is about 3,074-foot (937 m) long.

Geography and Climate

Wilson Creek is located at 47°25′25″N 119°7′21″W / 47.42361°N 119.12250°W / 47.42361; -119.12250. It sits next to a creek that shares its name. Crab Creek flows along the southern side of the town. The Wilson Creek creek flows into Crab Creek.

Nearby Water Features

Just west of town, along Crab Creek, you can find Billy Clapp Lake and the Pinto Dam. These are both part of the large Columbia Basin Project. This project helps manage water resources in the area.

Transportation

State Route 28 passes just south of Wilson Creek. This road follows the Crab Creek valley. It connects Wilson Creek to Soap Lake to the west and Odessa to the east.

Land Area

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town covers a total area of about 0.96 square miles (2.49 km2). All of this area is land.

Climate Conditions

Wilson Creek has a semi-arid climate. This means it is usually dry, but not a desert. This type of climate is often shown as "BSk" on climate maps.

Population and People

Historical population
Census Pop.
1910 405
1920 300 −25.9%
1930 216 −28.0%
1940 210 −2.8%
1950 337 60.5%
1960 252 −25.2%
1970 184 −27.0%
1980 222 20.7%
1990 148 −33.3%
2000 227 53.4%
2010 205 −9.7%
2020 204 −0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census
2020 Census

The population of Wilson Creek has changed over the years. The chart above shows how many people lived in the town during different census years.

2010 Census Information

In the 2010 census, there were 205 people living in Wilson Creek. These people lived in 94 households, and 56 of those were families. The population density was about 213.5 inhabitants per square mile (82.4/km2) people per square mile. There were 116 housing units in total.

Diversity in Wilson Creek

The people living in Wilson Creek in 2010 came from different backgrounds:

  • 91.2% were White.
  • 1.5% were Native American.
  • 1.0% were Asian.
  • 2.4% were from other races.
  • 3.9% were from two or more races.
  • About 8.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino.

Households and Families

Of the 94 households:

  • 24.5% had children under 18 living with them.
  • 42.6% were married couples living together.
  • 9.6% had a female head of household with no husband present.
  • 7.4% had a male head of household with no wife present.
  • 40.4% were not families (individuals living alone or with non-relatives).
  • 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals.
  • 21.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.

The average household had 2.18 people. The average family had 2.77 people.

Age of Residents

The average age of people in Wilson Creek was 50.8 years old.

  • 20% of residents were under 18 years old.
  • 7.3% were between 18 and 24 years old.
  • 14.7% were between 25 and 44 years old.
  • 28.2% were between 45 and 64 years old.
  • 29.8% were 65 years old or older.

There were slightly more females than males. About 47.3% of the population was male, and 52.7% was female.

See also

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

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