Nooksack, Washington

Nooksack (/ˈnʊksæk/ NUUK-sak) is a city in Whatcom County, Washington, close to the border with Canada. The population was 1,338 at the 2010 census. This town shares Nooksack Valley School District with Sumas and Everson.

Nooksack
City
The local post office
Location of Nooksack, Washington
Coordinates: 48°55′42″N 122°19′10″W
Country	United States
State	Washington
County	Whatcom
Area [1]
• Total	0.87 sq mi (2.25 km^2)
• Land	0.87 sq mi (2.25 km^2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km^2)
Elevation	85 ft (26 m)
Population  (2010)[2]
• Total	1,338
• Estimate  (2019)[3]	1,631
• Density	1,876.87/sq mi (724.26/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code	98276
Area code	360
FIPS code	53-49275
GNIS feature ID	1507007[4]
Website	City of Nooksack

The town is just a handful of buildings built around the highway that runs through it. The post office lost its official status in 1992 (and is now a department of neighboring town, Everson), but still exists across from a small city park. The USPS has since closed the remote office. Other noticeable remains are the two gas stations and several churches. It has no major geographic features except a small creek on the edge of town, near a cemetery containing many old graves.

Nooksack contracts their police and sewer services through the nearby City of Everson.

History

Nooksack after the fire

Businesses in downtown Nooksack

Nooksack was officially incorporated on December 6, 1912, and experienced much growth in its early years. It had a rail station, connecting it to the national train network. However, serious fires in the town in the early twentieth century caused most of the growth to halt.

Notable people

Darius and Tabitha Kinsey, notable early twentieth century photographers, are buried in Nooksack. They specialised in documentary photographs as social commentaries and also images of early logging, fishing and railroad operations.

Geography

Nooksack is located at 48°55′42″N 122°19′10″W (48.928240, -122.319544).[5]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.71 square miles (1.84 km²), all of it land.[6]

Climate

The climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Nooksack has a marine west coast climate, abbreviated "Cfb" on climate maps.[7]

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1920	283		—
1930	293		3.5%
1940	302		3.1%
1950	323		7.0%
1960	318		−1.5%
1970	322		1.3%
1980	429		33.2%
1990	584		36.1%
2000	851		45.7%
2010	1,338		57.2%
2019 (est.)	1,631	[3]	21.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]

2010 census

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 1,338 people, 434 households, and 357 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,884.5 inhabitants per square mile (727.6/km²). There were 457 housing units at an average density of 643.7 per square mile (248.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 81.4% White, 0.1% African American, 2.3% Native American, 1.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 9.4% from other races, and 4.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.9% of the population.

There were 434 households, of which 49.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.4% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 17.7% were non-families. 15.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.08 and the average family size was 3.37.

The median age in the city was 29.6 years. 31.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 30.8% were from 25 to 44; 20.7% were from 45 to 64; and 7.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.4% male and 50.6% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census, there were 851 people, 276 households and 218 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,207.9 per square mile (469.4/km²). There were 296 housing units at an average density of 420.2 per square mile (163.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.54% White, 0.47% African American, 1.29% Native American, 1.65% Asian, 3.29% from other races, and 1.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.58% of the population.

There were 276 households, of which 46.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.2% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.0% were non-families. 16.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.08 and the average family size was 3.54.

36.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 7.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males.

The median household income was $44,000 and the median family income was $49,000. Males had a median income of $36,429 compared with $21,750 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,019. About 2.3% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public education is provided by the Nooksack Valley School District. It operates one high school, one middle school, and three elementary schools that serve Nooksack, Everson, and surrounding areas.

Merging

In February 2009 there was talk of merging Nooksack and Everson into a single city with a combined population of 3,819 (2010 census). On March 4, 2009, the Bellingham Herald reported a meeting of the Everson City Council to discuss such a merger, which was compared to the merger of four towns to form Bellingham in 1903.[9] Names for the proposed new city include "Nooksack Valley".[10]

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
3. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Washington: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2019". United States Census Bureau. May 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
6. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-01-31. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
7. Climate Summary for Nooksack, Washington
8. United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved July 21, 2014.
9. http://www.bellinghamherald.com/102/story/816301.html%5B%5D
10. http://www.lyndentribune.com/node/4137%5B%5D

External links

• http://www.cityofnooksack.com