Sequim, Washington

Sequim /ˈskwɪm/ (listen) is a city in Clallam County, Washington, United States. The 2010 census counted a population of 6,606. The population served by the Sequim School District was close to 29,000 in 2018.[6] Sequim is located along the Dungeness River near the base of the Olympic Mountains.

Sequim, Washington
City
John Wayne Marina in Sequium
Sequim, Washington
Coordinates: 48°4′41″N 123°6′5″W
CountryUnited States
StateWashington
CountyClallam
Government
 • MayorWilliam Armacost[1]
Area
 • Total6.40 sq mi (16.58 km2)
 • Land6.32 sq mi (16.37 km2)
 • Water0.08 sq mi (0.21 km2)
Elevation
184 ft (56 m)
Population
 • Total6,606
 • Estimate 
(2019)[4]
7,640
 • Density1,209.05/sq mi (466.82/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
98382
Area code360
FIPS code53-63385
GNIS feature ID1531505[5]
WebsiteCity of Sequim

Sequim lies within the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains and receives on average less than 16 inches (410 mm) of rain per year – about the same as Los Angeles, California – leading it to give itself the nickname of Sunny Sequim. However, the city is relatively close to some of the wettest temperate rainforests of the contiguous United States. This climate anomaly is sometimes called the "Blue Hole of Sequim".[7] Fogs and cool breezes from the Juan de Fuca Strait make Sequim's climate more humid than would be expected from the low average annual precipitation. Some places have surprisingly luxuriant forests dominated by Douglas-fir and western red cedar. Black cottonwood, red alder, bigleaf maple, Pacific madrone, lodgepole pine, and Garry oak can also be large. Historically, much of the area was an open oak-studded prairie supported by somewhat excessively drained gravelly sandy loam soil, though agriculture and development of the Dungeness valley have changed this ecosystem. Most soils under Sequim have been placed in a series that is named after the city.[8] This "Sequim series" is one of the few Mollisols in western Washington and its high base saturation, a characteristic of the Mollisol order, is attributed to the minimal leaching of bases caused by low annual rainfall.[9]

The city and the surrounding area are particularly known for the commercial cultivation of lavender, supported by the unique climate. It makes Sequim the "Lavender Capital of North America", rivaled only in France. The area is also known for its Dungeness crab.

Sequim is pronounced as one syllable, with the e elided: "skwim". The name developed from the Klallam language.

History

Aboriginal inhabitants

Fossils discovered in the late 1970s at a dig near Sequim – by Carl Gustafson, an archaeologist at Washington State University – known as the Manis Mastodon Site included a mastodon bone with an embedded bone point, evidencing the presence of hunters in the area about 14,000 years ago. According to Michael R. Waters, an archaeologist at Texas A&M University, this is the first hunting weapon found that dates to the pre-Clovis period.

The S'Klallam tribe had inhabited the region prior to the arrival of the first Europeans. S'Klallam means "the strong people". The band of S'Klallam Indians disbanded into their own individual federally recognized tribes in the early 1900s. The local tribe is the Jamestown S'Klallam tribe, named after one of their early leaders, Lord James Balch. According to other tales, the town Sequim in S'Klallam means "a place for going to shoot", which represents the abundance of game and wildlife of the area.[10][11]

Settlement

Manuel Quimper and George Vancouver explored the region's coast in the 1790s. The first European settlers arrived in the Dungeness Valley in the 1850s, settling nearby Dungeness, Washington. While the lands along the river became fertile farmlands, the remainder of the area remained arid prairie, known as "the desert".[7] Irrigation canals first brought water to the prairie in the 1890s, allowing the expansion of farmlands.

Sequim was officially incorporated on October 31, 1913. For many decades small farms, mostly dairy farms, dotted the area around the small town. Near the end of World War I, Sequim became a stop for a railway that passed through from Port Angeles to Port Townsend, built primarily to carry wood products from the forests of the western Olympic Peninsula.

Geography
A lavender farm in Sequim

Sequim is located at 48°4′41″N 123°6′5″W (48.078002, -123.101427).[12]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.37 square miles (16.50 km2), of which 6.31 square miles (16.34 km2) is land and 0.06 square miles (0.16 km2) is water.[13]

Climate

Sequim experiences a mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification Csb), sometimes classified as an oceanic climate owing to the relatively cool temperatures. Sequim is in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains, so annual precipitation is only 16 inches. Winters are mostly mild with very little snowfall. Many years there is no snow at all. The highest temperature recorded in Sequim was 99 °F (37.2 °C) on 16 July 1941, and the lowest −3 °F (−19.4 °C) on 19 January 1935.[14]

Climate data for Sequim, 1980 - 2012
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 68
(20)		 63
(17)		 72
(22)		 75
(24)		 86
(30)		 90
(32)		 99
(37)		 91
(33)		 82
(28)		 72
(22)		 70
(21)		 64
(18)		 94
(34)
Average high °F (°C) 46.6
(8.1)		 48.4
(9.1)		 51.9
(11.1)		 55.8
(13.2)		 61.1
(16.2)		 65.3
(18.5)		 69.7
(20.9)		 70.4
(21.3)		 66.0
(18.9)		 58.0
(14.4)		 50.5
(10.3)		 45.8
(7.7)		 57.5
(14.2)
Average low °F (°C) 31.4
(−0.3)		 31.3
(−0.4)		 33.8
(1.0)		 36.8
(2.7)		 42.6
(5.9)		 47.5
(8.6)		 50.1
(10.1)		 49.5
(9.7)		 44.7
(7.1)		 38.7
(3.7)		 34.0
(1.1)		 30.9
(−0.6)		 39.3
(4.1)
Record low °F (°C) 0
(−18)		 −3
(−19)		 12
(−11)		 19
(−7)		 28
(−2)		 33
(1)		 39
(4)		 33
(1)		 31
(−1)		 19
(−7)		 4
(−16)		 −1
(−18)		 −3
(−19)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.11
(54)		 1.26
(32)		 1.35
(34)		 1.08
(27)		 1.29
(33)		 0.98
(25)		 0.56
(14)		 0.58
(15)		 0.78
(20)		 1.40
(36)		 2.73
(69)		 2.09
(53)		 16.21
(412)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 0.2
(0.51)		 0.3
(0.76)		 0.2
(0.51)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0.9
(2.3)		 1.5
(3.8)
Average precipitation days 15 12 14 12 11 9 5 5 7 12 17 15 135
Source: Western Regional Climate Center, 1980 - 2012 [15]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1920402—
193053432.8%
194067626.6%
19501,04454.4%
19601,16411.5%
19701,54933.1%
19803,01394.5%
19903,61620.0%
20004,33419.9%
20106,60652.4%
2019 (est.)7,640[4]15.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[16]
2015 Estimate[17]

2010 census

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 6,606 people, 3,340 households, and 1,626 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,046.9 inhabitants per square mile (404.2/km2). There were 3,767 housing units at an average density of 597.0 per square mile (230.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 91.3% White, 0.4% African American, 1.2% Native American, 1.9% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.7% from other races, and 3.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 4.8% of the population.

[Note: The U.S. Postal Service delivers to 28,000+ people within Sequim's zip code, 98382. 2/3 of these postal patrons live outside the Sequim city limits in Clallam County.]

There were 3,340 households, of which 17.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.5% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 51.3% were non-families. 45.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 29.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.87 and the average family size was 2.57.

The median age in the city was 57.9 years. 15.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 15.9% were from 25 to 44; 22.1% were from 45 to 64; and 40.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 44.4% male and 55.6% female.

2000 census

More detailed information from the 2000 census indicated that the racial makeup of the city was 93.91% White, 0.30% African American, 1.15% Native American, 1.75% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.92% from other races, and 1.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.86% of the population.

There were 2,163 households, out of which 15.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.1% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.6% were non-families. 44.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 30.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.90 and the average family size was 2.55.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 15.3% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 15.2% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 44.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 59 years. For every 100 females, there were 73.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 68.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,880, and the median income for a family was $35,652. Males had a median income of $35,160 versus $20,347 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,253. About 9.8% of families and 13.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.9% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.

Culture

Sequim holds an Irrigation Festival every May. As of 2019, it is the longest continually running festival in the state and is in its 124th year.[18][19]

Tourist attractions
Drawing of a mastodon skeleton by Rembrandt Peale
  • Sequim is home to a herd of Roosevelt elk. The herd occasionally crosses US 101 just to the southeast of the town. Radio collars on some members of the herd trigger warning lights for motorists.[20]
  • Over the past two decades, Sequim has become known for growing lavender and holds the annual Sequim Lavender Weekend (the third weekend in July).[21]
  • The Museum and Arts Center features both natural and cultural exhibits, including a mastodon mural mounted with the remaining mastodon bones, artifacts, and a video on the excavation.
  • The Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge is located just north of the city, near the mouth of the Dungeness River. It includes the Dungeness Spit and a five-mile (8 km) hike to the New Dungeness Lighthouse[22] at the end of the spit.
  • To the east along Highway 101 is Sequim Bay, a 4-mile (6.5 km) long inlet from the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Along the western stretch is the Sequim Bay State Park. The inlet is a popular birdwatching area.[23]

Education

The Sequim School District is home to the following schools:

  • Sequim High School
  • Sequim Middle School
  • Sequim Community School
  • Olympic Peninsula Academy
  • Helen Haller Elementary
  • Greywolf Elementary

Media

The local news publications consist of the community newspaper Sequim Gazette[24] and the Peninsula Daily News.[25]

Sequim is served by several radio stations. KSQM, FM 91.5 is a non-commercial station staffed by community volunteers featuring a variety of music. Z-104.9 FM, KZQM is a commercial station featuring classic hits.

Newsradio KONP also provides local news, talk and sports programming on 1450 AM and 101.3 FM.

Sister city

Sequim's sister city is Shiso, Hyōgo, Japan. Sequim and Shiso have an exchange student program set up through Sequim High School and Sequim Middle School.[26][27]

QAnon controversy

In August 2020, the mayor of Sequim, William Armacost, expressed his support for the QAnon far-right conspiracy theory by stating that "QAnon is a truth movement that encourages you to think for yourself. If you remove Q from that equation, it's patriots from all over the world fighting for humanity, truth, freedom and saving children and others from human trafficking."[28] Armacost reportedly posted QAnon slogans and messages on Facebook and wore QAnon symbols during city council meetings, which he claimed were symbols of support for law enforcement.[28] Armacost claims he "never publicly stated" his support for QAnon.[28] Armacost's views relating to QAnon attracted national media interest.[29][30][31] Members of a citizens group have expressed concern that the focus on the views of a "small minority" is "damaging our tourism and our businesses.”[31]

Notable people

Musical groups

References
  1. "City Council - Current Members". City of Sequim. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
  4. "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.
  5. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Archived from the original on 2012-02-12. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. "Sequim School District - About US". Archived from the original on 2018-01-26. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  7. Mass, Cliff (2008). The Weather of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press. p. 194. ISBN 978-0-295-98847-4.
  8. "Web Soil Survey". Archived from the original on 2016-03-02.
  9. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-11-17. Retrieved 2009-11-17.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. "'Quiet waters'? Sequim means something else entirely". Seattle Times. Associated Press. August 4, 2010. Archived from the original on August 5, 2010.
  11. Olympic Peninsula Intertribal Cultural Advisory Committee (2003). Jacilee Wray (ed.). Native Peoples of the Olympic Peninsula: Who We Are. University of Oklahoma Press. p. 35. ISBN 0-8061-3552-2.
  12. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  13. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2011-02-20. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
  14. "SEQUIM, WASHINGTON - Climate Summary". Archived from the original on 2012-09-23.
  15. "Sequim 2 E, Washington". Western Regional Climate Centre. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
  16. United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  17. "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on October 19, 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  18. "Irrigation Festival splashes into opening weekend". Sequim Gazette. May 2, 2012. Archived from the original on May 5, 2012. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  19. "Sequim Irrigation Festival". Sequim Irrigation Festival. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  20. Timothy Egan (January 2, 2001), "Sequim journal: elk that call ahead to cross the highway", The New York Times, archived from the original on August 29, 2016
  21. "Sequim Tourism, WA - Official Website - Lavender Weekend". Archived from the original on 2011-09-30.
  22. Petrich, Christopher (2005). A Complete Guide To The Lighthouses on Puget Sound Including Admiralty Inlet. Lulu.com. p. 72. ISBN 1-4116-4186-8.
  23. McNair-Huff, Natalie (2004). Birding Washington. Globe Pequot. pp. 48−51. ISBN 0-7627-2577-X.
  24. "Sequim Online Gazette". Sound Publishing. Archived from the original on 2009-03-28. Retrieved 2009-03-20.
  25. "Peninsula Daily News". Sound Publishing. Archived from the original on 2009-03-15. Retrieved 2009-03-20.
  26. "Sequim High School / Homepage". Archived from the original on 2008-01-03.
  27. "Sequim Middle School / Overview". Archived from the original on 2008-03-26.
  28. CNN, Kyung Lah and Kimberly Berryman. "Residents of Washington town wonder if QAnon has taken hold of their mayor". CNN. Retrieved 2021-01-31.
  29. "Sequim mayor's QAnon comments get national attention". Sequim Gazette. 2021-01-29. Retrieved 2021-01-31.
  30. "Armacost denies QAnon support". Peninsula Daily News. 2021-01-28. Retrieved 2021-01-31.
  31. Seattle Times Staff (January 31, 2021). "Mayor's embrace of QAnon roils the politics of Sequim, Washington". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  32. Denfield, Duane Colt (May 5, 2015). "Richard B. Anderson receives the Medal of Honor posthumously on August 17, 1944". HistoryLink. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  33. "La princesse Marie-Christine de Belgique a tout perdu sous l'emprise de son mari accro aux jeux". Histoires Royales. Pegasus. May 28, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  34. "Belgische Prinses Marie-Christine leidt vereenzaamd leven". Story. DPG Media. May 27, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  35. "Wij vonden onze 'verdwenen' prinses: Marie-Christine snijdt voorgoed alle banden met België door". Het Laatste Nieuws. DPG Media. November 14, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  36. Grimmet, Abby (July 18, 2018). "Country star Bailey Bryan, a Sequim native, is taking on Nashville with a new perspective". KING 5 News. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  37. Graham, Jeff (July 22, 2012). "Sequim's Matt Dryke once ruled the world in skeet shooting". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  38. Schnotzler, Gail (September 25, 2017). "Dorothy Eck, trailblazer for women in Montana politics, dies at 93". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  39. "Former Seattle Mariners GM dies in Sequim". Peninsula Daily News. June 5, 2012. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  40. Jensen, Michael C. (July 25, 1976). "Kendall: Blunt and Politically Minded". The New York Times. p. 82. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  41. "Robbie Knievel, son of Evel, finds a haven". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. February 9, 1997. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  42. Trick, Randy (September 20, 2007). "Sequim strongman died of heart ailment, coroner confirms". Peninsula Daily News. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  43. Oliver, Myrna (December 10, 2001). "Obituaries: Pauline Moore, 87; Actress Made 25 B Movies in 1930s, Early '40s". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  44. Dashiell, Michael (August 17, 2016). "Joe Rantz's story relived in PBS's 'The Boys of '36'". Sequium Gazette. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  45. Nash, Matthew (June 10, 2016). "Sequim's Emblem3 reforms, returns to Northwest as part of tour". Peninsula Daily News. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  46. Grimmet, Abby (July 18, 2018). "Country star Bailey Bryan, a Sequim native, is taking on Nashville with a new perspective". KING 5 News. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
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