Concrete, Washington

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Concrete, Washington
Town
Concrete's town welcome sign, which was chainsaw-carved from cedar logs
Concrete's town welcome sign, which was chainsaw-carved from cedar logs
Official seal of Concrete, Washington
Seal
Location of Concrete, Washington
Location of Concrete, Washington
Coordinates: 48°32′17″N 121°44′52″W / 48.53806°N 121.74778°W / 48.53806; -121.74778
CountryUnited States
StateWashington
CountySkagit
Government
 • TypeMayor–council
 • MayorMarla Reed[1]
Area
[2]
 • Total
1.21 sq mi (3.13 km2)
 • Land1.17 sq mi (3.04 km2)
 • Water0.035 sq mi (0.09 km2)
Elevation
[3]
233 ft (71 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
801
 • Density682/sq mi (263/km2)
Time zoneUTC−8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP code
98237
Area code360
FIPS code53-14380[4]
GNIS feature ID2413237[3]
WebsiteTown of Concrete

Concrete is a town in north-central Skagit County, Washington, United States. It is part of the Mount Vernon-Anacortes, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, and had a population of 801 at the 2020 census.[5]

History

[edit]
Portland Superior Cement Silos in Concrete, at Superior Avenue and Highway 20. The words "Welcome to Concrete" were painted on for the filming of This Boy's Life

The town of Concrete has undergone several incarnations, the earliest being a settlement at the northwestern junction of the Baker and Skagit Rivers, known as "Minnehaha." Amasa "Peg-Leg" Everett was one of the earliest settlers and in 1890, the townsite was platted by another settler, Magnus Miller. Shortly thereafter, a post office was established and the town name changed to "Baker." In 1905, a settlement across the Baker River came into being due to the building of the Washington Portland Cement Company and was named "Cement City." After the Superior Portland Cement Company plant was built in Baker in 1908, it was decided to merge the two towns. Inhabitants of the new community settled on the name "Concrete" and the town was so christened and officially incorporated on May 8, 1909.[6]

Geography

[edit]
Concrete (below center) is located in the broad glacier-carved valley of the Skagit River at its confluence with Baker River (mostly hidden by trees).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.24 square miles (3.21 km2), of which, 1.22 square miles (3.16 km2) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) is water.[7]

The town lies mostly on the north bank of the Skagit River, and is split into half by the lower Baker River (a tributary to the Skagit River). Mount Baker, a stratovolcano, lies northwest of Concrete and Mount Shuksan lies almost directly north. Both peaks are part of the North Cascades range.

Climate

[edit]

The town has a warm summer Mediterranean climate (Csb) with cool winters and warm, mostly dry summers. Precipitation mostly comes in the form of rain in Concrete but occasional snow can be seen with about 20 inches falling per year.[8]

Climate data for Concrete, Washington
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 65
(18) 		74
(23) 		82
(28) 		93
(34) 		96
(36) 		106
(41) 		102
(39) 		102
(39) 		102
(39) 		87
(31) 		77
(25) 		63
(17) 		106
(41)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 42.7
(5.9) 		46.9
(8.3) 		51.7
(10.9) 		58.3
(14.6) 		65.3
(18.5) 		69.0
(20.6) 		75.6
(24.2) 		76.7
(24.8) 		70.8
(21.6) 		59.4
(15.2) 		48.3
(9.1) 		42.2
(5.7) 		58.9
(14.9)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 32.1
(0.1) 		32.8
(0.4) 		35.2
(1.8) 		39.3
(4.1) 		44.7
(7.1) 		49.4
(9.7) 		52.2
(11.2) 		52.5
(11.4) 		49.0
(9.4) 		43.3
(6.3) 		37.1
(2.8) 		32.1
(0.1) 		41.6
(5.4)
Record low °F (°C) −1
(−18) 		1
(−17) 		11
(−12) 		25
(−4) 		29
(−2) 		35
(2) 		38
(3) 		31
(−1) 		30
(−1) 		10
(−12) 		7
(−14) 		0
(−18) 		−1
(−18)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 10.03
(255) 		6.53
(166) 		6.82
(173) 		5.01
(127) 		3.88
(99) 		2.96
(75) 		1.58
(40) 		1.70
(43) 		3.04
(77) 		6.94
(176) 		11.49
(292) 		10.42
(265) 		70.4
(1,788)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 5.0
(13) 		3.4
(8.6) 		1.3
(3.3) 		0.1
(0.25) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		1.2
(3.0) 		7.6
(19) 		18.6
(47.15)
Source: [9]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1910945—
1920924−2.2%
1930736−20.3%
194085916.7%
1950760−11.5%
196084010.5%
1970573−31.8%
19805923.3%
199073524.2%
20007907.5%
2010705−10.8%
202080113.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]

2010 census

[edit]

As of the 2010 census,[11] there were 705 people, 295 households, and 179 families residing in the town. The population density was 577.9 inhabitants per square mile (223.1/km2). There were 358 housing units at an average density of 293.4 per square mile (113.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 91.5% White, 0.3% African American, 2.0% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 1.1% Pacific Islander, 1.6% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 5.5% of the population.

There were 295 households, of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.3% were non-families. 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.93.

The median age in the town was 40.4 years. 26.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.4% were from 25 to 44; 32.9% were from 45 to 64; and 12.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 51.2% male and 48.8% female.

2000 census

[edit]

As of the 2000 census,[4] there were 790 people, 300 households, and 198 families residing in the town. The population density was 650.3 people per square mile (252.1/km2). There were 335 housing units at an average density of 275.8 per square mile (106.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 92.78% White, 2.53% Native American, 0.89% Asian, 1.14% from other races, and 2.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.66% of the population.

There were 300 households, out of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 34.1% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $29,375, and the median income for a family was $34,464. Males had a median income of $34,083 versus $17,083 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,492. About 8.4% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.4% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

[edit]

Notable buildings and landmarks include:[12]

  • Henry Thompson Bridge - built in 1916–1918, it was named for a local settler killed by a logging train in 1918.[13] At the time, it was either the longest single-span reinforced concrete bridge in the world[14] or in the West.[13] It is listed on the Washington State and National Register of historic places.[15]
  • Concrete High School[16] was built in 1952. This Boy's Life was filmed there in 1993.[17]
  • The Concrete Herald building - built in 1918, owner and editor Charles Dwelley selected it as the location of The Concrete Herald (established in 1910).[18]
  • Town Hall - built in 1908 as a grade-school.[citation needed]
  • Concrete Theatre - built in 1923, it is listed on the Washington Heritage Register.[19]
  • Lower Baker Dam - completed in 1925, and two years later raised to 293 feet (89 m), it was the highest hydroelectric dam in the world.[citation needed]
  • Henry Thompson Bridge
    Henry Thompson Bridge
  • Concrete High School
    Concrete High School
  • Concrete Herald Building
    Concrete Herald Building
  • Concrete Town Hall
    Concrete Town Hall
  • Lower Baker Dam
    Lower Baker Dam

Infrastructure

[edit]

Mears Field (3W5), formerly known as Concrete Municipal Airport, is located one mile south of Concrete at an elevation of 267 ft MSL.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ https://www.townofconcrete.com/town-council-and-mayor
  2. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  3. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Concrete, Washington
  4. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. ^ "Census Bureau profile: Concrete, Washington". United States Census Bureau. May 2023. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  6. ^ "Skagit Settlers: Trials and Triumphs, 1890–1920", Published by Skagit County Historical Society, 1975
  7. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  8. ^ "Hamilton, Washington Travel Weather Averages (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  9. ^ "Monthly Averages for Concrete, WA". weatherbase.com. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  10. ^ United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  12. ^ All information on these buildings and landmarks have been referenced from the local history book, "So They Called The Town Concrete," written by Charles M. Dwelley, published by The Concrete Herald, 1980; reprint 2004, 2009. It contains reputable knowledge of Concrete.
  13. ^ a b "Baker River Bridge HAER No. WA-105" (PDF). tile.loc.gov. August 1993. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  14. ^ Croft, Catherine (2004). Concrete Architecture. Laurence King Publishing. p. 14. ISBN 978-1-85669-364-6. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  15. ^ [1] Archived July 23, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ "High School". Concrete.k12.wa.us. Retrieved February 15, 2013.
  17. ^ Shelton-Jenck, Gordon (January 28, 2013). "MEMBERSHIP GROWTH!". FBLA Newsletter. Archived from the original on April 16, 2013.
  18. ^ "concrete-herald.com". concrete-herald.com. Retrieved February 15, 2013.
  19. ^ [2] Archived July 27, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
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