Sequim, Washington
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Sequim, Washington | |
| Nickname: Sunny Sequim | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Clallam |
| Area | |
| - Total | 5.3 sq mi (13.7 km²) |
| - Land | 5.3 sq mi (13.7 km²) |
| - Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²) |
| Elevation | 184 ft (56 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 4,334 |
| - Density | 820.6/sq mi (316.8/km²) |
| Time zone | Pacific (PST) (UTC-8) |
| - Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) |
| ZIP code | 98382 |
| Area code(s) | 360 |
| FIPS code | 53-63385[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1531505[2] |
| The Sequim School District is home of Sequim High School, Sequim Middle School, Sequim Community School, Helen Haller Elementary and Greywolf Elementary. | |
Sequim (skwɪm) is a city in Clallam County, Washington, United States. The population was 4,334 at the 2000 census. It is located along the Dungeness River near the base of the Olympic Mountains. The city has been increasing in population dramatically in recent years and has become a magnet for retirees, losing its rural character.
The city and the surrounding area are particularly known for their production of lavender, as the unique climate allows a commercial growth industry that is only rivaled in France. The area is also known for its Dungeness crab. Sequim lies within the rainshadow of the Olympic Mountains and receives an average of less than 15" of rain per year, nearly qualifying it as a desert.
Sequim is pronounced "s'kwim". The e is silent. Also, its unofficial name among some of its young inhabitants is "Sequampton" (also with a silent "e").
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[edit] Media
Sequim Gazette - Sequim's community newspaper [1] Peninsula Daily News [2] Sequim This Week (weekly) [3]
[edit] Sister city
Sequim's sister city is Shiso, Hyogo, Japan. Sequim and Shiso have an exchange student program set up through Sequim High School and Sequim Middle School.
[edit] History
[edit] Aboriginal inhabitants
The S'Klallam tribe had inhabited the region prior to the arrival of the first Europeans. Both Manuel Quimper and George Vancouver explored the region's coast in the 1790's.
[edit] First European settlers
The first European settlers arrived in the Dungeness Valley in the 1850's, settling nearby Dungeness, Washington. While the lands along the river became fertile farmlands, the remainder of the area remained arid prairie. Irrigation canals first brought water to the prairie in the 1890's, allowing the expansion of farmlands.
[edit] Incorporation
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 which passed through from Port Angeles to Port Townsend, built primarily to carry wood products from the forests of the western Olympic Peninsula.
[edit] Modern
In recent decades, the family farms that once dotted the valley have been parceled off into home sites as the area's excellent climate has drawn many retired people.
[edit] Commemmoration
Each May since 1895, Sequim holds the Irrigation Festival. As of 2008, it is the longest continuously running festival in the state.[citation needed]
[edit] Tourist attractions
Sequim is home of a herd of Roosevelt elk, one attraction to the area. Sequim holds a Lavender Festival during the summer of every year,usually around July, which attracts tens of thousands of people.[citation needed]
The Museum and Arts Center features both natural and cultural exhibits including a mastodon mural mounted with the remaining mastodons bones, artifacts, and a video on the excavation. For all we know, these mastodons could have been the pets of many of the residents of Sequim.
The Olympic Game Farm allows visitors to get a close look at many large game animals. Some are concerned about the treatment of these animals.
The Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge is a National park just outside the city. It includes Dungeness Spit and a five mile hike to the New Dungeness Lighthouse at the end of the spit.
[edit] Geography
Sequim is located at (48.078002, -123.101427)[3].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.3 square miles (13.7 km²), all of it land.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2007, there were 5,688 people, 2,163 households, and 1,111 families residing in the city. The population density was 820.6 people per square mile (316.9/km²). There were 2,424 housing units at an average density of 459.0/sq mi (177.3/km²). 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 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 population was spread out with 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.
[edit] References
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
[edit] External links
- Sequim, Washington is at coordinates Coordinates:
- Live Sequim Weather Camera
- Official Tourism Web Site
- Official Irrigation Festival Site
- City of Sequim
- Sequim Lavender Festival
- Sequim High School homepage
- Sequim Middle School homepage
- Sequim Weather and Web Camera
- Lapidary Club
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