Elma is a city in Grays Harbor County,

Washington Washington most commonly refers to: * George Washington (1732–1799), the first president of the United States * Washington (state), a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A ...

, United States. The population was 3,438 at the 2020 census.

History

First settled in 1853 by D.F. Byles, Elma was later named for Union soldier Elmer Brown. The city of Elma was incorporated on March 22, 1888.

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, the city has a total area of , of which, is land and is water.

Climate

According to the

Köppen Climate Classification The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...

system, Elma has a

warm-summer Mediterranean climate A Mediterranean climate ( ), also called a dry summer climate, described by Köppen and Trewartha as ''Cs'', is a temperate climate type that occurs in the lower mid-latitudes (normally 30 to 44 north and south latitude). Such climates typic ...

, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps. Summers are warm and dry, while winters are cool and very wet. Some form of precipitation occurs on half of all days on average.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 3,107 people, 1,209 households, and 788 families living in the city. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...

was . There were 1,307 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 85.8%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 1.0%

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

, 2.6% Native American, 2.1% Asian, 0.4%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...

, 3.2% from other races, and 4.9% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino people of any race were 6.6% of the population. There were 1,209 households, of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

living together, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.8% 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 2.53 and the average family size was 3.02. The median age in the city was 36.1 years. 25.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.4% were from 25 to 44; 26.6% were from 45 to 64; and 12.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.1% male and 50.9% female.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 3,049 people, 1,195 households, and 764 families living in the city. The

was 1,812.6 people per square mile (700.7/km²). There were 1,330 housing units at an average density of 790.7 per square mile (305.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.98%

, 0.59%

, 1.31% Native American, 1.28% Asian, 0.26%

, 1.64% from other races, and 3.94% from two or more races.

or Latino people of any race were 3.64% of the population. There were 1,195 households, out of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% were

living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.0% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.06. In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.2% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males. The median income for a household in the city was $32,031, and the median income for a family was $36,638. Males had a median income of $38,929 versus $23,125 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the city was $13,629. About 13.9% of families and 19.4% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 22.5% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The Elma School District has four schools. Elma Elementary School serves children in an Early Childhood Program, as well as kindergarten through 5th grade. Elma Middle School consists of 6th grade through 8th grade students; Elma High School houses 9th through 12th grade, and the East Grays Harbor High School provides alternative education. The mascot for Elma High School and Middle School is an eagle. Their colors are blue and white. The mascot for East Grays Harbor High School is a gryphon. Their colors are black and turquoise. Elma High School participates in the Running Start program, through which students in grades 11 and 12 may take college level classes for college credit via Grays Harbor College in Aberdeen, and Washington State University. Early childhood development programs include several daycares, a co-op preschool, and a Head Start facility.

Infrastructure

The Elma Municipal Airport (WN65) is located south of the downtown district across

U.S. Route 12 U.S. Route 12 or U.S. Highway 12 (US 12) is an east–west United States Numbered Highway, running from Aberdeen, Washington, to Detroit, Michigan, for almost . The highway has mostly been superseded by Interstate 90 (I-90 ...

(US 12). The airfield contains one runway. In the 1970s, the airport was the site of a fixed-base flight operation, but has since been privately owned.

Notable people

* Kyle Basler, football player for various teams * Jamie Craighead, basketball player for various teams *

Rod Derline Rod Derline (born March 11, 1952) is a former professional basketball guard for the Seattle SuperSonics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Amateur career Derline played high school basketball at Elma High School in Elma, Washington, ...

, basketball player for various teams *

Lloyd Jones Lloyd Jones or Lloyd-Jones may refer to: People Sports * Lloyd Jones (athlete) (1884–1971), American athlete in the 1908 Summer Olympics *Lloyd Jones (figure skater) (born 1988), Welsh ice dancer * Lloyd Jones (English footballer) (born 1995), E ...

, Alaskan state senatorAlaska Legislature-LLoyd Jones
/ref> * Bud Ward, golfer

References

External links

City of Elma
{{authority control Cities in Washington (state) Cities in Grays Harbor County, Washington Populated places established in 1853 1853 establishments in Washington Territory