Ridgefield, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ridgefield, Washington
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Downtown Ridgefield in 2006
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Location of Ridgefield, Washington
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Clark |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 7.42 sq mi (19.21 km2) |
| • Land | 7.34 sq mi (19.02 km2) |
| • Water | 0.07 sq mi (0.19 km2) |
| Elevation | 112 ft (34 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 10,319 |
| • Density | 1,405.86/sq mi (542.53/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
98642
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| Area code | 360 |
| FIPS code | 53-58410 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1512604 |
Ridgefield is a city in northern Clark County, Washington, in the United States. The population was 10,319 at the 2020 census. Located within the Portland metropolitan area, Ridgefield is notable for the significant Native American history and connection to the Lewis and Clark Expedition. It is also the headquarters of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, a primary reserve for migrating waterfowl on the Pacific Flyway, and the home of the Ridgefield High School "Spudders" (reflecting the area's potato-farming heritage).
History
The area has important ties to the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804–1806.
The town was formerly known as Union Ridge and was renamed Ridgefield in the late 1800s.
Ridgefield was an important trading center as early as the 1860s, and the city was officially incorporated on August 26, 1909. U-Haul, an American equipment rental company, had its start in Ridgefield in 1945. The community's ties to the Chinookan people was commemorated by the construction of a replica of a Cathlapotle plankhouse at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, which was dedicated March 29, 2005.
Geography
Ridgefield is located at 45°48′55″N 122°43′40″W / 45.81528°N 122.72778°W (45.815309, -122.727846).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.18 square miles (18.60 km2), of which, 7.08 square miles (18.34 km2) is land and 0.10 square miles (0.26 km2) is water.
In the physical lay of the land, (old, pre-Growth Management Act) Ridgefield is like many towns up and down the Columbia River in that it essentially dead-ends at the river, although in this case it is an offshoot of the Columbia River, Lake River, that the city runs up to, about three miles (5 km) west of Interstate 5.
The area is marked with numerous fields bordered by canyons, with ridges along them overlooking the canyons in places. The canyons are formed primarily by water erosion. The land has been cleared of much of its original forests to accommodate various uses as fields for farming, historically potatoes and plums for prunes, and more recently residential development.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 297 | — | |
| 1920 | 620 | 108.8% | |
| 1930 | 607 | −2.1% | |
| 1940 | 643 | 5.9% | |
| 1950 | 762 | 18.5% | |
| 1960 | 823 | 8.0% | |
| 1970 | 1,004 | 22.0% | |
| 1980 | 1,062 | 5.8% | |
| 1990 | 1,297 | 22.1% | |
| 2000 | 2,147 | 65.5% | |
| 2010 | 4,763 | 121.8% | |
| 2020 | 10,319 | 116.6% | |
2010 census
At the 2010 census there were 4,763 people, 1,591 households, and 1,258 families living in the city. The population density was 672.7 inhabitants per square mile (259.7/km2). There were 1,695 housing units at an average density of 239.4 per square mile (92.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 92.4% White, 0.9% African American, 0.8% Native American, 2.0% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.9% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.1%.
Of the 1,591 households 48.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.0% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 20.9% were non-families. 16.2% of households were one person and 6.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.99 and the average family size was 3.34.
The median age was 32.4 years. 33.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.7% were from 25 to 44; 22.9% were from 45 to 64; and 7.7% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.9% male and 50.1% female.
Economy
Rental and storage company U-Haul was founded in Ridgefield in 1945.
Education
The Ridgefield School District has five schools: Union Ridge Elementary, South Ridge Elementary, Sunset Ridge Intermediate School, View Ridge Middle School, and Ridgefield High School.
Notable people
- Scott Mosier, film producer and podcaster
- Richie Sexson, former major league baseball player
See also
In Spanish: Ridgefield (Washington) para niños
