Ridgefield, Washington
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Ridgefield is a small rural community set in the pastoral, rolling-hills countryside of north Clark County, Washington. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 2,147.
Ridgefield is perhaps mostly notable for the significant Native American and Lewis and Clark Expedition history of the area, but is also the home of the beautiful and verdant Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, a primary reserve for migrating waterfowl on the Pacific Flyway, and the the somewhat oddly-named Ridgefield High School Spudders (reflecting the area's potato farming legacy).
And while the town of Ridgefield is itself relatively modest in size (although now growing quickly), the geographic area that is locally called "Ridgefield" is quite a bit larger, extending from the Columbia River to its immediate west, the Lewis River to the north, U.S. Interstate 5 to the east, and south nearly to Vancouver, Washington, and encompassing both the Clark County Fairgrounds and the Clark County Amphitheater.
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History
The area has important ties to the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804-1806.
While Ridgefield was an important trading center as early as the 1860s, 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
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.2 km² (5.1 mi²). 13.2 km² (5.1 mi²) of it is land and 0.20% is water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 2,147 people, 739 households, and 557 families residing in the city. The population density is 162.5/km² (420.8/mi²). There are 777 housing units at an average density of 58.8/km² (152.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 95.16% White, 0.28% African American, 1.12% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.23% from other races, and 2.47% from two or more races. 1.77% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 739 households out of which 43.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.6% are married couples living together, 11.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 24.6% are non-families. 18.8% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.82 and the average family size is 3.18.
In the city the population is spread out with 29.8% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 94.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $46,012, and the median income for a family is $51,121. Males have a median income of $38,125 versus $27,426 for females. The per capita income for the city is $21,696. 6.3% of the population and 4.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 6.6% of those under the age of 18 and 9.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.