Ridgefield, Washington

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Ridgefield, Washington
settlement_type = City
nickname =
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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Ridgefield, Washington


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Washington
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Clark

government_footnotes =
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 13.2
area_land_km2 = 13.2
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 5.1
area_land_sq_mi = 5.1
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 2147
population_density_km2 = 162.5
population_density_sq_mi = 420.8

timezone = Pacific (PST)
utc_offset = -8
timezone_DST = PDT
utc_offset_DST = -7
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 34
elevation_ft = 112
latd = 45 |latm = 48 |lats = 55 |latNS = N
longd = 122 |longm = 43 |longs = 40 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 98642
area_code = 360
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 53-58410GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1512604GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Ridgefield is a city in the pastoral, rolling-hills countryside of northern Clark County, Washington, United States. The population was 2,147 at the 2000 census.

Ridgefield is 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 somewhat oddly-named Ridgefield High School "Spudders" (reflecting the area's potato-farming heritage). The city is home to the Clark County Fair [http://www.clarkcofair.com/] and also holds a bird fest that attracts bird lovers from all around.

History

The area has important ties to the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804-1806.

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.

Recent controversy

Recently Ridgefield has received attention for the conduct of the current and former city government officials. One former city councilman was convicted of DUI and possession of cocaine. [ [http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2007/03/former_ridgefield_wash_city_co.html The Oregonian] ] A former city police sergeant, the department's only African American, has sued the city for wrongful termination and additionally filed a federal race discrimination suit on December 1, 2005 . [ [http://www.firebasesoftware.com/PR%20News%20Releases/Legal%20And%20Law/Police%20Sergeant%20Sues%20for%20Wrongful%20Termination PRNews Now] ] Other controversies include a lawsuit relating to the termination of the former City Manager, (also a defendant in the discrimination suit) and the suspension and resignation of the City's former Chief of Police. [ [http://www.firebasesoftware.com/PR%20News%20Releases/Legal%20And%20Law/Police%20Sergeant%20Sues%20for%20Wrongful%20Termination PRNews Now] ]

Geography

Ridgefield is located at coor dms|45|48|55|N|122|43|40|W|city (45.815309, -122.727846)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.1 square miles (13.2 km²), of which, 5.1 square miles (13.2 km²) of it is land and 0.20% 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 west of Interstate 5.

The area is marked, as one would expect, with numerous fields bordered by canyons, with ridges along them overlooking the canyons in places. The canyons have been and continue to be carved from the land primarily by water erosion. The land here has been cleared of much of its earlier forests to accommodate the uses of people, first as fields for farming, mostly potatoes and plums for prunes, and growth, especially residential development continues to impact the area.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 2,147 people, 739 households, and 557 families residing in the city. The population density was 420.8 people per square mile (162.5/km²). There were 777 housing units at an average density of 152.3/sq mi (58.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 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. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.77% of the population. 20.4% were of German, 18.9% American, 11.9% English, 6.9% Irish and 6.2% Norwegian ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 739 households out of which 43.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.6% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.6% were non-families. 18.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the city the population was 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 were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $46,012, and the median income for a family was $51,121. Males had a median income of $38,125 versus $27,426 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,696. About 4.4% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The Ridgefield school district has four schools: Union Ridge elementary, South Ridge elementary, View Ridge middle school, and Ridgefield high school.

Trivia

Famous Clerks producer Scott Mosier once lived here.

References

External links