Stevenson | |
|---|---|
 Facing south toward theColumbia River from 2nd Avenue | |
 Seal | |
 Location of Stevenson, Washington | |
| Coordinates:45°41′56″N121°53′05″W / 45.69889°N 121.88472°W /45.69889; -121.88472 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Skamania |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–council[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 1.79 sq mi (4.64 km2) |
| • Land | 1.64 sq mi (4.26 km2) |
| • Water | 0.15 sq mi (0.38 km2) |
| Elevation | 102 ft (31 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 1,491 |
| • Density | 906/sq mi (350/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code | 98648 |
| Area code | 509 |
| FIPS code | 53-67875[4] |
| GNIS feature ID | 2411980[3] |
| Website | ci.stevenson.wa.us |
Stevenson is a city along theColumbia River inSkamania County, Washington, United States. It is thecounty seat of Skamania County[5] and part of thePortland metropolitan area. The city also lies within theColumbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and is across the river fromCascade Locks, Oregon. The population was 1,491 at the2020 census.
Stevenson is home to theColumbia Gorge Museum, which interprets the natural and cultural heritage of the Columbia River Gorge, andSkamania Lodge, a luxury resort.
Stevenson is named for early settler George H. Stevenson.[6] The Stevenson family, who settled in the Gorge in the 1800s from Missouri, founded the town of Stevenson on the old Shepard donation land claim. Under the auspices of the Stevenson Land Company, George Stevenson purchased the original townsite for $24,000 in 1893, building the town along the lower flat near the river. Settlers expanded the original dock to serve the daily arrivals of sternwheelers unloading passengers, cargo and loading logs.
In 1893, in a dispute over rental fees, an unknown crew transported the county records from the town of Cascades to Stevenson. Stevenson became the county seat of Skamania overnight. Stevenson was officially incorporated on December 16, 1907. In 1908 theSpokane, Portland and Seattle Railway arrived, pushing the town up the hill away from the river. Streets were graded, wooden sidewalks constructed and the city asked residents to keep their cows from roaming the streets.[7]
The city is situated on the north bank of the Columbia River within theColumbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and is the county seat ofSkamania County. Stevenson is approximately 45 miles (72 km) east ofPortland, Oregon, and 20 miles (32 km) west ofHood River.[8] Across the river to the south is the city ofCascade Locks inHood River County, Oregon, which is connected via theBridge of the Gods, atoll bridge that also carries thePacific Crest Trail. The bridge is 3 miles (4.8 km) southwest of Stevenson and is the only crossing of the Columbia River between Portland and Hood River.[9][10]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, Stevenson has a total area of 1.79 square miles (4.6 km2), of which 1.65 square miles (4.3 km2) is land and 0.14 square miles (0.36 km2) is water.[11] The city lies at an elevation of about 102 feet (31 m) above sea level[3] where basalt cliffs rise steeply to the north.[citation needed] The Columbia widens here into a straight reach that funnels dependable winds, and the city's waterfront atBob's Beach is a popular launch site for windsurfers and kiteboarders.[12]
Located in the western Columbia River Gorge, Stevenson has a warm‑summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csb) that blends the wet marine influence of the Cascades' west side with the drier interior plateau to the east. Summers are warm and distinctly dry: the average high in July is about 82 °F (28 °C), and the month typically receives only 0.6 in (15 mm) of rain.[13][14][better source needed]
Winters are cool, wet, and occasionally snowy; January's mean temperature is around 35 °F (2 °C) and average precipitation exceeds 11 in (280 mm). Annual rainfall varies with elevation, ranging from about 66 in (1,700 mm) at gauges near the river[15][better source needed] to more than 80 in (2,000 mm) on the surrounding forested slopes.
Snowfall averages roughly 13 in (33 cm) per year, but sporadic Arctic‑air outflow events funneling through the Gorge can deliver heavier snow and freezing rain.
Persistent gap winds—typically 15 mph (24 km/h)–25 mph (40 km/h) westerlies in the warm season and strong easterlies during winter outbreaks—make Stevenson's waterfront "one of the windiest spots in the Gorge", and a popular venue for wind‑powered recreation.[12] These winds arise from pressure‑gradient‑driven gap flow through the Gorge, which can generate high‑wind conditions in towns along the Columbia River year‑round.[16]
| Climate data for Stevenson, Washington | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 58 (14) | 64 (18) | 77 (25) | 89 (32) | 99 (37) | 102 (39) | 105 (41) | 103 (39) | 100 (38) | 84 (29) | 64 (18) | 58 (14) | 105 (41) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 37.9 (3.3) | 42.6 (5.9) | 50.5 (10.3) | 57.4 (14.1) | 65 (18) | 71.4 (21.9) | 80 (27) | 80.6 (27.0) | 73.4 (23.0) | 60.5 (15.8) | 45.7 (7.6) | 37.3 (2.9) | 58.5 (14.7) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 32.8 (0.4) | 35.5 (1.9) | 40.9 (4.9) | 46 (8) | 52.6 (11.4) | 58.3 (14.6) | 64.3 (17.9) | 64.1 (17.8) | 58. (14) | 48.4 (9.1) | 39.1 (3.9) | 32.5 (0.3) | 47.7 (8.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 27.6 (−2.4) | 28.3 (−2.1) | 31.4 (−0.3) | 34.6 (1.4) | 40.2 (4.6) | 45.3 (7.4) | 48.5 (9.2) | 47.6 (8.7) | 42.7 (5.9) | 36.3 (2.4) | 32.6 (0.3) | 27.8 (−2.3) | 36.9 (2.7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −9 (−23) | −4 (−20) | 11 (−12) | 24 (−4) | 27 (−3) | 30 (−1) | 34 (1) | 30 (−1) | 26 (−3) | 15 (−9) | −2 (−19) | −7 (−22) | −9 (−23) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 13.9 (350) | 11.2 (280) | 9.1 (230) | 6.1 (150) | 3.4 (86) | 2.3 (58) | 0.6 (15) | 0.9 (23) | 2.7 (69) | 6.4 (160) | 13.8 (350) | 15.3 (390) | 85.8 (2,180) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 23.4 (59) | 14.6 (37) | 5.3 (13) | 0 (0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0 (0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.1 (0.25) | 7.3 (19) | 21.5 (55) | 73 (190) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in.) | 19 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 19 | 154 |
| Source: WeatherBase[17][better source needed] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 387 | — | |
| 1920 | 348 | −10.1% | |
| 1930 | 400 | 14.9% | |
| 1940 | 563 | 40.8% | |
| 1950 | 584 | 3.7% | |
| 1960 | 927 | 58.7% | |
| 1970 | 916 | −1.2% | |
| 1980 | 1,172 | 27.9% | |
| 1990 | 1,147 | −2.1% | |
| 2000 | 1,200 | 4.6% | |
| 2010 | 1,465 | 22.1% | |
| 2020 | 1,491 | 1.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[18] 2020 Census[19] | |||
As of the2020 census, there were 1,491 people, 696 households, and 399 families residing in the city. The population density was approximately 894 inhabitants per square mile (345/km2). There were 774 housing units, with an average density of about 464 per square mile (179/km2).
The racial makeup of the city was 90.2% White, 0.3% African American, 2.2% Native American, 1.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.7% from other races, and 4.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race comprised 6.8% of the population.
Of the 696 households, 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them. Married couples made up 43.4% of households, while 29.2% were individuals living alone, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15, and the average family size was 2.73.
The median age in Stevenson was 45.8 years. About 19.1% of the population was under the age of 18; 5.4% were between 18 and 24; 22.1% were from 25 to 44; 32.8% were from 45 to 64; and 20.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the population was approximately 48.4% male and 51.6% female.[20]
At the2010 census there were 1,465 people in 640 households, including 390 families, in the city. The population density was 887.9 inhabitants per square mile (342.8/km2). There were 703 housing units at an average density of 426.1 per square mile (164.5/km2). Theracial makeup of the city was 93.9% White, 0.6% African American, 1.8% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.5% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.8%.[21]
Of the 640 households, 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.3% were married couples living together, 15.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.1% were non-families. 33.4% of households were one person and 12.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.86.
The median age was 42.1 years. 23% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.5% were from 25 to 44; 30.6% were from 45 to 64; and 15.3% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.1% male and 52.9% female.
As of the2000 census,[4] there were 1,200 people in 474 households, including 307 families, in the city. The population density was 813.4 people per square mile (313.1/km2). There were 523 housing units at an average density of 354.5 per square mile (136.4/km2). Theracial makeup of the city was 91.92% White, 0.17% African American, 2.42% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 1.75% from other races, and 3.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.33% of the population.
Of the 474 households, 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 29.5% of households were one person and 10.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 25.1% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.
The median household income was $31,979 and the median family income was $38,750. Males had a median income of $36,042 versus $25,893 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,602. About 17.8% of families and 22.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.2% of those under age 18 and 17.0% of those age 65 or over.
Stevenson is served by theStevenson-Carson School District, which encompasses the entirety ofSkamania County. It includes Carson Elementary School inCarson and Stevenson Elementary School in Stevenson. The onlymiddle school in the area is Wind River Middle School, and the only high school is Stevenson High School, both located in Stevenson.[22]
As of the 2022American Community Survey, 35.8% of people living in Stevenson had ahigh school diploma or equivalent education. 7.8% hadassociate's degrees, 12.5% hadbachelor's degrees, and 9.4% had graduate or professional degrees.[23]
Stevenson is situated within theColumbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, which contains the highland terrain areas ofGreenleaf Peak andTable Mountain. Hikers can access thePacific Crest Trail south of the community.
State Route 14 runs through Stevenson and continues west toVancouver and east toDallesport. It is a two-lane highway with occasional truckclimbing lanes. TheBridge of the Gods is southwest of Stevenson and connects the north side of the river to Cascade Locks andInterstate 84.[8][24]
Stevenson is also served by Skamania County Transit, the county'spublic transit system, which operates daily bus service to Vancouver,North Bonneville,Bingen, and Cascade Locks.[25] The system is part of the regional Gorge Translink alliance and shares a common annual pass system with other operators in the Columbia River Gorge area.[26][27]
Municipalities and communities ofSkamania County, Washington,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| CDP | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Former communities | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
