Colton, Washington

Colton, Washington
Colton is a town in Whitman County, Washington, United States. The population was 418 at the 2010 census.
History
Colton was first settled in 1879 by J.A. Cole, and was founded in 1882 by J.B. Stanley. Colton was incorporated in 1890 however it was not recorded until 1893.
Plan's for the formation of Colton were made in 1879. (Ten years before Washington became a State). Several residents of the town of Uniontown which was settled a few years earlier, found dissatisfaction with the proprietor of that town. In June 1879, the town of Colton was surveyed and platted on the 480 acre farm of Gregor Kosher. That month L.J, Wolford, moved his hotel to Colton, and Chris Adamson moved his blacksmith shop. Dr. Cole erected the first new building on the corner of Steptoe and Broadway, which is mostly called Main St. now. J.B. Standley moved his small supply of merchandise into it, and a new town was born. The town took its name from the first three letters of Cole, and the last three from Clinton, a son of Mr. Wolford, whose family was the first to live in Colton.
On Oct.10th 1879, John Standley was appointed Postmaster, he opened the Post Office in his own building, (Store). During the summer of 1880 a petition was granted from the County Seat, which was at Asotin at that time, to separate the school district of Uniontown, so Colton could have its own school. The first school was opened in the Cole building, which was also in the Store building. Mrs. Viola Flowers was the first teacher.
Colton was a filming location for country artist Kenny Chesney in his 1995 hit song Me and You.
Notable natives
Mike Kramer, former head football coach at Eastern Washington, Montana State, and Idaho State
Albert Rooks, Captain of USS Houston (CA-30), posthumous Medal of Honor recipient
Opal Irene Whiteley, (December 11, 1897 – February 16, 1992) was an American nature writer.
Geography
Colton is located at (46.5673, -117.1280).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land.
Distances
Pullman - north
Lewiston, Idaho - south-southeast
Clarkston - south
Moscow, Idaho - north-northeast
Colfax - north-northwest
Spokane - north
Walla Walla - southwest
Kennewick - west-southwest
Boise, Idaho - south
Climate
This region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6 °F. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Colton has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.
Demographics
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 418 people, 164 households, and 126 families living in the town. The population density was . There were 167 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 95.5% White, 0.2% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.1% of the population.
There were 164 households, of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.9% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 1.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 23.2% were non-families. 18.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.91.
The median age in the town was 44.2 years. 26.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.9% were from 25 to 44; 33.3% were from 45 to 64; and 15.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 51.0% male and 49.0% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 386 people, 148 households, and 108 families living in the town. The population density was 655.0 people per square mile (252.6/km2). There were 152 housing units at an average density of 257.9 per square mile (99.5/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.41% White, 1.04% Native American, 0.78% Asian, and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.78% of the population.
There were 148 households, out of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.5% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the town, the age distribution of the population shows 29.0% under the age of 18, 3.6% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $47,500, and the median income for a family was $56,875. Males had a median income of $38,125 versus $28,611 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,506. About 3.5% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.0% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
References
Towns in Washington (state)
Towns in Whitman County, Washington
Populated places established in 1882