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Battle Ground, Washington
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Battle Ground is a city in Clark County, Washington, United States. The population was 9,296 at the 2000 census.
According to the Washington State Office of Financial Management[1], Battle Ground ranked 4th of 279 eligible incorporated communities in population growth between 2000 and 2005.
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The city is ironically named for the absence of a battle. In 1855 many of the soldiers at nearby Fort Vancouver were away fighting an uprising by the Yakima Indian tribe. Nervous settlers organized a company of volunteers to guard the undermanned fort. Fearing that the friendly Klickitat Tribe on the Lewis River would join the uprising, the volunteers ordered them into the Vancouver Barracks near the fort.
When some of the Klickitats escaped, Captain William Strong, the post commander, led a detachment of volunteers to bring them back. They overtook the Klickitats near the current location of the city, but rather than engaging them in battle, Captain Strong talked them into agreeing to return to the fort peacefully. Somehow during this episode the Klickitat leader, Chief Umtuch, was killed. The circumstances of his death are unclear: some said he was killed by a soldier, others by an accidental gunshot from his own men. In any event, the Klickitats promised to return to the fort after burying their chief, a ceremony that would take several days, so Strong returned without them.
The settlers had been expecting a battle, and when Strong returned empty-handed, they accused him of cowardice. So again he set forth and met with the Klickitats, again he received assurances that they would return to the fort peacefully, and again he returned without them.
The Klickitats did return as promised, but criticism of Strong continued. The women of the fort awarded him a petticoat of many colors. And the area where the Klickitats were encountered became known as "Strong's Battle Ground," and later simply "Battle Ground."
Battle Ground was officially incorporated on June 18, 1951.
Battle Ground is located at (45.780595, -122.539408).GR1
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.4 km² (3.6 mi²), all land.
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 9,296 people, 3,071 households, and 2,346 families residing in the city. The population density was 986.0/km² (2,552.6/mi²). There were 3,196 housing units at an average density of 339.0/km² (877.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.81% White, 0.49% African American, 0.86% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 1.72% from other races, and 2.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.14% of the population.
There were 3,071 households out of which 50.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.6% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.99 and the average family size was 3.43.
In the city the population was spread out with 36.2% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 13.5% from 45 to 64, and 7.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,070, and the median income for a family was $49,876. Males had a median income of $41,133 versus $25,215 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,139. About 7.3% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.1% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.
Every year in the summer time Battle Ground puts on Harvest Days. There are a number of community events including parades, street dances, a carnival and chili cook off.
Battle Ground is an almost yearly winner for the Float Best Exemplifying Community Or Civic Involvement And Pride in the Portland Rose Festival's Grand Floral Parade. In 2006, however, it received the Sweepstakes Award for Most Outstanding Float In The Parade.
- Official site
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
- Battle Ground Businesses and Community Groups
- Battle Ground Chamber of Commerce
- The Reflector Battle Ground's weekly newspaper
