Reardan, Washington Explained

Reardan
Official Name:Reardan, Washington
Settlement Type:Town
Mapsize:250px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Washington
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Lincoln
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:1.30
Area Land Km2:1.29
Area Water Km2:0.01
Area Total Sq Mi:0.50
Area Land Sq Mi:0.50
Area Water Sq Mi:0.00
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:637
Population Density Km2:474.56
Population Density Sq Mi:1229.84
Timezone:Pacific (PST)
Utc Offset:-8
Timezone Dst:PDT
Utc Offset Dst:-7
Elevation M:766
Elevation Ft:2513
Coordinates:47.6692°N -117.8783°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:99029
Area Code:509
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:53-57465[2]
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:1507746[3]

Reardan is a town in Lincoln County, Washington, United States. The population was 637 at the 2020 census.[4]

History

Founded in 1882 and platted in 1889, Reardan was named for Central Washington Railroad engineer C.F. Reardan.[5] Reardan was incorporated on April 14, 1903.

The town is home to the elementary/middle/high school serving the Reardan-Edwall School District, covering over 360sqmi in Lincoln and Spokane counties. The slough north of town, known as Audubon Lake, is well known among birders as a busy stop on the Pacific Flyway and features public facilities for viewers. A Hutterite colony settled in the area in 1961.[6]

Mule Days has been celebrated on the first Saturday in June for over 50, featuring a Kiddie Parade, Main Parade, entertainment and games for kids at the park, three on three basketball in front of the high school, food and craft fair at the park, Community BBQ pork luncheon, Beer Garden, and Mule Days Dance.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.5sqmi, of which, 0.49sqmi is land and 0.01sqmi is water.[7]

U.S. Route 2 runs through Reardan, where it is also known as Broadway Avenue and serves as the town's main street. The highway connects Reardan with Spokane, the region's big city, 22 miles to the east, and Davenport, the county seat, 13 miles to the west. Washington State Route 231, a north–south route, also runs through the town. The Washington Eastern Railroad runs through town on its route from Cheney to Coulee City.[8]

Reardan is located on the divide between the Columbia and Spokane river drainage basins.[9] Audubon Lake, on the northern side of town, is the headwaters of Crab Creek,[9] which flows southwest for 163 miles before emptying into the Columbia. The lake and surrounding wetlands also drain into Deep Creek,[9] which empties into the Spokane roughly 16 miles as the crow flies northeast of the lake. Spring Creek also rises from the Audubon Lake wetlands and flows north into the Spokane River just downstream from Long Lake Dam. State Route 231 follows Spring Creek north from town.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the 2010 census,[10] there were 571 people, 240 households, and 160 families living in the town. The population density was 1165.3PD/sqmi. There were 255 housing units at an average density of 520.4/sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 92.5% White, 0.5% African American, 4.7% Native American, 0.4% Asian, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.5% of the population.

There were 240 households, of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.3% were non-families. 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.88.

The median age in the town was 43.2 . 24.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.6% were from 25 to 44; 32.6% were from 45 to 64; and 15.8% were 65 of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.3% male and 52.7% female.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 608 people, 227 households, and 174 families living in the town. The population density was 1,285.2 people per square mile (499.5/km2). There were 242 housing units at an average density of 511.6 per square mile (198.8/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 93.91% White, 0.16% African American, 2.30% Native American, 0.66% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races, and 2.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.32% of the population.

There were 227 households, out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.5% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.3% were non-families. 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.9% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 of age or older. The median age was 37 . For every 100 females, there were 101.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $38,750, and the median income for a family was $44,167. Males had a median income of $32,279 versus $21,429 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,610. About 7.3% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.8% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

Famous connections

Famous Indigenous American writer Sherman Alexie attended Reardan High School, which is featured in a few of his stories and in his 2007 novel for young adults, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.

World War II Medal of Honor recipient PFC Joe E. Mann was born July 8, 1922, in Reardan and was killed in action, September 19, 1944, in Best, Netherlands. He was a soldier assigned to the 502nd PIR, 101st Airborne Division.

After Colfax and Ritzville, it is one of Washington's most infamous speed traps.[11]

Education

Reardan is within the Reardan-Edwall School District.

The Inland Northwest Rail Museum opened in Reardan in 2016.[12]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. August 7, 2020.
  2. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. January 31, 2008.
  3. 1507746. Reardan.
  4. Web site: 2020 . Reardan town, Washington . United States Census Bureau . August 10, 2022.
  5. Book: Majors, Harry M. . Exploring Washington . Van Winkle Publishing Co . 1975 . 111 . 978-0-918664-00-6.
  6. Book: Schmeltzer, Michael. Spokane: The City and The People. American Geographic Publishing. 1988. 75. 0-938314-53-X.
  7. Web site: US Gazetteer 2010. United States Census Bureau. December 19, 2012.
  8. Web site: Washington Eastern Railroad Route Map. October 22, 2021. Washington Eastern Railroad.
  9. Web site: Reardan Audubon Lake Wildlife Area . Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office . October 22, 2021.
  10. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. December 19, 2012.
  11. Web site: Reardan, Washington Speed Traps The National Speed Trap Exchange. www.speedtrap.org. October 29, 2016.
  12. Web site: Inland Northwest Rail Museum opens new digs near Reardan | the Spokesman-Review.