| Zillah | |
| Official Name: | Zillah, Washington |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Mapsize: | 250px |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Washington |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Yakima |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Dr. Scott Carmack |
| Established Title: | Founded |
| Established Date: | 1892 |
| Established Title1: | Incorporated |
| Established Date1: | January 5, 1911 |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 4.72 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 1.82 |
| Area Land Km2: | 4.72 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 1.82 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.00 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.00 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Est: | 3157 |
| Pop Est As Of: | 2021 |
| Population Total: | 3179 |
| Population Density Km2: | 665.91 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 1724.33 |
| Timezone: | PST |
| Utc Offset: | -8 |
| Timezone Dst: | PDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -7 |
| Coordinates Footnotes: | [2] |
| Elevation M: | 250 |
| Elevation Ft: | 820 |
| Coordinates: | 46.4036°N -120.2608°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 98953 |
| Area Code: | 509 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 53-80500[3] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 1512822[4] |
Zillah is a city in Yakima County, Washington, United States, with a population of 3,179 as of the 2020 census.[5]
Zillah was founded in 1891 following the completion of the Sunnyside Canal project, an irrigation scheme delivering water from the Yakima River to the arid lower Yakima Valley. Walter Granger, superintendent of the canal company, chose the town site in 1892. The town was named for Miss Zillah Oakes, daughter of Thomas Fletcher Oakes, who, as president of the Northern Pacific Railway, had backed the building of the canal. The town was named after Miss Zillah because she would scream and cry on the way to the new town, while on the trip her father promised to name the town after her if she would stop. Granger housed the headquarters of the Washington Irrigation Company in Zillah, giving it economical advantages for a time. He also made his residency in Zillah, becoming its mayor after retiring from the irrigation company. Zillah was officially incorporated on January 5, 1911.[6]
Zillah is located on Interstate 82 about southeast of Yakima.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.78sqmi, all of it land.[7]
As of the 2010 census, there were 2,964 people, 1,033 households, and 741 families living in the city. The population density was 1665.2PD/sqmi. There were 1,105 housing units at an average density of 620.8/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 63.8% White, 0.3% African American, 3.8% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 27.1% from other races, and 3.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 42.5% of the population.
There were 1,033 households, of which 43.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 28.3% were non-families. 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.40.
The median age in the city was 31.9 years. 31.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.3% were from 25 to 44; 22.9% were from 45 to 64; and 9.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.8% male and 50.2% female.
As of the 2000 census, there were 2,198 people, 792 households, and 591 families living in the city. The population density was 1,807.9 inhabitants per square mile (695.6/km2). There were 837 housing units at an average density of 688.4 per square mile (264.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 73.25% White, 0.82% African American, 2.14% Native American, 0.77% Asian, 0.36% Pacific Islander, 18.29% from other races, and 4.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 26.07% of the population.
There were 792 households, out of which 40.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.3% were non-families. 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 31.2% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 and up. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $38,214, and the median income for a family was $44,688. Males had a median income of $33,819 versus $23,603 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,415. 13.8% of the population and 9.0% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 16.4% of those under the age of 18 and 16.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
The Zillah School District is a small rural district of approximately 1,250 students. Its four schools are:
Zillah is one of Yakima County's smallest districts by area, at an estimated 44 square miles. It also offers an alternative school program.