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Morton, Washington

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Morton is a city in Lewis County, Washington, United States. The population was 1,036 at the 2020 census.[4]

Morton
City
Main Street, Morton, Washington
Main Street, Morton, Washington
Location of Morton, Washington
Location of Morton, Washington
Coordinates: 46°33′28″N 122°16′47″W / 46.55778°N 122.27972°W / 46.55778; -122.27972[1]
CountryUnited States
StateWashington
CountyLewis
IncorporatedJanuary 7, 1913
Area
[2]
 • Total
0.83 sq mi (2.16 km2)
 • Land0.82 sq mi (2.13 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation
948 ft (289 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
1,036
 • Density1,460.41/sq mi (563.60/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
98356
Area code360
FIPS code53-47175
GNIS feature ID1523383[3]
Websitewww.visitmorton.com

History

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19th century

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Morton was first settled in 1871 by James Fletcher. It was later named after Benjamin Harrison's Vice President, Levi P. Morton,[5][6] in 1889. Morton was officially incorporated on January 7, 1913.

20th century

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Morton, Washington 1910

In July 1924, a large portion of Morton's downtown district was decimated in a fire, affecting 18 blocks. Beginning at the Hilts Hotel, the blaze spread and destroyed 19 commercial buildings, including structures deemed fireproof. A new building collapsed and the Arcade Theater and two general stores were in ruins. With the exception of a housing section for railroad employees, residential areas in Morton were spared; only one minor injury was reported. Another fire engulfed the area several years later, setting fire to the post office.[7][8]

The White Pass Highway (part of U.S. Route 12) was relocated through Morton in December 1967 due to the creation of Riffe Lake behind Mossyrock Dam, which inundated the old route.[9][10]

21st century

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As part of a single-evening act of vandalism towards LGBTQ symbols in June 2023 that also affected Chehalis, Washington, a window and a rainbow bench outside of a business in the city were damaged.[11][12]

A state audit of Morton's government accounts were undertaken into 2024 and revealed a loss of over $937,000. Further investigations produced evidence the loss was misappropriated by the city's clerk-treasurer between 2013 into 2021. The city official, who during that time had sole oversight of the city's accounts, was suspected of siphoning the money for personal use. The clerk resigned after the city instituted a separation of the combined clerk-treasurer position in 2021 and had not yet faced official charges at the time of the audit's release in August 2024.[13][14]

Geography

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Morton as seen from Dog Mountain

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.83 square miles (2.15 km2), of which 0.82 square miles (2.12 km2) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2) is water.[15]

Climate

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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, Morton has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.[16]

Demographics

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2020 census

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As of the 2020 census,[4] the population was 1,036, there were 506 housing units and 503 families. The racial makeup of the city was 88.1% White, 7.7% from two or more races, 6.6% Hispanic or Latino, 1.7% from other races, 1.3% American Indian, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% African American and 1 person was Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander.

There were 506 households, of which 18.2% had minors living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 26.2% had a female householder with no spouse present and 17.9% had a male householder with no spouse present. The average family size was 2.89. 80.5% owned a house, and the median gross rent was $900. 63.3% of occupied units paying rent paid $500 to $999, 18.4% paid $1,000 to $1,499, 10.2% paid less than $500 and 8.2% paid $1,500 to $1,499.

The median age in the city was 49.5. 18.2% of the population was under the age of 18, 31.3% was between the ages 20-44, 28.3% was between the ages 45-64 and 23.1% were 65 years and older. The gender markup of the city was 53.6% male and 46.3% female. 6.5% of the population were veterans and 31.0% of the population were disabled.

The median household income was $55,156 and 13.5% of the population was in poverty. The employment rate was 40.8%. 28.4% of employed workers worked in retail trade, 23.5% worked in arts, entertainment and food services, 14.0% worked in educational service and healthcare, 11.3% worked in manufacturing, 7.5% worked in public administration, 4.9% worked in construction, 2.9% worked in finance or real estate, 2.4% worked in professional, scientific, management, and administrative and waste management services, 2.2% worked in other services, 1.6% worked in agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, or mining and 1.3% worked in transportation, warehousing and utilites. The mean usual hours worked was 36.6, 40.1 hours for males and 33.2 hours for females.

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1920522—
1930461−11.7%
194077868.8%
19501,14046.5%
19601,1833.8%
19701,134−4.1%
19801,26411.5%
19901,130−10.6%
20001,045−7.5%
20101,1267.8%
20201,036−8.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[17]
2020 Census[4]

2010 census

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According to the 2010 census,[18] there were 1,126 people, 461 households, and 283 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,373.2 inhabitants per square mile (530.2/km2). There were 535 housing units at an average density of 652.4 per square mile (251.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.2% White, 0.5% African American, 1.2% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 1.8% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.9% of the population.

There were 461 households, of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.4% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.6% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.83.

The city had a median age of 46.3 years. Among the population, 20.3% were under 18 years old, 8.2% were between 18 and 24, 19.5% were aged 25 to 44, 25.8% were between 45 and 64, and 26.2% were 65 years old or older. The gender distribution was 48.1% male and 51.9% female.

Economy

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Historic sources of revenue in the early days of Morton included logging, harvesting of cascara bark, and mining for cinnabar (mercury ore) in local mines. Morton was once known as the "tie mill capital of the world" in the 1950s. The longest railroad tie dock in the world ran along the railroad tracks east of Morton.[19]

Timber processing and logging are a large component of Morton's economy though the community suffered hardships during the loss of timber production due to environmental laws enacted in the late 20th century. As of 2024, two lumber mills reside in the town.[20]

Arts and culture

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Charitable organizations

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Morton's downtown arts center is supported by the Fire Mountain Arts Council (FMAC), a non-profit formally incorporated in 2003. The group purchased the Roxy Theater and managed and found funding for the venue's restoration efforts that was completed in 2024. The FMAC also manages an art gallery and the Tiller Arts and Events Center in Morton.[21]

Festivals and events

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The Morton Loggers’ Jubilee is a weekend celebration of the city's history of logging, usually held in August. Due to a lack of permanent records, the actual year the jubilee began is unknown, however there are reports of a beginning timeline of 1937 or 1938.[22] The event has been a tradition since the 1940s and is proclaimed as the "granddaddy of all logging shows".[20] Highlights include the coronation of a Jubilee Queen, lawnmower and bed racing, and competitive logging contests, which continues the original practice of the jubilee to be a "friendly competition between loggers".[22] A parade, flea market, live music, and street dance performances round out the festivities.[23][24][25] In her first homecoming show in Morton, Brandy Clark performed during the 75th anniversary of the event in 2017.[26][27] Visitors to the city are welcomed with a wooden sculpture of a lumberjack, given the title "Big Ole", signifying the jubilee's importance to the community.[28]

Historic buildings and sites

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The downtown district is home to the Roxy Theater, first opened in 1938; the first film shown was Thin Ice, starring figure skater Sonja Henie.[29][a] The movie house was previously the site of another venue known as the Arcade Theater. Having been dormant since 1980,[30][31] the site was heavily restored beginning in the early 2000s and finished by 2006. The Roxy was fully opened for films and theater productions the following year.[32] A further remodeling effort began during the Covid-19 pandemic, which included an addition to the building used as a backstage, and was completed in 2024. The theater holds live theatrical performances and film viewings.[21] The Roxy is also home to an art gallery.[33]

Parks and recreation

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Located on Morton's east side lies Jubilee Park, home of the Loggers Jubilee.[28]

Bordering the Tilton River is Gust Backstrom City Park, often home to the city's farmer's market and was the location of the Old Settlers Museum.[34][35] The grounds, in 1896, were home to the first schoolhouse built in the town.[36] The park is used by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to deliver migrating Chinook salmon, circumventing the dams on the Cowlitz River.[37]

Politics

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Presidential Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020[38] 69.0% 288 29.0% 114 2.0% 12

Morton has historically voted Republican although less so than Lewis County as a whole.

The 2020 election included 9 votes for candidates of the Libertarian Party.

Education

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There are two schools, Morton Elementary and Morton Junior-Senior High. Centralia College East is adjacent to the Junior-Senior High facility.

The Morton-White Pass boy's high school basketball team won back-to-back state championships in 2014 and 2015. The first title was achieved during an undefeated season.[39]

Infrastructure

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Fire station in Morton

The community is among 8 locations that are part of an EV installation project on the White Pass Scenic Byway. The program will stretch from the White Pass Ski Area to Chehalis and is run in partnership with Lewis County PUD, Twin Transit, state government agencies, and local community efforts. The venture began in 2023 from two grants totaling over $1.8 million.[40]

In 2023, Lewis County Transit began offering weekday, direct-route service from Centralia's Mellen Street e-Transit Station to the Morton Energy Station. The route, given the moniker "Brown Line", allows options for commuters to connect to other transit services in western Washington, such as Intercity Transit, RiverCities Transit, and the Cowlitz Tribal transportation system.[41]

Strom Field Airport

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Strom Field Airport is a single-runway municipal airfield located immediately southeast of the downtown core. Named after Stan T. Strom, a local devotee of aviation, the 10-acre (4.0 ha) airport was constructed between 1964 and 1965.[42] The airstrip is 1,810 feet (551.7 m) in length and is 40 feet (12.2 m) wide.[43] The airport was reported to be home to 6 aircraft and generated a revenue of over $28,000 in a 2010 economic impact analysis.[44]

Notable people

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Although sourcing in the 2000s mentions either 1925 or 1937 as the year the Roxy was opened, the reference listed specifically reports that the theater opened for the first time in March 1938.

References

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  1. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  2. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  3. ^ "Morton". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  4. ^ a b c "2020 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File". American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  5. ^ Majors, Harry M. (1975). Exploring Washington. Van Winkle Publishing Co. p. 122. ISBN 978-0-918664-00-6.
  6. ^ Meany, Edmond S. (1923). Origin of Washington geographic names. Seattle: University of Washington Press. p. 172.
  7. ^ "Fire Destroys City Of Morton". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. August 1, 1924. pp. 1, 10. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  8. ^ Scoggins, Jim (July 26, 1969). "Morton Destroyed By Fire 45 Years Ago". The Daily Chronicle. p. 10. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  9. ^ "New Highway Bypasses New Reservoir". The Tacoma News Tribune. December 3, 1967. p. B14. Retrieved July 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Morton Has Good Year, Looks Ahead". The Tacoma News Tribune. December 31, 1967. p. D10. Retrieved July 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Vander Stoep, Isabel (June 26, 2023). "Four Lewis County LGBTQ+ Advocate Sites Vandalized in One Night". The Chronicle. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  12. ^ Girgis, Lauren (July 7, 2023). "Flags stolen, vandalized throughout Washington during Pride month". The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  13. ^ Lucia, Bill (August 27, 2024). "Former city official accused of stealing $937K from tiny Morton, WA". The Seattle Times. The Washington State Standard. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  14. ^ The Chronicle staff (August 26, 2024). "State auditor: City of Morton lost nearly $1 million over a decade". The Chronicle. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  15. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 12, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  16. ^ Climate Summary for Morton, Washington
  17. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  18. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  19. ^ LaVonne M. Sparkman, From Homestead to Lakebed (Spakrman Publications, 1994) p. 72. ISBN 0-89288-249-2
  20. ^ a b Rietmulder, Michael (February 3, 2024). "How this WA logging town shaped Grammy nominee Brandy Clark". The Seattle Times. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  21. ^ a b Sexton, Owen (June 19, 2024). "'Backstage Debut': Ribbon-cutting ceremony held at Morton's Roxy Theater to unveil new expansion". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  22. ^ a b The Chronicle staff (August 9, 2023). "Morton to host 80th annual Loggers Jubilee starting Thursday". The Chronicle. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  23. ^ Rubin, Will (August 7, 2018). "The 'Granddaddy of All Logging Shows' Rolls on in Morton". The Chronicle. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  24. ^ Vander Stoep, Isabel (August 11, 2021). "Granddaddy of All Logging Shows: Morton Loggers' Jubilee Returns This Weekend for 78th Run". The Chronicle. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  25. ^ "Morton Loggers Jubilee - Jubilee History". loggersjubilee.com. Morton Loggers Jubilee Committee. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  26. ^ Nailon, Jordan (June 27, 2017). "Homegrown Country Music Star Brandy Clark to Perform Local Shows". The Chronicle. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  27. ^ Betts, Stephen L. (August 3, 2017). "Brandy Clark to Release Concert Album 'Live From Los Angeles'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  28. ^ a b The Chronicle staff (May 22, 2006). "Art in the Park celebrates a decade". The Chronicle (Centralia, Washington). Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  29. ^ "Morton". The Chehalis Bee-Nugget. March 15, 1938. p. 2. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  30. ^ Lawton, Mark (October 2, 2003). "Arts council to purchase theater". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  31. ^ Jones, Pat (March 25, 2004). "'What's playing at the Roxy? I'll tell you what's playing at the Roxy …'". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  32. ^ Decker, Sharyn L. (April 9, 2007). "Movies Return to Morton". The Chronicle. p. A3. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  33. ^ The Chronicle staff (April 29, 2024). "BCJ Gallery in Morton to feature student artwork". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  34. ^ Filley, Bette (1996). The Big Fact Book about Mount Rainier. Dunamis House. p. 19. ISBN 9781880405062. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  35. ^ The Chronicle staff (May 22, 2006). "Museums of history, motorcycles and military". The Chronicle. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  36. ^ Sparkmann, Lavone M. (August 29, 2012). "Let's Crack the Books and Study Up on Early Schoolhouses". The Chronicle. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  37. ^ Nailon, Jordan (July 14, 2016). "Popular, Controversial Cowlitz River Steelhead Recycling Program Resumes". The Chronicle. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  38. ^ Washington Secretary of State Results by Precinct
  39. ^ VanTuyl, Aaron (December 31, 2019). "A Decade in Review: Looking Back at the Best of the 2010s". The Chronicle. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  40. ^ The Chronicle staff (March 7, 2023). "Construction Begins on U.S. Highway 12 Electric Vehicle Charging Station Network". The Chronicle (Centralia, Washington). Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  41. ^ The Chronicle staff (March 6, 2023). "Twin Transit Begins Weekday Service Between Centralia and Morton". The Chronicle. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  42. ^ "From Cascades to Pacific, airports adapting to changing needs". The Daily Chronicle. December 3, 1977. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  43. ^ "39P - Strom Field Airport". AirNav. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  44. ^ "Study Finds Positive Economic Impacts From Washington State Airports". AviationPros.com. The Chronicle. May 1, 2012. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  45. ^ "Governor Candidate Bill Bryant to Speak at Lincoln Day Dinner in Chehalis", The Chronicle, Centralia, Washington, February 22, 2016
  46. ^ "Singer-Songwriter: Morton Native's Songs Making It Onto Major Country, Gospel Albums". November 19, 2010.
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