Morton, Washington

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[1]
CountryUnited States
StateWashington
CountyLewis
Area
[2]
 • Total0.83 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)
 • Total1,036
 • 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]
WebsiteVisitMorton.com

History

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. Historic sources of revenue 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.[7]

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.[8][9]

Geography

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.[10]

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, Morton has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.[11]

Demographics
Fire station in Morton
Morton as seen from Dog Mountain
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[12]
2020 Census[4]

2010 census

As of the census[13] of 2010, 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 median age in the city was 46.3 years. 20.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.5% were from 25 to 44; 25.8% were from 45 to 64; and 26.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.1% male and 51.9% female.

Arts and culture

Festivals and events

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.[14] The event, proclaimed as the "granddaddy of all logging shows", is highlighted by 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".[14] A parade, flea market, live music, and street dance performances round out the festivities.[15][16][17]

Politics
Presidential Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020[18] 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

There are two schools, Morton Elementary and Morton Junior-Senior High.

Centralia College East is adjacent to the Junior-Senior High facility.

Infrastructure

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.[19]

In 2023, Twin 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.[20]

Notable people

References
  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. "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. LaVonne M. Sparkman, From Homestead to Lakebed (Spakrman Publications, 1994) p. 72. ISBN 0-89288-249-2
  8. "New Highway Bypasses New Reservoir". The Tacoma News Tribune. December 3, 1967. p. B14. Retrieved July 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Morton Has Good Year, Looks Ahead". The Tacoma News Tribune. December 31, 1967. p. D10. Retrieved July 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 12, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  11. Climate Summary for Morton, Washington
  12. "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  14. The Chronicle staff (August 9, 2023). "Morton to host 80th annual Loggers Jubilee starting Thursday". The Chronicle. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  15. Rubin, Will (August 7, 2018). "The 'Granddaddy of All Logging Shows' Rolls on in Morton". The Chronicle. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  16. 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.
  17. "Morton Loggers Jubilee - Jubilee History". loggersjubilee.com. Morton Loggers Jubilee Committee. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  18. Washington Secretary of State Results by Precinct
  19. 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.
  20. The Chronicle staff (March 6, 2023). "Twin Transit Begins Weekday Service Between Centralia and Morton". The Chronicle. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  21. "Governor Candidate Bill Bryant to Speak at Lincoln Day Dinner in Chehalis", The Chronicle, Centralia, Washington, February 22, 2016
  22. "Singer-Songwriter: Morton Native's Songs Making It Onto Major Country, Gospel Albums".
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