| Hoquiam, Washington | |
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| — City — | |
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| Coordinates: 46°58′49″N 123°53′8″W / 46.98028°N 123.88556°WCoordinates: 46°58′49″N 123°53′8″W / 46.98028°N 123.88556°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Grays Harbor |
| Area | |
| - Total | 15.6 sq mi (40.4 km2) |
| - Land | 9.2 sq mi (23.8 km2) |
| - Water | 6.4 sq mi (16.6 km2) |
| Elevation | 20 ft (6 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 9,097 |
| - Density | 992.0/sq mi (383.0/km2) |
| Time zone | Pacific (PST) (UTC-8) |
| - Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) |
| ZIP code | 98550 |
| Area code(s) | 360 |
| FIPS code | 53-32300[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1512309[2] |
| Website | http://www.cityofhoquiam.com/ |
Hoquiam (pronounced /ˈhoʊkwi.əm/, us dict: hō′·kwē·əm) is a city in Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States. The town borders Aberdeen at Myrtle Street with Hoquiam on the west side. The two cities share a common economic history in lumber and exporting, but Hoquiam has maintained a separate identity from its neighbor. Aberdeen has a larger population but the two cities have a long history of competition, especially in high school sports (see "Athletics").
The population was 9,097 at the 2000 census.
Hoquiam (Ho'-kwee-um) was incorporated on May 21, 1890. Its name is taken from a Native-American language meaning "hungry for wood".[3]
Hoquiam is the home of the internationally acclaimed Loggers' Playday, celebrated with a parade and logging competition every September.
Although lumber and related industries have been slow for years, plans for a bio-diesel plant are in the works (Imperium Renewables Bio-Diesel opened in 2007).
Bowerman Airfield (KHQM) is the local airport, coastal Washington's only jet-capable airport, with a 5,000-foot (1,524 m) runway and parallel taxiway located a stone's throw from the inlet that gives Grays Harbor its name. Hoquiam is also home to dozens of species of migrating birds which live along the water during the milder months.
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Hoquiam is located at 46°58′49″N 123°53′8″W / 46.98028°N 123.88556°W (46.980332, -123.885506)[4], at the mouth of the Hoquiam River.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.6 square miles (40.4 km²), of which, 9.2 square miles (23.8 km²) of it is land and 6.4 square miles (16.6 km²) of it (41.14%) is water.
Hoquiam experiences an oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification Cfb).
| Climate data for Hoquiam | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °F (°C) | 47 (8.3) |
50 (10) |
53 (11.7) |
56 (13.3) |
60 (15.6) |
64 (17.8) |
67 (19.4) |
68 (20) |
68 (20) |
60 (15.6) |
52 (11.1) |
47 (8.3) |
58 (14.4) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 37 (2.8) |
38 (3.3) |
39 (3.9) |
42 (5.6) |
46 (7.8) |
50 (10) |
53 (11.7) |
54 (12.2) |
51 (10.6) |
46 (7.8) |
41 (5) |
37 (2.8) |
45 (7.2) |
| Precipitation inches (mm) | 9.79 (248.7) |
8.40 (213.4) |
7.24 (183.9) |
4.98 (126.5) |
3.38 (85.9) |
2.32 (58.9) |
1.30 (33) |
1.50 (38.1) |
2.89 (73.4) |
6.12 (155.4) |
10.30 (261.6) |
10.47 (265.9) |
68.69 (1,744.7) |
| Source: [5] 2009-05-13 | |||||||||||||
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 1,302 |
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| 1900 | 2,608 | 100.3% | |
| 1910 | 8,171 | 213.3% | |
| 1920 | 10,058 | 23.1% | |
| 1930 | 12,766 | 26.9% | |
| 1940 | 10,835 | −15.1% | |
| 1950 | 11,123 | 2.7% | |
| 1960 | 10,762 | −3.2% | |
| 1970 | 10,466 | −2.8% | |
| 1980 | 9,719 | −7.1% | |
| 1990 | 8,972 | −7.7% | |
| 2000 | 9,097 | 1.4% | |
| Est. 2008 | 8,848 | −2.7% | |
As of the 2000 census[1], there were 9,097 people, 3,640 households, and 2,245 families residing in the city. The population density is 992 people per square mile (383/km²). There are 4,023 housing units, with an average density of 169.4/km² (438.7/sq mi). The racial makeup of the city is 89.32% White, 0.32% African-American, 3.86% Native American, 1.18% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 2.09% from other races, and 3.18% from two or more races. 5.75% of the population identify as Latino. 14.6% were of American, 13.8% German, 9.6% Irish, 6.8% English and 5.7% Norwegian ancestry according to Census 2000.
There are 3,640 households, out of which 31.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.8% are married couples living together, 14.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 38.3% are non-families. 31.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 15.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.47 persons; the average family size is 3.09.
The population is spread out with 27.4% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 89.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $29,658, and the median income for a family is $34,859. Males have a median income of $33,417, versus $23,558 for females. The per capita income for the city is $15,089. 19.0% of the population and 16.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 26.5% of those under the age of 18 and 8.9% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
The city is proud of its Hoquiam High School Grizzlies, the Crimson and Gray. In 2004, the boys basketball team completed a perfect 28-0 season and won the state 2A championship. Wins included non-league wins over Lincoln High of Tacoma, Bellevue High, and two victories over archrival Aberdeen High, as well as a win over a touring team from Australia. It was the only game the Australians lost on that tour.
In 2006, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) changed the enrollment limit for the 2A classification allowing Aberdeen to drop to 2A along with other schools in the area creating a new league. The old league football rivalry which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2006 was renewed with the 101st meeting of the two schools on October 14. Hoquiam won 20-6.
The two also compete against each other in an annual Fall food drive, termed "Food Ball", to help local low-income families. It's an event where everyone wins regardless of who collects the most food donations.
Since 1981, Hoquiam High School also hosts the largest distance running event on the Washington coast, the Hoquiam Grizzly Alumni Cross Country Invitational, featuring 35+ schools and 1,000+ high school runners, takes place every October. Other Hoquiam sponsored tournaments are the Grizzly Alumni Wrestling tournament in January and Volleyball tournament in September.
The city was also home of the Western Baseball League's Grays Harbor Gulls from 1995 to 1997 and played their home games at Olympic Stadium, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The city is now home of the developmental football team of the NAFL (North American Football League), the Grays Harbor Bearcats.
The prominent cosmologist Howard Percy Robertson was born in Hoquiam in 1903. The 1988 Nobel Laureate George Herbert Hitchings was born in Hoquiam in 1905. And Hoquiam is the birthplace of Nirvana front man Kurt Cobain and attorney and real-estate developer John P. Rutledge, too. Hollywood actors Adam and Andy Friberg (Last Days) also grew up in Hoquiam, and was active in many of Hoquiam High School's activities.
 The 7th Street Theatre, listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). |
 Hoquiam's Castle, listed on the NRHP. |
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