Pomeroy, Washington

Pomeroy
City
Downtown Pomeroy in 2018
Location of Pomeroy, Washington
Coordinates: 46°28′24″N117°35′53″W / 46.47333°N 117.59806°W / 46.47333; -117.59806
Country	United States
State	Washington
County	Garfield
Area [1]
• Total	1.78 sq mi (4.60 km2)
• Land	1.78 sq mi (4.60 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	1,857 ft (566 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,389
• Density	780/sq mi (300/km2)
Time zone	UTC−8 (Pacific (PST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP code	99347
Area code	509
FIPS code	53-55120
GNIS feature ID	1512575 [2]
Website	cityofpomeroy1.com

Pomeroy is the only incorporated city and the county seat of Garfield County, Washington, United States. The population was 1,389 at the 2020 census. ^[3]

Geography

Pomeroy is located at 46°28′24″N117°35′53″W / 46.47333°N 117.59806°W / 46.47333; -117.59806 (46.473334, -117.598119). ^[4]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.78 square miles (4.61 km²), all of it land. ^[5]

U.S. Route 12 in Washington serves as the primary highway through town, connecting Pomeroy with the Lewiston–Clarkston metropolitan area (to the east) and the Tri-Cities metro area/Walla Walla area (to the west). The city is 1,857 ft above sea level in the very hilly region between the Blue Mountains (to the south) and the Palouse region (to the north). The primary highway through town passes over Alpowa Summit (2,785 ft) only a few miles east of town.

History

The Nez Perce trail existed in the area before history was recorded, and the first written record of caucasians passing through the area were Lewis and Clark in 1805. Captain Benjamin Bonneville also passed through the future site of the town while he was surveying for the US government in 1834. In 1860, an Irish settler named Parson Quinn settled just east of present-day Pomeroy, and lived there for the next 40 years. Rancher Joseph M. Pomeroy purchased the land in 1864, ^[6] and platted the town's site in May 1878. ^{[7] [8]}

Garfield County Courthouse

Pomeroy was officially incorporated on February 3, 1886. The town has been the seat of Garfield County since 1882, despite fierce competition in the 1880s with neighboring towns Pataha and Asotin. The county was split in October 1883, and the city of Asotin was named the county seat of the new Asotin County, Washington, leaving the debate about Pomeroy's status as county seat for Garfield County to continue. ^[9] The debate continued through both houses of the Washington Territorial Legislature in for the remainder of 1883 to Governor William A. Newell of the Washington Territory, and eventually reached the United States Congress in 1884. ^[6]

On July 18, 1900 (despite a city ordinance which mandated fire-proof materials for downtown buildings; there had been fires in 1890 and 1898 as well) fire destroyed half of the small town's business district. The recovery took two years as the destroyed buildings were rebuilt using brick - a building boom for the small community. ^[10] In 1912, the City voted to outlaw the manufacture or sale of alcohol. This prohibition quickly led to rampant bootlegging and corruption which lasted until the 21st Amendment passed in 1933. ^[11]

The Catholic Church in Pomeroy, Washington, United States.

On August 21, 2003, following efforts by the Pomeroy Historic Committee, a 10-block section of Pomeroy's downtown was placed on the National Historic Register. ^[12]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	661		—
1900	953		44.2%
1910	1,605		68.4%
1920	1,804		12.4%
1930	1,600		−11.3%
1940	1,723		7.7%
1950	1,775		3.0%
1960	1,677		−5.5%
1970	1,823		8.7%
1980	1,716		−5.9%
1990	1,393		−18.8%
2000	1,517		8.9%
2010	1,425		−6.1%
2020	1,389		−2.5%
U.S. Decennial Census [13] 2020 Census [14]

Pomeroy City Hall

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, ^[15] there were 1,425 people, 642 households, and 401 families residing in the city. The population density was 800.6 inhabitants per square mile (309.1/km²). There were 723 housing units at an average density of 406.2 per square mile (156.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.9% White, 0.3% Native American, 1.3% Asian, 1.3% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.2% of the population.

There were 642 households, of which 25.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.5% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.74.

The median age in the city was 50 years. 19.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 18.6% were from 25 to 44; 32.5% were from 45 to 64; and 24.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.5% male and 52.5% female.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 1,517 people, 645 households, and 408 families residing in the city. The population density was 852.2 people per square mile (329.1/km²). There were 740 housing units at an average density of 415.7 per square mile (160.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.37% White, 0.53% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.52% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.24% of the population.

There were 645 households, out of which 25.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.7% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 25.5% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 20.1% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 25.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,958, and the median income for a family was $38,750. Males had a median income of $32,500 versus $21,118 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,782. About 11.7% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.9% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.

Climate

Pomeroy, as is typical for this region, has a borderline Mediterranean/continental Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csb/Dsb) with dry summers featuring warm to hot afternoons and cool to warm mornings, and chilly, cool, or cold and snowy, if not severe, and wetter winters.

Climate data for Pomeroy, Washington (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1891–2020)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	67 (19)	71 (22)	80 (27)	98 (37)	101 (38)	102 (39)	112 (44)	109 (43)	102 (39)	93 (34)	78 (26)	72 (22)	112 (44)
Mean maximum °F (°C)	58.2 (14.6)	59.3 (15.2)	67.6 (19.8)	75.8 (24.3)	83.2 (28.4)	91.4 (33.0)	98.4 (36.9)	99.1 (37.3)	91.3 (32.9)	79.9 (26.6)	64.7 (18.2)	57.7 (14.3)	100.2 (37.9)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	40.4 (4.7)	44.5 (6.9)	52.0 (11.1)	58.6 (14.8)	67.3 (19.6)	74.4 (23.6)	85.1 (29.5)	85.1 (29.5)	75.4 (24.1)	60.9 (16.1)	47.7 (8.7)	39.5 (4.2)	60.9 (16.1)
Daily mean °F (°C)	33.8 (1.0)	36.4 (2.4)	42.3 (5.7)	47.9 (8.8)	55.6 (13.1)	61.5 (16.4)	69.0 (20.6)	69.0 (20.6)	60.3 (15.7)	48.9 (9.4)	39.6 (4.2)	32.9 (0.5)	49.8 (9.9)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	27.1 (−2.7)	28.3 (−2.1)	32.6 (0.3)	37.3 (2.9)	43.9 (6.6)	48.5 (9.2)	52.9 (11.6)	52.8 (11.6)	45.2 (7.3)	37.0 (2.8)	31.5 (−0.3)	26.3 (−3.2)	38.6 (3.7)
Mean minimum °F (°C)	9.2 (−12.7)	13.7 (−10.2)	19.4 (−7.0)	25.6 (−3.6)	29.9 (−1.2)	37.6 (3.1)	42.5 (5.8)	40.9 (4.9)	32.6 (0.3)	21.5 (−5.8)	15.3 (−9.3)	18.0 (−7.8)	0.9 (−17.3)
Record low °F (°C)	−22 (−30)	−17 (−27)	6 (−14)	11 (−12)	20 (−7)	30 (−1)	35 (2)	33 (1)	24 (−4)	5 (−15)	−13 (−25)	−27 (−33)	−27 (−33)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	2.04 (52)	1.62 (41)	2.08 (53)	1.67 (42)	1.60 (41)	1.15 (29)	0.46 (12)	0.53 (13)	0.58 (15)	1.31 (33)	2.32 (59)	2.27 (58)	17.63 (448)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	2.2 (5.6)	1.2 (3.0)	0.8 (2.0)	0.1 (0.25)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.5 (1.3)	3.6 (9.1)	8.4 (21.25)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	12.2	10.4	11.5	9.7	9.2	6.7	3.0	3.2	3.7	7.3	12.6	12.0	101.5
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)	1.2	0.7	0.5	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.7	1.6	4.7
Source 1: NOAA [16]
Source 2: National Weather Service [17]

Education

Pomeroy Junior/Senior High School, 2016

Students in Pomeroy are part of Pomeroy School District 110 and complete their secondary public school education at Pomeroy Junior/Senior High School. ^[18]

Notable people

• Samuel G. Cosgrove (1847–1909), 6th governor of Washington ^[19]
• Mary Dye - Politician. Member of Washington House of Representatives. ^[20]
• Elgin V. Kuykendall (1870–1958), attorney, judge, and member of the Washington State Senate ^[21]
• Michael P. Malone (1940–1999), historian and president of Montana State University

Events

The following events are organized annually by the Pomeroy Chamber of Commerce: ^[22]

• Pioneer Day and Tumbleweed Festival: second weekend in June
• Garfield County Fair: September 16–19
• Starlight Parade and Festival of Trees: Friday after Thanksgiving

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
2. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
5. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
6. "Garfield County -- Thumbnail History". On May 13, 1884, the United States House of Representatives passed a bill that cured the defects in the county-seat bill. The United States Senate approved the measure, making Pomeroy the legal county seat in Garfield County once and for all. Garfield County is the only county in Washington state to have had its county seat declared by an act of the United States Congress.
7. "Pomeroy". Washington Place Names database. Tacoma Public Library. Archived from the original on March 9, 2009. Retrieved March 6, 2009.
8. Tussing, Annette (December 6, 1964). "A big birthday for Pomeroy: town will be 100 Tuesday". Lewiston Morning Tribune. p. 1, section 2.
9. "Milestones for Washington State History — Part 2: 1851 to 1900".
10. "Fire destroys nearly half the business district of downtown Pomeroy on July 18, 1900".
11. E. V. Kuykendall, The History of Garfield County (Fairfield, Washington: Ye Galleon Press, 1984), 86–88.
12. "Pomeroy Downtown National Historic District".
13. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
14. "Census Bureau profile: Pomeroy, Washington". United States Census Bureau. May 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved December 19, 2012.
16. "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Pomeroy, WA". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
17. "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Spokane". National Weather Service. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
18. "Pomeroy Jr/Sr High," Archived April 7, 2014, at the Wayback Machine Pomeroy School District, www.psd.wednet.edu/
19. "Washington Governor Samuel G. Cosgrove". National Governors Association. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
20. "Mary Dye's Biography". Vote Smart . Retrieved September 27, 2021.
21. W.D. Lyman, Lyman's History of Old Walla Walla County, Embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin Counties. Chicago: S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1918; vol. 2, pp. 132–136.
22. Pomeroy Chamber of Commerce. "Events". Pomeroy Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved January 8, 2013.

External links

• History of Pomeroy at HistoryLink
• Garfield County Heritage. Digitized resources from the Denny Ashby Library, Eastern Washington Agricultural Museum, and Garfield County Museum.
• A website for the Historic Preservation Committee
• A website with historical information
• Denny Ashby Library (Public library, Pomeroy, WA).
• A website with current information