Starbuck is a town in Columbia County, Washington. The population was 130 at the 2000 census.

History

Named for railroad official W. H. Starbuck, the town was originally a junction on the main line of the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company. The town was platted in 1894, and built its first bank ten years later. In 1886, the railroad completed a line eastward from Starbuck to Pomeroy and Pataha City in Garfield County (This line remained in operation until 1981). The town was officially incorporated on September 18, 1905. In 1910, a large brick school was built.

In 1914 a bridge over the Snake River was completed downstream from Lyon's Ferry, which greatly diminished the railroad traffic through the town. The economy of the town turned to agriculture, but in 1929 the bank failed. The town's population dwindled steadily until the mid twentieth century. The High School shut down in 1956, and students had to bus to Dayton. In 1961, the rairoad station was shut down as well.

In 1968, the Snake River Bridge (originally built over the Columbia at Vantage in 1927, then disassembled in 1963) was re-assembled in the area, providing additional access over the Snake River. In 1970, the Little Goose Dam was completed about nine miles northeast of Starbuck.

Today Starbuck is a quiet, agricultural town with a population of about 130.

Historical Population

U.S. Census Bureau

1910....761

1920....524

1930....346

1940....251

1950....194

1960....161

1970....216

1980....198

1990....170

2000....130

2008....130 (Washington Office of Financial Management Estimate)

Geography

Starbuck is located at (46.518676, -118.126764).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 130 people, 65 households, and 39 families residing in the town. The population density was 639.6 people per square mile (251.0/km²). There were 86 housing units at an average density of 423.1/sq mi (166.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.46% White, 0.77% Native American, and 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.31% of the population.

There were 65 households out of which 13.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.7% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.5% were non-families. 35.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.00 and the average family size was 2.45.

In the town the population was spread out with 14.6% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 28.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females there were 106.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $18,125, and the median income for a family was $21,875. Males had a median income of $34,063 versus $13,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,770. There were 15.2% of families and 24.3% of the population living below the poverty line, including 100.0% of under eighteens and 23.7% of those over 64.

References

External links