82-584: Orting is a city in Pierce County , Washington , United States. The population was 9,041 at the 2020 census . It is located between the Puyallup and Carbon rivers in central Pierce County, approximately 30 miles (48 km) northwest of Mount Rainier . The first recorded claims for land in Orting were made in 1854 by William Henry Whitesell, Thomas Headley, Daniel Lane, and Daniel Varner. Streets in
164-900: A branch campus in Steilacoom. University of Washington Tacoma is a branch campus of University of Washington . The Evergreen State College also has a campus in Tacoma. Libraries include the Pierce County Library System , the Tacoma Library System, and the Puyallup Public Library. The Pierce County Library is the fourth largest library system in the state. There are currently 20 branches, including: The Pierce County Library System currently employs 394 people, and serves 579,970 citizens throughout 1,773 square miles. Established in 1944,
246-507: A combined question and a MENA category, while also collecting additional detail to enable data disaggregation. The OMB states, "many federal programs are put into effect based on the race data obtained from the decennial census (i.e., promoting equal employment opportunities; assessing racial disparities in health and environmental risks). Race data is also critical for the basic research behind many policy decisions. States require this data to meet legislative redistricting requirements. The data
328-585: A covered gazebo and a memorial wall. Historic murals are scattered on buildings throughout the city. Orting is the fourth and final stop in the annual Daffodil Festival Parade. With the exception of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and 1943-1945 due to the Second World War , the parade has gone through downtown Orting since 1934 and draws over 10,000 people in early April to festivities. The parade can be seen in late afternoon. It also goes through
410-470: A family was $ 68,462. Males had a median income of $ 50,084 versus $ 38,696 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 27,446. About 8.1% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line , including 15.0% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over. The area was originally home to the present-day Nisqually, Puyallup, Squaxin, Steilacoom, and Muckleshoot tribes. The majority of Puyallup villages were situated in proximity to
492-448: A household was $ 82,574, but the per capita income was $ 39,036. 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line . As of the 2010 census , there were 795,225 people, 299,918 households, and 202,174 families residing in the county. The population density was 476.3 people per square mile (183.9 people/km ). There were 325,375 housing units at an average density of 194.9 units per square mile (75.3 units/km ). The racial makeup of
574-717: A legal combatant of the Indian War Leschi should not have been held accountable under law for the death of an enemy soldier," thereby exonerating him of any wrongdoing. Pierce County has adopted and is governed by a Charter. This is allowed by section 4 of Article XI of the Washington State Constitution. The Pierce County Executive , currently Bruce Dammeier (R), heads the county's executive branch. The Assessor-Treasurer Mike Lonergan, auditor Julie Anderson, Prosecuting Attorney Mary Robnett, and Sheriff Ed Troyer . The Pierce County Council
656-500: A male householder with no wife present, and 22.7% did not have families. Households with only one person made up 16.5% and the total, and those with an individual person 65 years of age or older made up 5.8%. The average household size was 3.01 people and the average family size was 3.34. The median age was 32.7 years: 30.7% of residents were under the age of 18,; 7.8%, between the ages of 18 and 24, 31.8%, from 25 to 44, 19.5%, 45 to 64 and 10.2% were 65 years of age or older. The sex makeup
738-533: A person's origins considered in the census. Thus, in addition to their race or races, all respondents are categorized by membership in one of two ethnic categories, which are "Hispanic or Latino" and "Not Hispanic or Latino." However, the practice of separating "race" and "ethnicity" as different categories has been criticized both by the American Anthropological Association and members of US Commission on Civil Rights . In 1997,
820-552: A police officer. Orting Valley Fire and Rescue handles all fire and medical aid service needs in the city and the surrounding unincorporated area. It operates three stations. The Orting School District operates four schools: Orting is close to State Route 162 . The closest Sounder commuter rail station is in Sumner, Washington . The Pierce County Foothills Trail is a paved trail built on an old railroad bed. It runs through Orting to South Prairie in one direction and to Sumner in
902-524: A race. Enumerators were instructed that all people born in Mexico, or whose parents were born in Mexico, should be listed as Mexicans, and not under any other racial category. In prior censuses and in 1940, enumerators were instructed to list Mexican Americans as white, perhaps because some of them were of white background (mainly Spanish), many others mixed white and Native American and some of them Native American. The supplemental American Indian questionnaire
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#1732776637920984-528: A racial discrimation lawsuit. Pickens was the first black officer in the city and was fired a few days before his probationary period was due to end. His personal vehicle was spray-painted with a racial slur and a threat to not sue the police chief. The legal settlement was controversial at the time as it occurred despite the release of an independent investigation into Pickens' employment with the city revealed numerous reports of his on-duty misconduct, neglect of duty, dishonesty and general incompetence in his role as
1066-616: A social-political construct for the race or races that respondents consider themselves to be and, "generally reflect a social definition of race recognized in this country". The OMB defines the concept of race as outlined for the census to be not "scientific or anthropological", and takes into account "social and cultural characteristics as well as ancestry", using "appropriate scientific methodologies" that are not "primarily biological or genetic in reference." The race categories include both racial and national-origin groups. Race and ethnicity are considered separate and distinct identities, with
1148-717: Is elected to serve a four-year term. Beneath the Washington Supreme Court and the Washington Court of Appeals , judicial power rests first in the Pierce County Superior Court, which is divided into 23 departments - each headed by an elected judge, as well as a clerk of the superior court and nine superior court commissioners. Below that is the Pierce County District Court - with eight elected judges,
1230-555: Is estimated at $ 29,709,541. The Port of Tacoma is the sixth busiest container port in North America and one of the 25 busiest in the world, playing an important part in the local economy. This deep-water port covers 2,400 acres (9.7 km ) and offers a combination of facilities and services including 34 deepwater berths, two million square feet (190,000 m ) of warehouse and office space, and 131 acres (530,000 m ) of industrial yard. An economic impact study showed that more
1312-534: Is from the Indian subcontinent ) were counted as White. There was a questionnaire that was asked of only a sample of respondents. These questions were as follows: Questions on Spanish or Hispanic Origin or Descent Is this person's origin or descent? Mexican Puerto Rican Cuban Central American Other Spanish No, none of these This year added several options to the race question, including Vietnamese, Indian (East), Guamanian, Samoan, and re-added Aleut. Again,
1394-469: Is held every September in Puyallup. The Pierce County Sheriff's Department was founded in 1853, shortly after incorporation of the county. Pierce County was noted for gangs, drugs, and criminal activity starting in the mid to late 1980s. Tacoma's Hilltop neighborhood had gangs that were selling crack cocaine and gang violence. Increased police patrols and community watch programs led to reduced crime in
1476-553: Is home to the volcano Mount Rainier , the tallest mountain in the Cascade Range . Its most recent recorded eruption was between 1820 and 1854. There is no imminent risk of eruption, but geologists expect that the volcano will erupt again. If this should happen, parts of Pierce County and the Puyallup Valley would be at risk from lahars , lava , or pyroclastic flows . The Mount Rainier Volcano Lahar Warning System
1558-561: Is located in Pierce County. Rainier is locally called Tahoma or Takhoma, both native names for the mountain. Pierce County also contains the Clearwater Wilderness area. As of the 2020 census , there were 921,130 people, and 339,840 households, and 230,520 families in the county. The population density was 552.2 people per square mile (213.2 people/km ). There were 359,489 housing units. The racial makeup of
1640-713: Is located on the Orting Kapowsin Highway southwest of the city. Nearby, the Soldiers Home Cemetery contains 2,265 graves, including four Medal of Honor recipients from the American Civil War . The Voights Creek Hatchery is located outside Orting, attracting fishermen for its salmon. Orting has several city parks, including community and neighborhood parks with sportsfields and walking trails. Main City Park in downtown includes
1722-607: Is needed to monitor compliance with the Voting Rights Act by local jurisdictions". Data on ethnic groups are important for putting into effect a number of federal statutes (i.e., enforcing bilingual election rules under the Voting Rights Act and monitoring/enforcing equal employment opportunities under the Civil Rights Act ). Data on ethnic groups is also needed by local governments to run programs and meet legislative requirements (i.e., identifying segments of
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#17327766379201804-672: Is the elected legislative body for Pierce County and consists of seven members elected by district. The council is vested with all law-making power granted by its charter and by the State of Washington, sets county policy through the adoption of ordinances and resolutions, approves the annual budget and directs the use of county funds. The seven members of the County Council are elected from each of seven contiguous and equally populated districts, with each councilmember representing approximately 114,000 county residents. Each county councilmember
1886-553: The Bridge for Kids , a walking bridge across the Carbon River that could be used for recreation and rapid evacuation toward Cascadia , Washington. The 2010 United States census recorded 6,746 people, 2,184 households and 1,688 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,471.1 per square mile (954.1/km). There were 2,361 housing units, with an average density of 864.8 per square mile (333.9/km). The racial makeup
1968-851: The Cascade Christian Schools group, Life Christian School and Academy, Bellarmine, Annie Wright Schools and Charles Wright Academy. Chief Leschi Schools , affiliated with the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), is in the county. The largest institutions of higher education are University of Puget Sound in Tacoma and Pacific Lutheran University in Parkland. Both are religiously affiliated private universities. Tacoma Community College in Tacoma and Pierce College in Steilacoom are public community colleges . Bates Technical College and Clover Park Technical College are public technical colleges . Central Washington University has
2050-859: The Secretary of State , directed US Marshals to collect data from all 13 original states, and from the Southwest Territory . The census was not conducted in Vermont until 1791, after that state's admission to the Union as the 14th state on March 4 of that year. Some doubt surrounded the numbers, as President George Washington and Thomas Jefferson maintained the population was undercounted. The potential reasons Washington and Jefferson may have thought this could be refusal to participate, poor public transportation and roads, spread-out population, and restraints of current technology. No microdata from
2132-728: The Treaty of Medicine Creek was enacted between the United States and the local tribes occupying the lands of the Salish Sea . The tribes listed on the Treaty of Medicine Creek are Nisqually, Puyallup, Steilacoom, Squawskin (Squaxin Island), S'Homamish, Stehchass, T'Peeksin, Squi-aitl, and Sa-heh-wamish. The treaty was signed on December 26, 1854, by Isaac I. Stevens , governor and superintendent of Indian Affairs of Washington territory at
2214-476: The US Constitution and applicable laws. The law required that every household be visited, that completed census schedules be posted in two of the most public places within each jurisdiction, remain for the inspection of all concerned, and that "the aggregate amount of each description of persons" for every district be transmitted to the president . The US Marshals were also responsible for governing
2296-603: The United States census , the US Census Bureau and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) define a set of self-identified categories of race and ethnicity chosen by residents, with which they most closely identify. Residents can indicate their origins alongside their race, and are asked specifically whether they are of Hispanic or Latino origin in a separate question. The racial categories represent
2378-417: The "Color or Race" question was slightly modified, removing the term "Mulatto". Also, there was an inclusion of an "Indian Population Schedule" in which "enumerators were instructed to use a special expanded questionnaire for American Indians living on reservations or in family groups off of reservations." This expanded version included the question "Fraction of person's lineage that is white." The 1910 census
2460-532: The 1790 population census are available, but aggregate data for small areas and their compatible cartographic boundary files, can be downloaded from the National Historical Geographic Information System . However, the categories of "Free white males" of 16 years and upward, including heads of families under 16 years, "Free white females", including heads of families, All other free persons, and "Slaves," existed in
2542-414: The 2000 and 2010 censuses. The following questions were asked of a sample of respondents for the 1990 census : The 1990 census was not designed to capture multiple racial responses, and when individuals marked the "other" race option and provided a multiple write-in. The response was assigned according to the race written first. "For example, a write-in of 'black-white' was assigned a code of 'black,' while
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2624-486: The 2000s; several residential subdivisions were constructed in the areas surrounding Orting's historic downtown. In March 2008, the city's weekly newspaper, The Gazette , ceased publication. Its coordinates are 47°5′46″N 122°12′19″W / 47.09611°N 122.20528°W / 47.09611; -122.20528 (47.096071, −122.205401). According to the United States Census Bureau ,
2706-604: The 28,000 jobs in Pierce County are related to the Port activities. Pierce County is home to Pierce County Airport and Tacoma Narrows Airport , both are general aviation airports. Pierce County's official transportation provider is Pierce Transit . It provides buses , paratransit, and rideshare vehicles. The regional Sound Transit runs the Tacoma Link light rail line through downtown Tacoma , and provides several regional express buses. Sound Transit also runs Sounder,
2788-467: The OMB built on the 1997 guidelines and suggested the addition of a Middle Eastern or North African (MENA) racial category and considered combining racial and ethnic categories into one question. In March 2024, the Office of Management and Budget published revisions to Statistical Policy Directive No. 15: Standards for Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity that included
2870-405: The OMB issued a Federal Register notice regarding revisions to the standards for the classification of federal data on race and ethnicity. The OMB developed race and ethnic standards in order to provide "consistent data on race and ethnicity throughout the federal government ". The development of the data standards stem in large measure from new responsibilities to enforce civil rights laws. Among
2952-843: The Tacoma Municipal Court - with three elected judges, and the Pierce County Juvenile Court. Tacoma houses the Pierce County Courthouse . The people of Pierce County voted on November 5, 1918, to create a Port District. The Port of Tacoma is Pierce County's only Port District. It is governed Port of Tacoma Commission - five Port Commissioners, who are elected at-large countywide and serve four-year terms. The Port of Tacoma owns six container terminals , one grain terminal and an auto import terminal; all of which are leased out to foreign and domestic corporations to operate. In addition,
3034-603: The Whitesell property. Because railroads eased transportation, Orting's population quickly increased. Remaining parts from the railroad are part of the Meeker Southern Railroad , which runs between Puyallup and McMillin. Orting's boundaries remained unchanged until its first annexation was completed in February 1959. The city became a suburban bedroom community for commuters from Tacoma and Seattle in
3116-406: The age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.6% were non-families, and 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.09. The median age was 35.9 years. The median income for a household in the county was $ 57,869 and the median income for
3198-460: The area that would eventually develop into Tacoma, while Nisqually settlements were primarily located in what is now southern Pierce County. The tribes had two main routes: a northern path traversing Naches Pass and a southern route following the Mashel River, which connected them to Eastern Washington tribes. Trade networks among the region's indigenous peoples were well-established long before
3280-619: The arrival of white settlers. In 1792 British Captain George Vancouver and his party of explorers came via ship to the shores of the region, and named a number of sites in what would become Pierce County, i.e. Mt. Rainier . In 1832 Fort Nisqually was sited by the British Hudson's Bay Company 's chief trader, Archibald McDonald . It was the first permanent European settlement on the Salish Sea. In cooperation with
3362-478: The beginning of the Puget Sound War in 1855 - initiate a search for Chief Leschi in order to arrest him. Chief Leschi was eventually captured and put on trial. The first jury couldn't come to a verdict, so Isaac Stevens had the trial done a second time. This time Leschi was found guilty. Chief Leschi was hanged on February 19, 1858. On December 10, 2004, a historical court convened in Pierce County ruled "as
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3444-418: The census form. In 1800 and 1810, the age question regarding free white males was more detailed with five cohorts and included All other free persons, except "Indians not taxed", and "Slaves". The 1820 census built on the questions asked in 1810 by asking age questions about slaves. Also the term "colored" entered the census nomenclature. In addition, a question stating "Number of foreigners not naturalized"
3526-418: The census. About one-third of the original census data has been lost or destroyed since documentation. The data was lost in 1790–1830, and included data from Connecticut , Delaware , Georgia , Maine , Maryland , Massachusetts , New Hampshire , New Jersey , New York , North Carolina , Pennsylvania , Rhode Island , South Carolina , Vermont , and Virginia . However, the census was proven factual and
3608-483: The changes, The OMB issued the instruction to "mark one or more races" after noting evidence of increasing numbers of mixed-race children and wanting to record diversity in a measurable way after having received requests by people who wanted to be able to acknowledge theirs and their children's full ancestry, rather than identifying with only one group. Prior to this decision, the census and other government data collections asked people to report singular races. As of 2023,
3690-565: The cities of Tacoma , Puyallup and Sumner. School bands play and the Daffodil Queen appears. The Orting Police handle law enforcement within city limits, comprising 11 commissioned officers and one full-time working civilian. Despite large growth in population, the police department's staffing levels have experienced little change. In November 2016, the City of Orting paid $ 250,000 to a former Orting police officer, Gerry Pickens, to settle
3772-472: The city has a total area of 2.80 square miles (7.25 km), of which 2.73 square miles (7.07 km) is land and 0.07 square miles (0.18 km) is water. The city sits in a fertile valley between two major rivers, the Carbon and Puyallup . It is built entirely on several layers of lahar deposits. Orting is located about 30 mi (48 km) from Mount Rainier . Based on studies of past lahar flow and
3854-431: The county was 73.1% White, 8.0% African American, 1.8% Native American, 7.4% Asian, 1.8% Pacific Islander, and 7.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 12.2% of the population. 23.2% of the population was under 18, and 6.1% of people were under 5. 14.4% of people were over 65. The gender ratio was 49.8% female and 50.2% male. The average household size was 2.65 people. The median income for
3936-427: The county was 74.2% white, 6.8% black or African American, 6.0% Asian, 1.4% Native American, 1.3% Pacific islander, 3.5% from other races, and 6.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 9.2% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 20.5% were German , 13.1% were Irish , 10.7% were English , 6.3% were Norwegian , and 4.2% were American . Of the 299,918 households, 35.3% had children under
4018-657: The decision and make sure the federal government treated Hispanics as white. The State Department, the Census Bureau, the Labor Department, and other government agencies therefore made sure to uniformly classify people of Mexican descent as white. This policy encouraged the League of United Latin American Citizens in its quest to minimize discrimination by asserting their whiteness. The 1940 census
4100-536: The design of the population questionnaire. Residents were still listed individually, but a new questionnaire sheet was used for each family. Additionally, this was the first year that the census distinguished among different Asian ethnic groups, such as Japanese and Chinese , due to increased immigration. This census also marked the beginning of the term "race" in the questionnaires. Enumerators were instructed to write "White", "Black", "Mulatto", " Quadroon ", "Octoroon", "Chinese", "Japanese", or " Indian ". During 1900,
4182-456: The existence of most of this data can be confirmed in many secondary sources pertaining to the first census. Census data included the name of the head of the family and categorized inhabitants as: free white males at least 16 years of age (to assess the country's industrial and military potential), free white males under 16 years of age, free white females, all other free persons (reported by sex and color), and slaves . Thomas Jefferson , then
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#17327766379204264-487: The free inhabitants schedule about color was a column that was to be left blank if a person were white, marked "B" if a person were black, and marked "M" if a person were mulatto . Slaves were listed by owner, and classified by gender and age, not individually, and the question about color was a column that was to be marked with a "B" if the slave were black and an "M" if mulatto. For 1890, the Census Office changed
4346-577: The interpretation of land use regulations as well as the promotion of local produce. The creation of the Pierce County Farm Advisory Commission will attempt to save the remaining 48,000 acres of Pierce County farmland. Despite the loss of farmland, Pierce County continues to produce about 50% of the United States' rhubarb . The following is a list of the public school districts in Pierce County, including those that overlap with other counties: Private schools include
4428-452: The library system serves all of unincorporated Pierce County, as well as annexed cities and towns of: Bonney Lake, Buckley, DuPont, Eatonville, Edgewood, Fife, Gig Harbor, Lakewood, Milton, Orting, South Prairie, Steilacoom, Sumner, University Place and Wilkeson. There are currently more than 1 million physical materials (books, videos, etc.) in the system, and more than 480,000 online or downloadable media items. Total 2016 general fund revenue
4510-551: The local arts community. ArtsFund, a regional United Arts Fund, has assisted the arts community in Pierce County. In 2012, LeMay-America's Car Museum opened its doors in Tacoma. Additionally, the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum , houses a large collection of original manuscripts and documents. The Pierce County Daffodil Festival and Parade is held annually in April. The Washington State Fair
4592-739: The local indigenous people, a storehouse for blankets, seeds, and potatoes was built at the mouth of Sequalitchew Creek . In 1839 the Nisqually Methodist Episcopal Mission was established, bringing the first U.S. citizens to settle in the Puget Sound region, near the Sequalitchew Creek canyon. In 1841 the United States Exploring Expedition set up an observatory on the bluff near the creek to survey, map and chart
4674-570: The mid to late 2000s. As of 2006, 38% of the methamphetamine labs (138 sites) cleaned up by the Washington State Department of Ecology were in Pierce County. This reduction from a high of 589 labs in 2001 comes in part to a new law restricting the sale of pseudoephedrine and in part due to tougher prison sentences for methamphetamine producers. 47°03′N 122°07′W / 47.05°N 122.11°W / 47.05; -122.11 Latino (U.S. Census) In
4756-466: The modern city are named after the four men, and a monument in Orting City Park commemorates them. The area was named Gunson's Prairie by early settlers and later known as Carbon. The townsite was renamed Orting by a Northern Pacific Railway superintendent in 1877 during construction of the company's railroad to Wilkeson . The name is claimed to be an indigenous word meaning "prairie". Orting
4838-457: The mountain's structure, Orting has been designated the most at-risk city from Mount Rainier's lahar activity; scientists predict that lahar could reach Orting in 30 minutes from the mountain. The Mount Rainier Volcano Lahar Warning System has installed sirens throughout the area, activated by sensors on Mount Rainier. Local schools regularly stage lahar evacuation drills and residents are informed of lahar escape routes. Local citizens are designing
4920-436: The other. Activities allowed on the trail include walking, bicycling, horseback riding, skating, skateboarding and scooter riding. Motorized vehicles are prohibited. Although the trail was built for recreation, many bicycle commuters use it. Pierce County, Washington Pierce County is a county in the U.S. state of Washington . As of the 2020 census , the population was 921,130, up from 795,225 in 2010, making it
5002-618: The population who may not be receiving medical services under the Public Health Service Act ; evaluating whether financial institutions are meeting the credit needs of minority populations under the Community Reinvestment Act ). The 1790 United States census was the first census in the history of the United States. The population of the United States was recorded as 3,929,214 as of Census Day, August 2, 1790, as mandated by Article I, Section 2 of
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#17327766379205084-517: The port owns and operates two breakbulk cargo terminals. Many charter amendments have been on the ballot in the last five years, but sequential numbering does not carry over from year-to-year. Pierce County is split between three U.S. congressional districts: The largest public employer in Pierce County is Joint Base Lewis–McChord , which contributes about 60,000 military and civilian jobs. The largest private employers are MultiCare Health System and Virginia Mason Franciscan Health , which operate
5166-451: The race of interracial persons. A person with both white and black ancestry (termed "blood") was to be recorded as "Negro", no matter the fraction of that lineage (the " one-drop rule "). A person of mixed black and American Indian ancestry was also to be recorded as "Neg" (for "Negro") unless they were considered to be "predominantly" American Indian and accepted as such within the community. A person with both white and American Indian ancestry
5248-511: The racial question, and also removed Hindu and Korean from the race choices. The 1960 census re-added the word "color" to the racial question, and changed "Indian" to "American Indian", as well as adding Hawaiian, Part-Hawaiian, Aleut, and Eskimo. The "Other (print out race)" option was removed. This year's census included "Negro or Black", re-added Korean and the Other race option. East Indians (the term used at that time for people whose ancestry
5330-555: The regional commuter railroad through Pierce County that stops in the following places: Sumner , Puyallup , Tacoma , South Tacoma, and Lakewood . Amtrak also travels through the county with a stop in Tacoma . Also, Intercity Transit provides transportation between Lakewood and Thurston County . On December 18, 2017, an Amtrak train derailed in the county, at an overpass over southbound Interstate 5, hitting several vehicles. Thirteen of 14 rail cars derailed, killing three on board
5412-634: The second-most populous county in Washington, behind King County , and the 59th-most populous in the United States. The county seat and largest city is Tacoma . Formed out of Thurston County on December 22, 1852, by the legislature of Oregon Territory , it was named for U.S. President Franklin Pierce . Pierce County is in the Seattle metropolitan area (formally the Seattle -Tacoma- Bellevue , WA, metropolitan statistical area ). Pierce County
5494-427: The term "color" was removed from the racial question, and the following questions were asked of a sample of respondents: Questions on Spanish or Hispanic Origin or Descent Is this person of Spanish/Hispanic origin or descent? No, not Spanish/Hispanic Yes, Mexican, Mexican American, Chicano Yes, Puerto Rican Yes, Cuban Yes, other Spanish/Hispanic The racial categories in this year are as they appear in
5576-500: The time. The native tribes were told the treaty would help them by paying them for some of the land. It ended up taking prime farmland and relocating the tribes onto rough reservations. Chief Leschi of the Nisqually tribe protested the treaty. He and his people marched to Olympia to have their voices heard but Isaac Stevens ordered them away. When the natives refused to leave, Isaac Stevens would eventually call martial law and - after
5658-743: The train, and injuring dozens more on board and on the highway. Pierce County is home to a diverse array of arts organizations, including the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts, Grand Cinema, Lakewood Playhouse, Museum of Glass, Northwest Sinfonietta, Speakeasy Arts Cooperative, Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma Little Theater, Tacoma Concert Band, Tacoma Musical Playhouse, Tacoma Opera, Symphony Tacoma, Dance Theater Northwest, Washington State History Museum , and others. The city of Tacoma hosts an annual event called "Art at Work" month every November, promoting participation in and support for
5740-434: The two largest hospitals in the county. Pierce County agriculture has been an instrumental part of the local economy for almost 150 years. However, in the last half-century, much of the county's farmland has been transformed into residential areas. Pierce County has taken aggressive steps to reverse this trend; the county recently created the Pierce County Farm Advisory Commission. This advisory board helps local farmers with
5822-557: The waters of Puget Sound. In 1843 the Second Fort Nisqually was erected. Business became mainly agricultural, and the fort was relocated on a flat-plains area near the banks of Sequalitchew Creek for cattle. The Fort Nisqually property was turned over to American control in 1859. In 1846 the Oregon Treaty established the 49th Parallel as the boundary between British Canada and the United States, which left what
5904-502: Was 50.7% male and 49.3% female. The median household income was $ 53,464 and the median family income was $ 55,335. Males had a median income of $ 41,486 and females $ 26,438. The per capita income was $ 18,951. About 4.2% of families and 6.5% of the population had incomes below the poverty line , including 5.2% of those under the age of 18 and 15.8% of those 65 and older. The Washington Soldiers Home provides nursing care, medical care and support services for veterans and family members. It
5986-427: Was 87.9% white , 1.5% African American , 1.4% Native American , 1.3% Asian , 0.5% Pacific Islander , 2.4% from other races , and 5.0% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race comprised 7.2% of the population. Of the 2,184 households, 48.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.5% had married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.3% had
6068-443: Was back, but in abbreviated form. It featured a question asking if the person was of full or mixed American Indian ancestry. President Franklin D. Roosevelt promoted a Good Neighbor policy that sought better relations with Mexico. In 1935, a federal judge ruled that three Mexican immigrants were ineligible for citizenship because they were not white, as required by federal law. Mexico protested, and Roosevelt decided to circumvent
6150-480: Was established in 1998 to assist in the evacuation of the Puyallup River valley in case of eruption. According to the United States Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 1,806 square miles (4,680 km ), of which 1,670 square miles (4,300 km ) is land and 137 square miles (350 km ) (7.6%) is water. The highest natural point in Washington, Mount Rainier , at 14,410 feet (4,390 m),
6232-423: Was included. In the 1830 census, a new question, which stated, "The number of White persons who were foreigners not naturalized" was included. The 1850 census had a dramatic shift in the way information about residents was collected. For the first time, free persons were listed individually instead of by head of household. Two questionnaires were used - one for free inhabitants and one for slaves. The question on
6314-516: Was officially incorporated as a city on April 22, 1889. Early growth surrounded the area's production and logging industries. Later, Christmas tree and flower bulb farms also became part of the local economy. Orting was also a supply town for the coal mining towns Wilkeson and Carbonado . The first railroad in the city was built in 1877 by the Northern Pacific Railway, called "Whitesell's Crossing" because it ran right through
6396-421: Was similar to 1910, but excluded a separate schedule for American Indians. "Hin", "Kor", and "Fil" were also added to the "Color or Race" question, signifying Hindu (Asian Indian), Korean, and Filipino, respectively. The biggest change in this census was in racial classification. Enumerators were instructed to no longer use the "Mulatto" classification. Instead, they were given special instructions for reporting
6478-538: Was similar to that of 1900, but it included a reinsertion of "Mulatto" and a question about the "mother tongue" of foreign-born individuals and individuals with foreign-born parents. "Ot" was also added to signify "other races", with space for a race to be written in. This decade's version of the Indian Population Schedule featured questions asking the individual's proportion of white, black, or American Indian lineage. The 1920 census questionnaire
6560-415: Was the first to include separate population and housing questionnaires. The race category of "Mexican" was eliminated in 1940, and the population of Mexican descent was counted with the white population. 1940 census data was used for Japanese American internment . The Census Bureau's role was denied for decades, but was finally proven in 2007. The 1950 census questionnaire removed the word "color" from
6642-410: Was to be recorded as American Indian, unless their Indigenous ancestry was small, and they were accepted as white within the community. In all situations in which a person had white and some other racial ancestry, they were to be reported as that other race. People who had minority interracial ancestry were to be reported as the race of their father. For the first and only time, "Mexican" was listed as
6724-630: Was to become Pierce County on U.S. territory. In response to increasing tensions between Indians and settlers, the United States Army established Fort Steilacoom in 1849 at the site of the traditional home of the Steilacoom Tribe. In 1850, Captain Lafayette Balch sited his land claim next to the fort and founded Port Steilacoom. In 1854 the town of Steilacoom became Washington Territory's first incorporated town. In 1854
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