Aberdeen, Washington

Aberdeen, Washington
City
Location of Aberdeen in Grays Harbor County, Washington
Country	United States
State	Washington
County	Grays Harbor
Area
• Total	12.36 sq mi (32.01 km2)
• Land	10.65 sq mi (27.58 km2)
• Water	1.71 sq mi (4.43 km2)
Elevation	23 ft (7 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	16,896
• Estimate  (2012)	16,529
• Density	1,586.5/sq mi (612.6/km2)
Demonym	Aberdonian
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code	98520
Area code	360
FIPS code	53-00100
GNIS feature ID	1511950Template:GR
Website	aberdeenwa.gov

A tribute to Kurt Cobain in Aberdeen, was installed by the Kurt Cobain Memorial Committee. "Come as You Are" is a song by Nirvana.

Aberdeen /ˈæbərdiːn/ is a city in Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States, founded by Samuel Benn in 1884. Aberdeen was incorporated on May 12, 1890. The city is the economic center of Grays Harbor County, bordering the cities of Hoquiam and Cosmopolis. Aberdeen is called the "Gateway to the Olympic Peninsula", and it is best known for being the birthplace and hometown of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain. Some Nirvana lyrics, in songs such as "Something in the Way" and parts of the Bleach album, referred to locations within the town. The population was 16,896 at the 2010 census.

History

Aberdeen was named for a local salmon cannery to reflect its Scottish fishing port namesake of Aberdeen and because it too is also situated at the mouth of two rivers just like its namesake in Scotland which is located between the rivers 'Don' at the north and the river 'Dee' to the south side of the Scottish city. Although it became the largest and best-known city in Grays Harbor, Aberdeen lagged behind neighbors Hoquiam and Cosmopolis in the early years. When A.J. West built the town's first sawmill in 1894, the other two municipalities had been in business for several years. Aberdeen and its neighbors vied to be the terminus for Northern Pacific Railroad, but instead of ending at one of the established mill towns, the railroad skimmed through Cosmopolis and headed west for Ocosta. Hoquiam and Aberdeen citizens banded together to build a spur; and in 1895, the line connected Northern Pacific tracks to Aberdeen.

By 1900, Aberdeen was considered one of the grittiest towns on the West Coast, with many saloons, whorehouses, and gambling establishments populating the area. Aberdeen was nicknamed "The Hellhole of the Pacific", or "The Port of Missing Men", because of its high murder rate. One notable resident was Billy Gohl, known locally as Billy "Ghoul", who was rumored to have killed at least 140 men. (Gohl was convicted of 2 murders)

During the Great Depression, Aberdeen was hit hard, reducing the number of major sawmills from 37 to 9. Mill owners hired Filipino and Jewish immigrants to keep wages low in order to stay in business. The timber industry continued to boom, but by the late 1970s most of the timber had been logged. Most of the mills were closing down by the 1970s and 1980s.

Aberdeen is also the home port of the tall ship Lady Washington, a reproduction of a smaller vessel used by the explorer Captain Robert Gray, featured in the Pirates of the Caribbean film The Curse of the Black Pearl.

Film, television, and video game appearances

Recently, Lady Washington has appeared in various films, portraying the HMS Interceptor in the film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and the brig Enterprise, a namesake of the Starship Enterprise, on the holodeck in Star Trek Generations. She also provided the basis for the RLS Legacy in the Disney animated feature Treasure Planet.

In the book Another Roadside Attraction, by Tom Robbins, Aberdeen is mentioned as the location of the alleged body of Christ that is the central plot point to the story. A Volkswagen dealership that was near to the Hoquiam side of the border between Aberdeen and Hoquiam is also noted in the novel.

Aberdeen and Hoquiam figure prominently in Nevil Shute's post-Apocalyptic novel "On the Beach." In it, a U.S. submarine tracking a signal coming from Seattle surfaces in Grays Harbor and finds everyone in the area dead from radiation poisoning. The men on the sub talk briefly about the possibility of wearing radiation-proof suits, going into Aberdeen where they can find a car, and driving up to Seattle. Instead, they take their chances with any anti-submarine nets and hidden bombs that may be in the waters around Seattle and head northward. In the Gregory Peck/Fred Astaire movie version, Aberdeen-Hoquiam and Seattle were replaced by San Francisco.

The area and many citizens (especially then-students of Grays Harbor College) were highlighted in the 1961 movie "Ring of Fire" starring David Janssen (of "The Fugitive") and future "Riddler" (on the 1966-1968 "Batman" TV show) Frank Gorshin.

Parts of the 1974 John Wayne film "McQ" were filmed in and around Aberdeen, including a night club sequence shot in a building on Wishkah Street that had, at one time, been a bank.

Geography

ABerdeen is full of tweekers | Jan record high F = 66 | Feb record high F = 73 | Mar record high F = 82 | Apr record high F = 88 | May record high F = 96 | Jun record high F = 101 | Jul record high F = 105 | Aug record high F = 105 | Sep record high F = 100 | Oct record high F = 86 | Nov record high F = 73 | Dec record high F = 63 |year record high F = 105 | Jan high F = 45.8 | Feb high F = 49.4 | Mar high F = 52.9 | Apr high F = 57.1 | May high F = 61.8 | Jun high F = 65.5 | Jul high F = 69.1 | Aug high F = 69.8 | Sep high F = 68.5 | Oct high F = 61.3 | Nov high F = 52.0 | Dec high F = 46.6 |year high F = 58.3 | Jan low F = 34.6 | Feb low F = 35.3 | Mar low F = 36.7 | Apr low F = 39.4 | May low F = 43.9 | Jun low F = 48.5 | Jul low F = 51.3 | Aug low F = 51.9 | Sep low F = 48.7 | Oct low F = 43.7 | Nov low F = 38.7 | Dec low F = 35.7 |year low F = 42.4 | Jan record low F = 6 | Feb record low F = 8 | Mar record low F = 18 | Apr record low F = 13 | May record low F = 22 | Jun record low F = 32 | Jul record low F = 34 | Aug record low F = 36 | Sep record low F = 30 | Oct record low F = 19 | Nov record low F = 11 | Dec record low F = 6 |year record low F= 6 |precipitation colour=green | Jan precipitation inch = 12.78 | Feb precipitation inch = 9.73 | Mar precipitation inch = 8.85 | Apr precipitation inch = 5.76 | May precipitation inch = 3.68 | Jun precipitation inch = 2.66 | Jul precipitation inch = 1.20 | Aug precipitation inch = 1.61 | Sep precipitation inch = 3.50 | Oct precipitation inch = 7.31 | Nov precipitation inch = 12.54 | Dec precipitation inch = 13.5 |year precipitation inch= 83.2 | Jan precipitation days = 21 | Feb precipitation days = 18 | Mar precipitation days = 20 | Apr precipitation days = 17 | May precipitation days = 13 | Jun precipitation days = 11 | Jul precipitation days = 6 | Aug precipitation days = 7 | Sep precipitation days = 10 | Oct precipitation days = 16 | Nov precipitation days = 20 | Dec precipitation days = 22 |unit precipitation days = 0.01 inch | Jan snow inch = 4.4 | Feb snow inch = 1.9 | Mar snow inch = 0.7 | Apr snow inch = 0.1 | May snow inch = 0 | Jun snow inch = 0 | Jul snow inch = 0 | Aug snow inch = 0 | Sep snow inch = 0 | Oct snow inch = 0 | Nov snow inch = 0.4 | Dec snow inch = 1.1 |year snow inch= |source 1 = |date=October 2011 }}

Education

The Weatherwax building of Aberdeen High School burned down in 2002

The city's school district has two high schools: J. M. Weatherwax High School, or Aberdeen High School as it is now called, and Harbor High School, an alternative high school with an enrollment exceeding 200 students. Aberdeen High has a long time school sports rivalry with nearby Hoquiam High School.

In 2002, the Weatherwax building of Aberdeen High School, built in 1909, burned to the ground. The new building was completed in 2007 and held its grand opening on August 25, 2007.

Aberdeen School District also consists of one junior high: Miller Junior High; 5 elementary schools: Central Park Elementary, McDermoth Elementary, Stevens Elementary, AJ West Elementary and Robert Gray Elementary; and 1 Roman Catholic parochial school: St. Mary's Catholic School.

Aberdeen is home to Grays Harbor College, located in south Aberdeen, and is represented by the Charlie Choker mascot. The college emphasizes student opportunities, and has resources to help students transfer to a four-year college to complete a degree.

Notable people

Elton Bennett, artist Guy Bingham, football player (went to high school in Aberdeen but grew up south of Cosmopolis in North River) Trisha Brown, choreographer Daniel Bryan, professional wrestler (four-time world champion). Jeff Burlingame, author Robert Cantwell, novelist

Kurt Cobain, musician Dale Crover, musician Chris Freeman, musician Lee Friedlander, photographer Victor Grinich, founder of Silicon Valley Noname Jane, pornographic actress Robert Motherwell, painter

Peter Norton, software engineer Krist Novoselic, musician and politician Douglas Osheroff, Nobel-winning physicist Patrick Simmons, musician Wesley Carl Uhlman, politician Kurdt Vanderhoof, musician John Workman, writer, artist Mark Bruener, NFL Football Player (Went to High School in Aberdeen, Washington. Played for the Pittsburgh Steelers for 7 years and then for Texas)

Industry

Despite attempts to diversify the local economy, Aberdeen and the rest of Grays Harbor remain dependent on the timber and fishing industries.

On December 19, 2005, Weyerhaeuser closed the Aberdeen large-log sawmill, and would close the Cosmopolis pulp mill in early 2006. This resulted in the loss of at least 342 jobs. In January 2009, Weyerhaeuser closed two additional plants in Aberdeen, resulting in another 221 lost jobs. In both cases many employees were not told by Weyerhaueser management, but learned about the closures from local radio stations who received a press release prior to a scheduled press conference.

Employers on the Harbor include locally owned Grays Harbor Paper, LLC (shut down May 26, 2011, reopened September 2012), The Westport Shipyard, Sierra Pacific Industries, The Simpson Door Company, Dead End Street, LLC, Hoquiam Plywood, the Stafford Creek Corrections Center, a state prison which opened in 2000, and Safe Harbor Technology, a technical support center.

Other major employers include the cranberry-growing cooperative Ocean Spray, worldwide retailer Wal-Mart and Washington Crab Products.

In 2007, Imperium Renewables of Seattle invested $40 million in the construction of the biodiesel plant at the Port of Grays Harbor. It is estimated the plant will produce as much as 100 million US gallons (380,000 m³) of biodiesel fuel made from plants and vegetable material annually.

In September 2010, the Weyerhaeuser Cosmopolis Pulp Mill was purchased by the Beverly Hills-based Gores Group and restarted as Cosmo Specialty Fibers, Inc. They started production of pulp on May 1, 2011.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	1,638		—
1900	3,747		128.8%
1910	13,660		264.6%
1920	15,337		12.3%
1930	21,723		41.6%
1940	18,846		−13.2%
1950	19,653		4.3%
1960	18,741		−4.6%
1970	18,489		−1.3%
1980	18,739		1.4%
1990	16,565		−11.6%
2000	16,461		−0.6%
2010	16,896		2.6%
2012 (est.)	16,529		−2.2%
U.S. Decennial Census Historical Population 1890-2000 2012 estimate

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 16,896 people, 6,476 households, and 4,020 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,586.5 inhabitants per square mile (612.6/km²). There were 7,338 housing units at an average density of 689.0 per square mile (266.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 80.4% White, 0.8% African American, 3.7% Native American, 1.9% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 8.0% from other races, and 4.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.8% of the population.

There were 6,476 households of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.9% were married couples living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.9% were non-families. 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.10.

The median age in the city was 35.6 years. 24.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.8% were from 25 to 44; 26% were from 45 to 64; and 13% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.8% male and 50.2% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 16,461 people, 6,517 households, and 4,112 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,548.8 people per square mile (597.9/km²). There were 7,536 housing units at an average density of 709.1 per square mile (273.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.87% White, 0.47% African American, 3.70% Native American, 2.10% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 5.15% from other races, and 3.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.22% of the population. 16.4% were of German, 9.3% English, 9.3% American, 8.7% Irish and 5.9% Norwegian ancestry according to Census 2000. 90.2% spoke only English, while 7.7% spoke Spanish at home.

There were 6,517 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.9% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,683, and the median income for a family was $37,966. Males had a median income of $32,710 versus $20,446 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,092. About 16.1% of families and 22.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.7% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those ages 65 or over.

Crime

According to Uniform Crime Report statistics compiled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in 2010, there were 52 violent crimes and 1,143 property crimes per 100,000 residents. Of these, the violent crimes consisted of six forcible rapes, 15 robberies and 31 aggravated assaults, while 185 burglaries, 898 larceny-thefts, 60 motor vehicle thefts and seven arson defined the property offenses.

Sister cities

Aberdeen has two sister cities.:

• Hakui, Ishikawa, Japan
• Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan

Further reading

• Ed Van Syckle, "The River Pioneers," Pacific Search Press, 1982.
• Ed Van Syckle, "They Tried to Cut It All," Pacific Search Press, 1980.
• Murray Morgan, "The Last Wilderness," Viking Press, 1955.
• Anne Cotton, "The History of Aberdeen," Grays Harbor Regional Planning Commission, 1982.
• John C. Hughes & Ryan Teague Beckwith, "On the Harbor: From Black Friday to Nirvana," Stephens Press, LLC. 2005.
• Jeff Burlingame, "Kurt Cobain: 'Oh Well, Whatever, Nevermind'" Enslow Publishers, 2006.
• Jeff Burlingame, "Moon Olympic Peninsula" Avalon Travel, 2012.
• John Workman, "The Third Man" chapter in "Against the Grain: Mad Artist Wallace Wood" compiled by Bhob Stewart, TwoMorrows Publishing, 2003.
• John Workman, "Betty Being Bad" Fantagraphics Books, 1990.

External links

• Official city website
• Aberdeen, Washington at Curlie