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Walla Walla is both the county seat of Walla Walla County, Washington, USA, and the county's largest city. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 29,686. Walla Walla is in the southeastern region of Washington, approximately 4 hours by car from Seattle, Washington and five miles from the Oregon border.

Whitman College, Walla Walla Community College, and the Washington State Penitentiary are located in Walla Walla. Walla Walla College is located in the adjacent town of College Place, Washington.

History

On September 1, 1836, Narcissa Whitman, one of the first white women to settle west of the Rocky Mountains, arrived at Walla Walla, along with her husband Marcus Whitman. Here they established the Whitman Mission in an unsuccessful attempt to convert the local Walla Walla tribe. Both were killed by natives following a disease epidemic. Whitman College was established in their honor.

Walla Walla was officially incorporated on January 11, 1862. As a result of a gold rush, during this decade the city became the largest community in the territory of Washington. Following this period, agriculture became the city's primary industry.

Though wheat is still a big crop, vineyards and wineries have become economically important. Leonetti Cellars was one of the first wineries in Walla Walla and produces sought after Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In summer 2005, there were 64 wineries in the greater Walla Walla area.

The world-famous Walla Walla Sweet Onion is another crop with a rich tradition. Over a century ago on the Island of Corsica, off the west coast of Italy, a French soldier named Peter Pieri found an Italian sweet onion seed and brought it to the Walla Walla Valley.

Impressed by the new onion's winter hardiness, Pieri, and the Italian immigrant farmers who comprised much of Walla Walla's gardening industry, harvested the seed. The sweet onion developed over several generations through the process of carefully hand selecting onions from each year's crop, ensuring exceptional sweetness, jumbo size and round shape.

Walla Walla Sweet Onions get their sweetness from low sulfur content, which is half of an ordinary yellow onion. Walla Walla Sweets are 90 percent water. That, combined with Walla Walla’s mild climate and rich soil, gives the onion its sweetness.

A local favorite featuring the sweet onion is Kelly Walsh's Walla Walla Sweet Onion Sausage. Kelly, who passed away in 2006, had been making his sausage for decades. He was a city icon, an anchor vender at Walla Walla's Farmer's Market and a loyal Democrat. His family is still down at the market every Saturday, as well as many other great venders.

From asparagus and corn to cherries and strawberries, Walla Walla growers produce scrumptious fresh produce that’s available to the visitors of the farmer's market. There is also a delightful selection of bakery treats, flowers and plants, creative arts, and craft items on sale.

Another historic creation that occurred in Walla Walla, specifically at Whitman College, was the birth of the Trading Card Game known as The Gathering. Dr. Richard Garfield, the creator of the card game, came over to teach at Whitman College in 1993. He worked with volunteer playtesters locally to help refine the game further during the 1993 school year, in his spare time. After releasing the game publicly, he worked with Wizards of the Coast, and the rest is history.

Transportation

Transportation to Walla Walla includes service by air through Walla Walla Regional Airport and highway access primarily from U.S. Highway 12. Washington State DOT is currently (2004) beginning the long-term process of widening this road into a four-lane divided highway between Pasco, Washington and Walla Walla. The city is also served by a local bus system.

Terminology coined In Walla Walla

Proud residents of the town often brag about it as "the town so nice they named it twice." In fact it was named twice, the original name of Walla Walla was Steptoeville named after Colonel Steptoe.

Students who attend Whitman College are jokingly referred to as "Whitties". It originated as a derogatory term but has evolved into an accepted colloquialism.

Geography

Walla Walla is located at (46.065094, -118.330167).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 28.0 km² (10.8 mi²). 28.0 km² (10.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.18%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there are 29,686 people, 10,596 households, and 6,527 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,059.3/km² (2,744.9/mi²). According to the census there are 11,400 housing units at an average density of 406.8/km² (1,054.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 83.79% White, 2.58% African American, 1.05% Native American, 1.24% Asian, 0.23% Pacific Islander, 8.26% from other races, and 2.85% from two or more races. 17.42% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. It is important to note that these are not entirely accurate numbers as the local population has a large number of Hispanic migrant workers and undocumented workers who work on asparagus and onion farms.

Of the 10,596 counted households, 30.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% are married couples living together, 11.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 38.4% are considered non-families by the U.S. government. 31.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 15.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.44 and the average family size is 3.08.

In the city the population is spread out with 21.8% under the age of 18, 14.2% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 17.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 34 years. For every 100 women there are 108.4 men. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 109.1 males. About 89% of the population is Christian.

The median income for a household in the city is $31,855, and the median income for a family is $40,856. Men have a median income of $31,753 versus $23,889 for women. The per capita income for the city is $15,792. 18.0% of the population and 13.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 22.8% of those under the age of 18 and 10.5% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Mention in Popular Culture

The name of the city receives occasional mention in humorous movies and comic strips.

  • In an episode of The Simpsons, Krusty the Klown mentioned this city, along with Cucamonga, Keokuk, and Seattle, as funny place names.
  • In A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court* (1949) Bing Crosby's character says "Walla Walla, Washington" along with other funny place names like "Saskatoon, Saskatchewan" to "make" the sun disappear.
  • The "Looney Tunes" series has also mentioned this town in a couple of its episodes; "Wishie-Washie-White-Washing Machine Salesman from Walla Walla Washington". In one episode, Bugs Bunny uses it as a magic word to transform a vampire.
  • In the Pogo comic, a spoof of "Deck the Halls" contains the lyric: "Walla Walla, Wash., and Kalamazoo."
  • In the album Americana from the punk rock band The Offspring, one of the songs is titled Walla Walla.
  • In Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman, reporters are stationed in Walla Walla.

Noteworthy Residents

Historical Populations

External links

Cities in Washington | Walla Walla County, Washington | Double-named places

Walla Walla (Washington)

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Walla Walla, Washington".

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