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Cluster 6

Rural Communities

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	Size – Small Property value – Low Commercial activity – Low Growth – Low Geography – East and west	Cluster Characteristics Population Other Community Characteristics Fiscal Conditions General Financial Outlook Major Revenue Base City Services Community Conditions Economic Conditions
Almira, Asotin, Bridgeport, Clarkston, College Place, Creston, Cusick, Dayton, Elmer City, Endicott, Farmington, Garfield, George, Hamilton, Harrington, Hartline, Hatton, Hoquiam, Ione, Kettle Falls, Kittitas, LaCrosse, Lamont, Lyman, Malden, Mansfield, Marcus, Mattawa, McCleary, Metaline, Nespelem, Northport, Oakesdale, Oakville, Odessa, Palouse, Pe Ell, Pomeroy, Riverside, Rosalia, Royal City, Soap Lake, South Bend, Sprague, Starbuck, Tekoa, Vader, Waitsburg, Warden, Washtucna, Waterville, Wilbur, Wilson Creek, Winlock
These small communities have a strong rural character, with top employers in agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting industries. Many of the cities in this cluster are Washington’s smallest cities and towns with the lowest population growth of the last ten years. Many decreased the city workforce over the past four years and delayed or reduced spending on capital development projects. All of these cities receive assistance from the City-County Assistance Account. All data is recorded as an average for all cities in the cluster. Data for individual cities may vary significantly in some categories.

Community Conditions

Population

• Average Population Size:

Year	1990	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
Pop.	1,005	1,192	1,204	1,198	1,201	1,215	1,219	1,225	1,231	1,233

• Population Density, 2007: 1,069 persons per square mile

• Population Growth Rate, 2000-2007: 1.2%

Other Community Characteristics

• Date of Incorporation: 1908

• GMA-Planning Cities: 52%

• Number of Housing Units:

  2000	2008	Growth- 2000-2008-
  507	529	4%

Fiscal Conditions

General Financial Outlook

• Ability to Meet Needs Compared to Current Year:
  

	(% of Respondents)
	Less Able	Same	Better Able
Four Years Ago	44%	40%	16%
Next Year (2009)	42%	54%	4%
In Next Four Years (2012)	56%	40%	4%

Major Revenue Base

• Per Capita Assessed Value, 2007: $32,226

• Per Capita Sales Tax Revenue, 2007: $57

City Services

Services Most Difficult to Sustain	% of Cities in Cluster		Services Most Improved	% of Cities in Cluster
Streets	66%		General administration	43%
Business recruitment	29%		Planning	35%
Sewer	26%		Water	32%
			Parks	32%

 

Community Conditions

• Top Community Issues:
  

	(% of Respondents)
	Major Problem	Moderate Problem	No Problem
Availability of employment opportunities	66%	23%	11%
Vitality of downtown/retail corridors	53%	38%	9%
Public transportation	24%	32%	44%

• Most Important Community Conditions to Address in Next Four Years:

Local Conditions	% of Cities in Cluster
Vitality of downtown/retail corridors	71%
Availability of employment opportunities	63%
Availability of affordable housing	26%

Economic Conditions (2000 US Census Data)

• Median Household Income:

Year	1999
Median Household Income	$28,893

• Poverty Rate, 1999: 20%

• Major Local Employers by Industry:

Major Local Employers	% of Cities in Cluster (w/ Industry as 1 of 3 Top Employers)
Retail trade	54%
Health care and social services	52%
Educational services	48%
Manufacturing	43%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting	39%

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