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Coulee Dam
Town
Coulee Dam, Washington
Location of Coulee Dam, Washington
Coordinates: 47°58′6″N 118°58′41″W / 47.96833°N 118.97806°W / 47.96833; -118.97806
Country	United States
State	Washington
Counties	Okanogan, Douglas, Grant
Area
• Total	0.79 sq mi (2.05 km)
• Land	0.72 sq mi (1.85 km)
• Water	0.07 sq mi (0.19 km)
Elevation	1,145 ft (349 m)
Population
• Total	1,211
• Density	1,508.38/sq mi (582.56/km)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code	99116
Area code	509
FIPS code	53-15115
GNIS feature ID	1504196
Website	townofcouleedam.org

Coulee Dam is a town in Douglas, Grant, and Okanogan counties in the state of Washington. The Douglas County portion of Coulee Dam is part of the Wenatchee–East Wenatchee Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,211 as of the 2020 census.

History

Coulee Dam was founded by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in 1933, to serve as headquarters for the construction of the Grand Coulee Dam. The Okanogan County portion was known as Mason City, location of the head contractor. The portions in Douglas and Grant Counties were known as Engineers Town and were government-owned. In 1942, with the end of the contract in sight, CBI transferred control of Mason City to the Municipal Division of the Columbia Basin Project. In 1948, Mason City was incorporated into Coulee Dam. The government began the process of selling the town to the public in 1957, finishing in 1959. Coulee Dam was officially incorporated as a town on February 26, 1959.

It is the headquarters of Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area and home to one of the world's largest man-made piles of sand, a 12,000,000-cubic-yard (9,200,000 m), 230-foot (70 m)-high hill remaining from dam construction.

Geography

Coulee Dam is located at 47°58′6″N 118°58′41″W / 47.96833°N 118.97806°W / 47.96833; -118.97806 (47.968467, -118.978162).

The Okanogan County portion lies within the Colville Indian Reservation, and forms the southern limit of the Okanogan Highlands.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.78 square miles (2.02 km), of which, 0.72 square miles (1.86 km) is land and 0.06 square miles (0.16 km) is water.

Climate

This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Coulee Dam has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 1,098 people, 459 households, and 301 families living in the town. The population density was 1,525.0 inhabitants per square mile (588.8/km). There were 534 housing units at an average density of 741.7 per square mile (286.4/km). The racial makeup of the town was 55.0% White, 0.5% African American, 35.5% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 2.4% from other races, and 5.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.7% of the population.

There were 459 households, of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% were married couples living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.4% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.93.

The median age in the town was 41.6 years. 24.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.1% were from 25 to 44; 28.8% were from 45 to 64; and 17.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.9% male and 50.1% female.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 1,044 people, 448 households, and 305 families living in the town. The population density was 1,532.5 people per square mile (592.8/km). There were 499 housing units at an average density of 732.5 per square mile (283.3/km). The racial makeup of the town was 64.56% White, 0.29% African American, 29.12% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.57% from other races, and 4.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.78% of the population.

There were 448 households, out of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 27.7% 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 2.32 and the average family size was 2.74.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.9% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 20.7% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 20.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $37,391, and the median income for a family was $45,066. Males had a median income of $38,000 versus $22,500 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,791. About 6.7% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.9% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.

Notable person

• Lawrence Colburn, born in Coulee Dam, one of three people to have intervened in the My Lai massacre

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
2. ^ "2020 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File". American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
3. "Coulee Dam". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
4. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
5. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
6. Climate Summary for Coulee Dam, Washington
7. "COULEE DAM 1 SW, WASHINGTON (451767)". Western Regional Climate Center. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
8. United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved October 4, 2013.
9. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 19, 2012.

v t e Municipalities and communities of Douglas County, Washington, United States
County seat: Waterville
Cities	Bridgeport East Wenatchee Rock Island
Towns	Coulee Dam‡ Mansfield Waterville
Unincorporated communities	Beebe Douglas Lamoine Leahy Orondo Palisades Saint Andrews Withrow
Ghost towns	Baird Bonita Jameson Sanderson
Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
Washington portal United States portal

v t e Municipalities and communities of Grant County, Washington, United States
County seat: Ephrata
Cities	Electric City Ephrata George Grand Coulee Mattawa Moses Lake Quincy Royal City Soap Lake Warden
Towns	Coulee City Coulee Dam‡ Hartline Krupp (Marlin) Wilson Creek
CDPs	Banks Lake South Beverly Cascade Valley Crescent Bar Desert Aire Lakeview Marine View Moses Lake North Schwana Sunland Estates Wheeler
Other communities	Burke Mae Ruff Smyrna Stratford Trinidad
Ghost towns	Corfu Haven
Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
Washington portal United States portal

v t e Municipalities and communities of Okanogan County, Washington, United States
County seat: Okanogan
Cities	Brewster Okanogan Omak Oroville Pateros Tonasket
Towns	Conconully Coulee Dam‡ Elmer City Nespelem Riverside Twisp Winthrop
CDPs	Disautel Loomis Malott Methow Nespelem Community North Omak
Unincorporated communities	Aeneas Azwell Brown Lake Carlton Chesaw Ellisford Havillah Mazama Nighthawk Olema Wauconda
Indian reservation	Colville Indian Reservation‡
Ghost towns	Bodie Bolster Golden Loop Loop Molson Ruby
Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
Washington portal United States portal

• Towns in Douglas County, Washington
• Towns in Grant County, Washington
• Towns in Okanogan County, Washington
• Towns in Washington (state)
• Wenatchee–East Wenatchee metropolitan area
• Populated places in the Okanagan Country
• Washington (state) populated places on the Columbia River
• Company towns in Washington (state)