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Naselle
Naselle Valley and State Route 4
Location of Naselle, Washington
Coordinates: 46°22′4″N 123°47′36″W / 46.36778°N 123.79333°W / 46.36778; -123.79333
Country	United States
State	Washington
County	Pacific
Area
• Total	2.3 sq mi (5.9 km)
• Land	2.3 sq mi (5.9 km)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km)
Elevation	33 ft (10 m)
Population
• Total	421
• Density	180/sq mi (71/km)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code	98638
Area code	360
FIPS code	53-48015
GNIS feature ID	1512495

Naselle is a census-designated place (CDP) in Pacific County, Washington, United States located about 23 miles (37 km) from the mouth of the Columbia River. The population was 421 at the 2020 census. The valley's Naselle River flows west into nearby Willapa Bay and then into the Pacific Ocean. Close about the town lie the evergreen-covered Willapa Hills. The river's name has been spelled Nasel and Nasal. An early settler along the river called it the Kenebec. The name comes from the Nisal Indians, a Chinookan tribe formerly residing on the river.

History

The community first flourished as a logging town, and logging remains the dominant private industry. Settled primarily by Finnish and Scandinavian immigrants, the community has maintained this cultural heritage despite a declining percentage of traditional family names. Since 1982, Naselle has hosted a "Finnish-American Folk Festival" every other year, and in 2006 co-hosted, with the nearby city of Astoria, Oregon, the national festival FinnFest USA.

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Naselle has an Oceanic climate, abbreviated "Cfb" on climate maps.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 377 people, 160 households, and 110 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 164.6 people per square mile (63.6/km). There were 184 housing units at an average density of 80.3/sq mi (31.0/km). The racial makeup of the CDP was 92.57% White, 0.27% African American, 2.12% Native American, 0.53% Asian, and 4.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.53% of the population. 33.2% were of Finnish, 10.0% German, 7.9% Irish and 7.5% American ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 160 households, out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% were married couples living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 23.3% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 22.5% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 22.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $35,769, and the median income for a family was $40,250. Males had a median income of $36,875 versus $18,125 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $17,714. About 4.0% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 2.1% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Jennifer L. Holm's Newbery Honor-winning novel Our Only May Amelia is set in pioneer Naselle, then spelled "Nasel", and is based on Holm family documents of life as a Finnish-American frontier family.

Notable people

• Oscar Wirkkala, logger and inventor
• Wilho Saari, kantele, performer and teacher
• Rex Ziak, historian
• Tobi Vail, independent musician, music critic and feminist

See also

• Willapa Bay
• Steamboats of Willapa Bay

References

1. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
2. "Naselle". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
3. Meany, Edmond S. (1921). "Origin of Washington Geographic Names". The Pacific Northwest Quarterly. X–XI. Washington University State Historical Society: 278. Retrieved June 11, 2009.
4. ^ Written at Naselle, Washington. "Rite of the sauna thrives in Naselle". The Daily News. Longview, Washington. July 25, 2004. pp. E1, E4. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
5. "NASELLE 2 ENE, WASHINGTON (455774)". Western Regional Climate Center. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
7. "Census Bureau profile: Naselle, Washington". United States Census Bureau. May 2023. Retrieved May 12, 2024.

v t e Municipalities and communities of Pacific County, Washington, United States
County seat: South Bend
Cities	Ilwaco Long Beach Raymond South Bend
CDPs	Bay Center Chinook Lebam Naselle Ocean Park Tokeland Willapa
Other communities	Bruceport Dexter by the Sea Frances Holcomb Menlo Megler Nemah North Cove Oysterville Seaview
Ghost towns	Chetlo Harbor Frankfort Knappton McGowan Pacific City Pluvius Seahaven
Indian reservation	Shoalwater Bay Reservation
Washington portal United States portal

• Census-designated places in Pacific County, Washington
• Census-designated places in Washington (state)
• Finnish-American culture in Washington (state)