Kelso, Washington

History

The earliest known inhabitants of Kelso were Native Americans from the Cowlitz tribe. The Cowlitz people were separated into the Upper (or Taidnapam) and Lower (or Mountain) Cowlitz tribes, who were members of the Sahaptin and Salish language families, respectively. In 1855, European explorers noted that there numbered over 6,000 individuals of the Cowlitz Tribe.

Kelso was founded by Peter W. Crawford, a Scottish surveyor, who, in 1847, took up the first donation land claim on the lower Cowlitz River. Crawford platted a townsite which he named after his home town of Kelso, Scotland. The original plat was dated and filed in October 1884. It became incorporated in 1889.

In its early days, Kelso obtained the nickname "Little Chicago" as it became famous for its large number of taverns and brothels that catered to local loggers. On weekends, trainloads of loggers would come into town from the surrounding region looking for women, liquor, gambling and fights. The FBI finally forced the mayor to shut them down in the 1950s, with the last tavern/brothel closing in the mid-1960s. The economy continues to be based largely on wood products.

In the late 19th century and into the first part of the 20th century, Kelso was the center for commercial smelt fishing on the Cowlitz River. In 1910, according to the Oregonian Newspaper, 5,000 tons of fish were caught. The Kelso Chamber of Commerce created the slogan in 1956 and became known as the Smelt Capital of the World. The Cowlitz River has historically had heavy runs of smelt and were shipped to markets around the country. Smelt numbers have declined significantly in the past several decades possibly due to overharvesting, global climate change and habitat loss.

The Allen Street Bridge disaster occurred on January 3, 1923 in Kelso. , the event is recognized as the deadliest bridge disaster in the state. The wooden drawbridge collapsed under a combination of high, rushing waters of the Cowlitz River, a log jam, and the poor condition of the overpass. The disaster happened during the end of work day, and 17 people were formally listed as having died due to the event.

In 1947, two military officers who were investigating the Maury Island incident (a UFO hoax) died when their plane crashed in southeast Kelso.

On May 18, 1980, being only 24 mi away, Kelso residents experienced the shock wave caused by the eruption of Mount St. Helens. Called the largest volcanic eruption in historic times in the contiguous United States, Kelso received large amounts of volcanic ash through the air and from the massive mudflow caused by the eruption transported by the Toutle and Cowlitz Rivers. Many areas of the city, including the Three Rivers Golf Course are built on volcanic ash dredged from the Cowlitz River by inmates in state custody and volunteers.

In March 1998, the Aldercrest-Banyon landslide began shifting the foundations of 64 homes and local infrastructure in the east Kelso neighborhood of Aldercrest. Eventually, 129 houses were destroyed by this slow-moving landslide. Investigation showed that these houses had been built on top of an ancient active landslide area, and three straight years of higher-than-average rains set the earth into motion. In October 1998, President Bill Clinton declared this slide a federal disaster. It was the second worst landslide disaster (in cost) in the United States, following the 1956 Portuguese Bend Landslide on Palos Verdes Hills in Southern California. This disaster at Aldercrest led to stricter city zoning ordinances and oversight over geological surveys.

Geography

Kelso is mostly situated on the east side of the Cowlitz River near the Columbia River, opposite from its twin city of Longview on the west bank. It includes a small section west of the river, West Kelso. It is located on Interstate 5 approximately 48 mi north of Portland, Oregon, and 125 mi south of Seattle.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.50 sqmi, of which 8.14 sqmi is land and 0.36 sqmi is water.

The Columbia, Cowlitz, and Coweeman rivers were used as part of a historical transportation route from Portland, Oregon, to the Puget Sound. Cowlitz steamboats were used as a mode of transportation until 1918.

Climate

|Jan record high F = 61 |Feb record high F = 70 |Mar record high F = 77 |Apr record high F = 86 |May record high F = 99 |Jun record high F = 110 |Jul record high F = 106 |Aug record high F = 99 |Sep record high F = 94 |Oct record high F = 86 |Nov record high F = 69 |Dec record high F = 63 |year record high F= |Jan record low F = -1 |Feb record low F = 2 |Mar record low F = 18 |Apr record low F = 27 |May record low F = 30 |Jun record low F = 35 |Jul record low F = 39 |Aug record low F = 37 |Sep record low F = 32 |Oct record low F = 21 |Nov record low F = 13 |Dec record low F = 16 |year record low F=

Neighborhoods

• Aldercrest
• Butler Acres
• Davis Terrace
• East Kelso
• Hilltop
• Lexington
• Mt. Brynion
• Mt Pleasant
• North Kelso
• Old Kelso Hill
• Rose Valley
• South Kelso
• West Kelso

Demographics

|align-fn=center 2020 Census

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 11,925 people, 4,720 households, and 2,949 families residing in the city. The population density was 1465.0 PD/sqmi. There were 5,139 housing units at an average density of 631.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 85.2% White, 0.8% African American, 2.1% Native American, 1.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 5.1% from other races, and 5.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.3% of the population.

There were 4,720 households, of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.9% were married couples living together, 17.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.5% were non-families. 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.05.

The median age in the city was 34.6 years. 26.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.7% were from 25 to 44; 24.8% were from 45 to 64; and 11.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.8% male and 51.2% female.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 11,895 people, 4,616 households, and 2,991 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,471.6 people per square mile (568.4/km2). There were 5,067 housing units at an average density of 626.9 per square mile (242.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.14% White, 0.82% African American, 2.05% Native American, 0.94% Asian, 0.21% Pacific Islander, 3.12% from other races, and 2.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.93% of the population. 18.1% were of German, 9.3% Irish, 9.0% English, 7.7% American and 6.4% Norwegian ancestry.

There were 4,616 households, out of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.0% were married couples living together, 15.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 28.3% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,722, and the median income for a family was $36,784. Males had a median income of $36,271 versus $23,750 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,162. About 16.4% of families and 19.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.1% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

, Kelso had a per capita income of $57,947 and an unemployment rate of 5.3%; the top employers were:

Arts and culture

The city is home to several buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Cowlitz County, Washington, including the Adam Catlin House, the Nat Smith House, and the Kelso U.S. Post Office

Parks and recreation

Within the city limits, there are eleven city parks: Tam O'Shanter Park, Heerensperger, FieldRister, StadiumCatlin, Rotary Spray Park, Kelso Veterans Park, Lads & Lassies Park, Rhododendron Gardens, Rotary Park, Rotary Skate Park, Scot Hollow Park and Kelso Senior Center.

The largest park is Tam O' Shanter Park, a multi-use park comprising 38 acre along the Coweeman River. The facilities include multipurpose fields for soccer, three girls fastpitch softball fields, one Babe Ruth field, five Cal Ripken baseball fields, and three basketball courts. The park hosts the annual Kelso Hilander Festival which includes Scottish Highland games. The park is named after a Scottish bonnet, the Tam o' shanter.

Sports

The Cowlitz Black Bears play in the West Coast League, an independent summer baseball league with teams from Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia. The team plays at David Story Field on the Lower Columbia College campus in neighboring Longview.

Government

Kelso operates under a city charter and is classified as a council–manager government. The city council has 7 members elected by residents, from which a mayor is chosen by its members every 2 years. Council positions are filled on an at-large basis and are held for 4 years, with council elections being held to fill either 3 or 4 positions in odd-numbered years.

, the mayor is Kimberly Lefebvre.

The council also selects a city manager; former Kelso police chief Andrew O. Hamilton was hired as city manager in 2019 after the departure of Steve Taylor.

Education

The Kelso School District manages public schools in the city and surrounding areas and has an enrollment of 4,715 students. It has three high schools, including Kelso High School, two middle schools, and seven elementary schools.

Media

Kelso has four FM (KUKN, K268BN, KLOG and KTJC) and one AM (KLOG) radio stations licensed in the city. Kelso is provided with cable television from nearby Longview.

Kelso's primary newspaper is The Daily News, which won a 1981 Pulitzer Prize for its coverage of the St. Helens eruption.

Infrastructure

Interstate 5 runs through Kelso. Two highways, State Route 4 and State Route 432, connect Kelso to Longview via crossings of the Cowlitz River.

Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides service to the twin cities of Kelso-Longview. The Amtrak station is located in the Kelso Multimodal Transportation Center along the Cowlitz River. The cities of Kelso and Longview are served by RiverCities Transit. Kelso is also served by Greyhound Bus Lines, which provides intercity bus service at the Kelso Multimodal Transportation Center.

Kelso is served by Southwest Washington Regional Airport, formerly known as Kelso-Longview Regional Airport.

Notable people

• Jeff Bailey, former baseball player
• Calvin S. Barlow, former politician
• Dolores Erickson, fashion model
• Jim Deming, former football coach
• Colin Kelly, football player
• Mary Klicka, dietician
• Sharry Konopski, model and actress
• Trevor May, former baseball player
• Tommy Lloyd, basketball coach
• Ed Negre, racecar driver
• Brian O'Connor, musician
• Forrest Phelps, former politician
• Elmer Ramsey, orchestra conductor
• David Richie, former football player
• Buddy Ross, record producer
• Jason Schmidt, former baseball player
• Sid Snyder, state legislator
• Martin Stickles, serial killer
• Connor Trinneer, actor

Sister cities

Kelso has the two sister cities:

• SCO Kelso, Scotland
• Japan Makinohara, Japan

References

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
2. {{GNIS. 2410174
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
4. "2020 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File". [[United States Census Bureau]].
5. Meany, Edmond S.. (1920). "Origin of Washington Geographic Names". Washington University State Historical Society.
6. Amy Fischer. (May 24, 2009). "Four Things That Helped Define Kelso". The Daily News.
7. R.G. Callvert. (February 27, 1910). "Smelt Fishing on the Cowlitz: How an Army of Men Catch the Biggest Run Known in the Last Twenty Years". The Sunday Oregonian.
8. [http://www.co.cowlitz.wa.us/tourism/brochure/Read%202003/2003%20Kelso%20SPREAD.pdf Co.cowlitz.wa.us] {{webarchive. link. (July 19, 2011)
9. [http://www.cbr.washington.edu/shadfoundation/smelt/smelt11-20.pdf CBR.washington.edu] {{webarchive. link. (February 15, 2010)
10. (March 14, 2008). "NOAA Accepts Petition For Listing Columbia River Basin Smelt". The Columbia Basin Fish & Wildlife News Bulletin.
11. (May 9, 2024). "Kelso bridge collapse 101 years ago still ranks as Washington's deadliest". [[The Seattle Times]].
12. (8 February 2008). "The Maury Island UFO Incident".
13. Gaylord Shaw. (May 19, 1980). "The Eruption of Washington State's Mount St. Helens". The Los Angeles Times.
14. "Kelso/Longview, WA #1482". Elks.
15. "Aldercrest-Banyon Landslide Kelso, WA - J. David Rogers".
16. (July 27, 2009). "Landslide of the Week – Aldercrest Banyon Landslide". Washington's Landslide Blog.
17. "US Gazetteer files 2010". [[United States Census Bureau]].
18. "A History of Cowlitz County". Washington Secretary of State.
19. United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing".
20. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
21. (June 25, 2025). "City of Kelso, Washington, Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, For Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2024". City of Kelso, Washington.
22. "National Register of Historic Places". National Park Service.
23. "Park Facilities List {{!}} Kelso, WA".
24. "Tam O'Shanter Park {{!}} Kelso, WA".
25. "Home page".
26. "Kelso City Council".
27. "City Council Members". City of Kelso, Washington.
28. "Kelso City Manager".
29. (August 9, 2019). "Kelso Council taps former chief Andy Hamilton for city manager". The Daily News.
30. "District Directory Information: Kelso School District". [[National Center for Education Statistics]].
31. "Sister Cities, Counties, States and Ports". Washington Lieutenant Governor's Office.
32. "List of Sister Cities". Sister Cities International.