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Tag: Census

Washingtonians in World War I

Washingtonians in World War I

2018 marks the 100th Anniversary of the end of World War I, the “War to End All Wars.” Centennial events have taken place for the past several years throughout Europe, and last year the Washington State Library was honored to assist students from the American School in Paris as they embarked on a project to gather information about the Americans laid to rest at Suresnes American Cemetery. This Paris cemetery contains the remains of 1,541 Americans who died in World…

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The Mystery of Buckskin Joe

The Mystery of Buckskin Joe

From the desk of Steve Willis, Central Library Services Program Manager of the Washington State Library: The irony of hermits is that the more they desire to be alone, the more attention they garner. The hermit becomes an object of curiosity. For example, a character by the name of “Buckskin Joe” certainly got my interest when I randomly found the following short article on the front page of The Concrete Herald, Feb. 21, 1914: HERMIT OF UPPER SKAGIT IS FOUND DEAD…

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James Fitzgerald, the Human Ostrich

James Fitzgerald, the Human Ostrich

Random News from the Newspapers on Microfilm Collection: James Fitzgerald, the Human Ostrich From the desk of Steve Willis, Central Library Services Program Manager of the Washington State Library: “No, sir. This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.” I was reminded of this quote from the movie The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance after breezing through several old newspaper articles regarding the life and adventures of James Fitzgerald, who was known on both sides of…

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Redistricting soon to gear up

Redistricting soon to gear up

Washington will get word on Tuesday on whether we’ve grown enough in the past decade to warrant a new seat in Congress.  The Census figures are coming out, amid speculation that we’ll get a 10th congressional district. The state Redistricting Commission will soon take up the task of redrawing congressional and legislative district boundaries so they represent equal numbers of voters.  Right now, some districts have far more than the ideal-sized population. The commission will be comprised of four voting…

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Census mail-back? Time’s-a-wastin’

Census mail-back? Time’s-a-wastin’

The once-every-10-years national nose-count is coming up on a big deadline.  Friday’s the day the Census wants to have your household’s info returned. They call it “Take 10” – 10 simple questions, on a form that should take 10 minutes or less to fill out. Washington state’s return rate thus far is 69 percent (compared with 72 percent last time around).  Oregon’s return rate is also 69 percent, Idaho 71 percent and California 66.  Census workers will have to physically…

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Taking count: Is your Census tally in the mail?

Taking count: Is your Census tally in the mail?

Sure you knew this was a special day:  Today is Census Day – no foolin’ – and how are you celebrating? Nationally, about half of us have returned our no-frills, no-stress Census report for our household, and in the state, about 52 percent.  King County is at 50 percent, Snohomish and Pierce 51, Clark 52, Whatcom 53, Yakima 54, Cowlitz and Grays Harbor 55, Thurston 56, Spokane 57, and on up to Jefferson at 60 and Columbia 61.   Statewide…

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‘Take 10’: Census 2010 is upon us

‘Take 10’: Census 2010 is upon us

Secretary of State Sam Reed is urging all Washington households to do the “Take 10” challenge this month.  That involves taking about 10 minutes to answer 10 questions as part of the once-every-10-years U.S. Census. The nose-count is mandated in both the federal and state constitutions. It’ll provide an updated look at the population growth and shifts we’ve seen over the past decade.  It could well result in Washington getting a new 10th congressional seat and will help with redistricting…

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QuickFacts: Census tidbits on Washington

QuickFacts: Census tidbits on Washington

The main 2010 Census gets underway soon, but for those who don’t want to wait to get a snapshot of Washington, our counties and our cities, the number-crunchers have a fun “Quick Facts” webpage that gives factoids galore as we head into the new round of nose-counting. For instance: What’s the male-female split in Washington?  Almost even-Steven, 50.1 percent, a little more testosterone-y than the national percentage. What about racial breakouts? We are 84.3 percent white or of Hispanic origin, 3.7…

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Lucky 13? WA population keeps on growing

Lucky 13? WA population keeps on growing

New Census projections show that we’re on the move in Washington — people moving in from other states and folks having babies.  In the past decade, we’ve grown by 13 percent and are now the 13th largest state!  And it could be Lucky 13 if we wind up gaining a new congressional seat. We’ve grown by nearly 100,000 during the last year and — drum roll please — our new statewide population number is nearly 6.7 million. It’s 6,664,195, up…

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