Bucoda, Washington

Bucoda (/bjuːˈkoʊdə/) is a town in Thurston County, Washington, United States. The population was 600 at the 2020 census.[3] The community refers to itself as the "World's Tiniest Town with the Biggest Halloween Spirit".[1]

Bucoda, Washington
Town
Post Office
Post Office
Nickname: 
World's Tiniest Town with the Biggest Halloween Spirit[1]
Location of Bucoda, Washington
Location of Bucoda, Washington
Coordinates: 46°47′52″N 122°52′6″W
CountryUnited States
StateWashington
CountyThurston
Area
[2]
 • Total0.60 sq mi (1.56 km2)
 • Land0.58 sq mi (1.51 km2)
 • Water0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2)
Elevation
266 ft (81 m)
Population
 (2020)[3]
 • Total600
 • Estimate 
(2021)[4]
598
 • Density1,015.44/sq mi (392.40/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (PST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
98530
Area code360
FIPS code53-08605
GNIS feature ID1531901[5]
Websitebucoda.us
Bucoda Fire Station

History

The first American settler at what is now Bucoda was Aaron Webster (1828–1911) who arrived in 1854.[6] In the 1860s Webster sold his claim and sawmill to Oliver Shead who officially named the settlement "Seatco", a native word meaning evil spirit or devil. The Northern Pacific Railroad located a station at Seatco in 1872. Later the town was renamed Bucoda using the first two letters of three principal investors in local industries- Buckley, Coulter, and David.[7]

In the 1880s investors began operations to mine coal in the area, but the coal was of poor quality and operations were sporadic. From 1874 to 1888 Bucoda was the site of Washington's first territorial prison. It garnered a reputation as a harsh institution as the inmates were used for dangerous and brutal manual labor in local industry. It was discontinued when the state opened the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla, Washington.[8] Bucoda was officially incorporated on June 7, 1910. The town had a water tower that was scrapped in the early 1980s. The Mutual Lumber Mill was so productive the town was once billed as the "Town with the Million Dollar Payroll". The mill burned down and was rebuilt only to have demand wane and once again it was consumed by flames.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.59 square miles (1.53 km2), of which, 0.57 square miles (1.48 km2) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) is water.[9]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1890945—
1920442—
193070359.0%
1940541−23.0%
1950473−12.6%
1960390−17.5%
19704217.9%
198051923.3%
19905363.3%
200062817.2%
2010562−10.5%
20206006.8%
2021 (est.)598[4]−0.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
2020 Census[3]

2010 census

As of the census[11] of 2010, there were 562 people, 222 households, and 148 families living in the town. The population density was 986.0 inhabitants per square mile (380.7/km2). There were 243 housing units at an average density of 426.3 per square mile (164.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 91.6% White, 1.2% African American, 0.9% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 1.8% from other races, and 3.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.7% of the population.

There were 222 households, of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.9% were married couples living together, 18.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.3% were non-families. 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.92.

The median age in the town was 40.3 years. 20.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.3% were from 25 to 44; 31.1% were from 45 to 64; and 12.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 51.1% male and 48.9% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 628 people, 219 households, and 169 families living in the town. The population density was 1,419.7 people per square mile (551.1/km2). There were 236 housing units at an average density of 533.5 per square mile (207.1/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 92.04% White, 0.80% Native American, 2.23% Asian, 0.32% Pacific Islander, 1.27% from other races, and 3.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.07% of the population.

There were 219 households, out of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were married couples living together, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.8% were non-families. 13.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the town, the age distribution of the population shows 29.8% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 109.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 117.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $34,286, and the median income for a family was $32,708. Males had a median income of $36,071 versus $22,321 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,613. About 18.5% of families and 25.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.2% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Since 2009, the community has annually become known as "Boo-coda" every October, a moniker to represent its annual month-long Halloween festivities. The event is known for its Scary Nights Haunted House and hearse processions.[12]

Parks and recreation

The South Sound Speedway, a Figure 8 racetrack, is northwest of the downtown area.

Media

Bucoda, Washington is the setting of episode 97 "We All Ignore the Pit" of the horror podcast The Magnus Archives.[13] A small scene for the independent movie, The Mountain, with Jeff Goldblum, was filmed at a restaurant in the town.[14]

See also

References
  1. "BOO-coda's Casket Races Put the 'Fun' in Funeral on Saturday". Nisqually Valley News. The Chronicle (Centralia, Washington). October 11, 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  3. "Explore Census Data". Explore Census Data. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  4. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021". United States Census Bureau. June 23, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  5. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  6. Majors, Harry M. (1975). Exploring Washington. Van Winkle Publishing Co. p. 120. ISBN 978-0-918664-00-6.
  7. "Thurston County Place Names: A Heritage Guide" (PDF). Thurston County Historical Commission. 1992. p. 10. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  8. William Prosser, A History of the Puget Sound Country vol. 1. New York, Lewis Publishing Co., 1903, 249
  9. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  10. United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  12. Paul, Crystal (October 25, 2018). "Welcome to 'Boo-coda,' the tiny Washington town that goes hard for Halloween". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  13. "The Magnus Archives". Archived from the original on March 19, 2017.
  14. The Chronicle staff (December 11, 2017). "Photos: Film Crew Brings Lights, Cameras, Action and Excitement to Tenino and Bucoda". The Chronicle. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
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