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Welcome to Battle Ground!

Battle Ground is a small town, with peaceful country living, nearby lakes, streams and forest service areas, which offer outstanding recreational opportunities. Battle Ground is also within 20 minutes commuting distance of the Portland Airport.

Surrounded by scenic views of Mt. St. Helen's and South to Mt. Hood and gentle rolling hills and farmland and tall stately Firs.  Tucked into a metro area that has all the goods and shopping right here.  Country living at it's best centrally located minutes to some of the best arts & theater in Portland.  Savor the 5 star dining and entertainment in the city and enjoy the incredible recreation available here in our own back yard.
Some of the best fishing spots around right here.  Steelhead, Salmon, Bass and trout.  Kayak, canoe, boating right here.  We have the Lewis River in our backyard and Lake Merwin and Yale famous for the best water boarding around.  Hunting, skiing up at Mt. Hood is a short drive away~ Summer and winter sports Haven.

Population in 2012: 18,044 (99% urban, 1% rural). Population change since 2000: +94.1%

Males: 8,661	(48.0%)
Females: 9,383	(52.0%)

Median resident age:	30.0 years
Washington median age:	32.2 years

Zip codes: 98604.

Estimated median household income in 2012: $54,539 (it was $45,070 in 2000)

The origin of the City's name comes from a battle, which never took place. In 1855, some Klickitat Indians escaped from Fort Vancouver. Captain Strong headed up the army in charge of bringing the Indians back to the fort. Upon meeting up with the Indians, the Indian chief, Chief Umtuch, promised Captain Strong that the Indians would return to the fort. There are different versions of what happened next, but Chief Umtuch was killed. Captain Strong allowed the Indians to bury the chief. He returned to the fort with the Indians' promise to return. The Indians did return, and for not forcibly bringing them back, Captain Strong was presented a petticoat for bravery and courage. This area later became known as "Strong's Battle Ground".

The first known settler to homestead the Battle Ground area was John Tuke. In 1862, he chose the area near the hill now known as Tuke's Mountain for his farm.

Origin of the Name "Battle Ground"



The city is ironically named for the absence of a battle. In 1855 many of the soldiers at nearby Fort Vancouver were away fighting an uprising by the Yakima Indian tribe. Nervous settlers organized a company of volunteers to guard the undermanned fort. Fearing that the friendly Klickitat Tribe on the Lewis River would join the uprising, the volunteers ordered them into the Vancouver Barracks near the fort.

When some of the Klickitats escaped, Captain William Strong, the post commander, led a detachment of volunteers to bring them back. They overtook the Klickitats near the current location of the city, but rather than engaging them in battle, Captain Strong talked them into agreeing to return to the fort peacefully. Somehow during this episode the Klickitat leader, Chief Umtuch, was slain in battle. The circumstances of his death are unclear: some said he was killed by a soldier, others by an accidental gunshot from his own men. In any event, the Klickitats promised to return to the fort after burying their chief, a ceremony that would take several days, so Strong returned without them.

The settlers had been expecting a battle, and when Strong returned empty-handed, they accused him of cowardice. The Klickitats did return as promised, but criticism of Strong continued. The women of the fort awarded him a petticoat of many colors in mock celebration of his courage. And the area where the Klickitats were encountered became known as "Strong's Battle Ground," and later simply "Battle Ground
Battle Ground was officially incorporated on June 18, 1951.

 Geography
Battle Ground is located at 45°46'50?N 122°32'22?W? / ?45.78056°N 122.53944°W? / 45.78056; -122.53944 (45.780595, -122.539408).[3]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.6 square miles (9.4 km²), all of it land.

Battle Ground Schools Are Located By Place: The Battle of Captain Strong and Chief Umtuch Was fought in Tukes Valley.

 Demographics
Historical populations 
Census Pop.   %± 
1960 888  - 
1970 1,438  61.9% 
1980 2,774  92.9% 
1990 3,758  35.5% 
2000 9,322  148.1% 
Est. 2008 16,812  80.3% 

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 9,296 people, 3,071 households, and 2,346 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,552.6 people per square mile (986.0/km²). There were 3,196 housing units at an average density of 877.6/sq mi (339.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.81% White, 0.49% African American, 0.86% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 1.72% from other races, and 2.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.14% of the population. 15.4% were of German, 11.5% United States or American, 9.4% English, 7.2% Irish, 6.1% Finnish, and 5.8% Norwegian ancestry according to Census 2000. 94.0% spoke English, 3.9% Spanish and 1.6% Russian as their first language.

There were 3,071 households out of which 50.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.6% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.99 and the average family size was 3.43.

In the city the population was spread out with 36.2% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 13.5% from 45 to 64, and 7.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $45,070, and the median income for a family was $49,876. Males had a median income of $41,133 versus $25,215 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,139. About 7.3% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.1% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.

The census info for the years 1990 - 2000 are posted below.

Census Year Population  % Increase 
1990 3758 N/A 
1991 3890 3.4% 
1992 4020 3.2% 
1993 4244 5.3% 
1994 4720 10.1% 
1995 5015 5.9% 
1996 5450 8% 
1997 6948 21.6% 
1998 8460 17.9% 
1999 9075 6.8% 
2000 9605 5.5%

Transportation
Battle Ground is accessed from Interstate 5 at exit 11 and Interstate 205 at exit 32.

Bus Services are provided by the local bus company, C-TRAN, to Downtown Vancouver, Delta Park/Vanport MAX Station, Yacolt, and the Vancouver Mall.

[edit] CommunityC
Every year in the summer time Battle Ground puts on Harvest Days. There are a number of community events including parades, street dances, a carnival and chili cook-off. Battle Ground is an almost yearly winner for the Float Best Exemplifying Community Or Civic Involvement And Pride in the Portland Rose Festival's Grand Floral Parade. In 2006, however, it received the Sweepstakes Award for Most Outstanding Float In The Parade.

Rob Hotchkiss, founding member of the Grammy Award-winning band, Train, lived in Battle Ground. MLB slugger, Richie Sexson, hails from neighboring Brush Prairie, and continues to reside in the Battle Ground area.

Actress and singer Bethany Joy Galeotti, a star of the TV series One Tree Hill, resides in Battle Ground with her husband, Enation drummer Michael Galeotti, when she is not filming in Wilmington, North Carolina.

 Education
Battle Ground is served by the Battle Ground School District, which includes (as of 2010):

Amboy Middle School (Grades 5-8)

Battle Ground High School (Grades 9-12)

Captain Strong Elementary (Grades K-4)

Chief Umtuch Middle School (Grades 5-8)

Daybreak Primary (Grades K-4)

Daybreak Middle School (Grades 5-8)

Glenwood Heights Primary (Grades K-4)

Laurin Middle School (Grades 5-8)

Maple Grove Middle School (Grades 5-8)

Maple Grove Primary (Grades K-4)

Pleasant Valley Middle School (Grades 5-8)

Pleasant Vally Primary (Grades K-4)

Prairie High School (Grades 9-12)

Tukes Valley Primary School (Grades K-4)

Tukes Valley Middle School (Grades 5-8)

Yacolt Primary School (Grades K-4)

Alternative Schools:

CASEE (Admin and Summit View) (Summit View - Grades 9-12)

Community Education

Homelink/CAM (Homelink - Grades K-12) (CAM - Grades 5-12)

Chief Umtuch Primary, the city's oldest primary school, was demolished in 2007.

School Name Relations
Captain Strong was named after Captain William Strong (See Origin of Name). Chief Umtuch was named after Chief Umtuch (See Origin of Name).