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 | ![]() |
Females: 9,383 | ![]() |
Median resident age: | ![]() |
Washington median age: | ![]() |
Zip codes: 98604.
Estimated median household income in 2012: $54,539 (it was $45,070 in 2000)
Battle Ground: | $54,539 |
WA: | $57,573 |
Battle Ground: | $202,609 |
WA: | $243,000 |
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).
^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
[edit] Further reading
Strong, Harry M., The Adventures of a Pioneer Judge & His Family, COLUMBIA Magazine: Winter 2002-03; Vol. 16, No. 4.
Tucker, Louise M., Battle Ground . . . In and Around, 2006
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