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• Census Reports
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Setting  The City of Othello is situated in the “Heart” of the Columbia Basin, and is also known as being located in the “Panhandle” of Adams County.  Othello encompasses some 2,173 acres (3.40 square miles).  The City is located approximately 178 miles easterly of Seattle, 110 miles southwesterly of Spokane, and some 25 miles southerly of Interstate 90, at the intersection of State Highway Nos. 17 and 26.  Othello is the major urban trade and commercial center between Moses Lake to the north and the Tri-Cities to the south.

Topography  The landscape of Othello and its surroundings is that of a broad, rolling, upland mesa, crossed by braids of waterways, and spotted with reservoirs.  With irrigation water in abundance, farming circles and crops abound and provide a beautiful palette of colors throughout the year.  The region has unique scablands, coulees, rocks and sand dunes to add to the dynamics of farmland.  The City sits at an elevation of 1,110 feet above sea level. 

Climate  While the City can experience an occasional heavy rainstorm, the climate in Othello is typically mild and dry, with average annual rainfall reaching only 8.16 inches of precipitation.  With mild weather through the year, climatic constraints on outdoor recreation are generally slight, and low humidity makes both summer and winter temperature extremes more bearable and pleasurable for outdoor recreational pursuits. 

Regional Recreational Assets  Othello was recently included in the SR 17-155 Coulee Corridor Scenic Byway.  The nearby Columbia National Wildlife Refuge provides fishermen with an exciting opportunity to fish in warm water lakes.  The area is a year-round sportsman’s paradise affording excellent waterfowl and upland bird hunting possibilities.  Othello seasonally hosts sportsmen, hunters, fishers and recreational visitors.  The area is known for the bird watching opportunities and the Sandhill Crane Festival, held annually during the second to last weekend in March, attracts all kinds of birders to come and view the wonders of the Sandhill Cranes and other birds and animals of the area. 

Municipal Recreational Amenities  Othello has four (4) beautiful public parks for all to enjoy: 

• Pioneer Park, located at 4th Avenue and Main Street, has a lovely gazebo plus park tables and benches to relax in.  It hosts a T-33 Jet depicting some of the history of Othello when it had an air base located south of town.
• Triangle Park, situated at 4th Avenue and Elm Street, is a small facility providing a shaded area for neighbors to enjoy. 
• Lions Park, bounded by Hamlet and Pine Streets between 7th and 12th Avenues, is a large community park offering numerous recreational opportunities for citizens and visitors.  Its improvements include:  a baseball complex, capable of hosting four (4) games simultaneously, with a concession stand, bleachers, and rest rooms;  a soccer field;  a tennis court;  a basketball court;  playground equipment;  walking trails;  additional rest rooms; horseshoe pits;  covered picnic shelters;  a racquetball court;  a swimming pool and wading pool;  and plenty of room for fun and games. 
• Kiwanis Park, located on 7th Avenue, is a large neighborhood park featuring:  walking trails; a basketball court;  covered picnic shelters;  a grassy amphitheater;  a large covered picnic area;  horseshoe pits;  rest rooms;  and ample room for other active and passive recreational pursuits. 

Other recreational activities available in Othello include, but are not limited to:  the Boys and Girls Club of the Columbia Basin; swimming; hiking; golf; bowling; walking paths; and organized sports for young and old. 

Historical Perspective.  Othello’s beginnings, like the origins of many other communities, can be tied directly to the coming of the railroads to the vast expanses of the Pacific Northwest in the late 1800s and early 1900s.  Railroad lines largely determined the location of Othello’s original town site, and the community served as a local railhead for distribution of the general area’s agricultural products.  Years later, completion of the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project changed Othello’s vicinity from dry-land farming to the more diversified farming options of irrigated land.  Othello is situated in the geographic center of the extensive works of the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project, from Grand Coulee Dam to the City of Pasco.  The positive impact of the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project on Othello is particularly noticeable in terms of the food-processing plants established within and near the City. 

Future Population Growth.  The City’s population at the time of the 1990 Census was 4,638 persons.  By the time the 2000 Census was conducted, the City had grown to 5,847 persons, representing an increase of 26. 1 percent.  The State’s Office of Financial Management (OFM) estimated the City’s April 2001 population at 5,895 persons.  In 1990, Othello represented 34.1 percent of Adams County’s population, and the City’s proportion of the overall county population had increased to 35.6 percent by the year 2000 (a 4.4 percent increase in the City’s portion of the county-wide population). 

Under Washington’s Growth Management Act, OFM is charged with projecting high, mid-point, and low growth projections for a future horizon of twenty (20) years.  In 1995, OFM’s countywide projections for 2000 were:  16,662 persons (high end); 16,399 persons (mid-point); and 16,135 persons (low end).  Since the 2000 Census found the county to have a population of 16,428 persons (29 persons over the mid-point projection), OFM’s mid-point proved to be quite accurate for the five-year time frame involved. 

Recognizing that forecasting population growth for twenty (20) years is more difficult than doing the same for five (5) years, OFM has offered the following county-wide projections for the year 2020:  23,115 persons (high end); 21,405 persons (mid-point); and 19,695 persons (low end).  Also recognizing that Othello’s portion of the county-wide population increased by 4.4 percent during the 1990s, projecting that trend forward through 2020 would find Othello with 38.7 percent of the county-wide population in 2020.  Applying this 38.7 percent future estimate of the City’s proportion to OFM’s 2020 county-wide forecast range, would give Othello a 2020 population of between 7,622 and 8,945 persons.  Time will tell whether this methodology proves valid.  For the purposes of this 2002 update to the Comprehensive Park and Recreation Plan, the OFM’s mid-point approximates 8,280 persons, which is the 2020 projection employed herein for Othello.

City of Othello Census Reports

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Census Summary

Population

The current year population in the Othello Service Area is 18,771. The 2000 Census revealed a population of 18, 008 and in 1990 it was 13,834 representing a 30.17% change. It is estimated that the population in this area will be 20,749 in 2007, representing a change of 10.54% from 2002. The current population is 51.67% male and 48.33% female. In 2002, the median age of the population in this area was 27, compared to the US median age, which was 36. The population density in this area is 27 people per square mile.

Households

There are currently 5,495 households in the Othello Service Area. The Census revealed household counts of 5,327 in 2000, up from 4,311 in 1990, representing a change of 27.44%. It is estimated that the number of households in this area will be 5,946 in 2007, representing a change of 8.21% from the current year. For the current year, the average household size in this area is 3.42 persons.

Income

In 2002, the median household income in this selection geography was $31,351, compared to the US median, which was $40,497. The Census revealed median household incomes of $33,928 in 2000 and $24,717 in 1990 representing a change of 26.84%. It is estimated that the median household income in this area will be $37,856 in 2007, which would represent a change of 20.75% from the current year. The 2002 average household income for this area was $45,121, compared to the US average which was $59,189.

Race Ethnicity

In 2002, the racial make up of this selected area was as follows: 58% White; 39% Hispanic; 3% Other.

Housing

The 2000 Census median housing value was $83,472, as compared to the US median of $93,807.  In 1990, there were 1,528 renter occupied housing units in this area verses 1,745 in 2000.  The average rent in 1990 was $224 verses $348 in 2000.

Employment

In 2002, there were 12,633 people over the age of 16 in this population. Of these 55.12% were employed, 9.79% were unemployed, 35.08% were not in the labor force. In 1990, unemployment in this area was 5.48% and in 2000 it was 7.39%.

In 2002, there were 8,751 employees in this area and there were 671 business establishments.

For this area in 1990, 33.07% of employees were employed in white-collar occupations and 66.91% were employed in blue-collar occupations. In 2000, white-collar workers make up 38.86% of the population, and those employed in blue-collar occupations made up 61.14%. In 1990, the average time traveled to work was minutes.

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Population Projection - Assume 1.76% Annual Growth 2000-2022

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These population forecasts are consistent with GMA projections, and are based on the Office of Financial Management information available at the OFM website: http://www.ofm.wa.gov/pop/poptrends/