Pullman, Washington

Pullman, Washington
City
Main Street Martin Stadium Schweitzer Engineering Laboratoriesheadquarters Washington State University
Nickname: The Lentil Capital
Motto(s): HIGH Tech, HIGHER Education, HIGHEST Quality of Life
The location of Pullman in Washington
Coordinates:46°43′53″N117°10′47″W / 46.73139°N 117.17972°W /46.73139; -117.17972
Country	United States
State	Washington
County	Whitman
Incorporated	April 11, 1888
Named for	Was namedThree Forks, for the three creeks which form South Fork Palouse River. RenamedPullmanon July 4, 1881 for the railroad car.
Government [1]
• Type	Strong Mayor–Council
•Mayor	Francis Benjamin
Area [2]
• Total	11.12 sq mi (28.81 km2)
• Land	11.12 sq mi (28.81 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation [3]	2,352 ft (717 m)
Population ( 2020) [4]
• Total	32,901
• Estimate (2022) [5]	32,508
• Density	2,920/sq mi (1,128/km2)
Time zone	UTC–8(Pacific (PST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC–7(PDT)
ZIP Codes	99163, 99164
Area code	509
FIPS code	53-56625
GNISfeature ID	1531905[3]
Website	pullman-wa.gov

Pullmanis the most populous city inWhitman County, located in southeastern Washington within thePalouseregion of thePacific Northwest. The population was 32,901 at the2020 census,^[4]and estimated to be 32,508 in 2022.^[5]Originally founded asThree Forks, the city was renamed after industrialistGeorge Pullmanin 1884.^[6]

Pullman is noted as a fertile agricultural area known for its many miles of rolling hills and the production ofwheatandlegumes. It is home toWashington State University, a public researchland-grant university, and the international headquarters ofSchweitzer Engineering Laboratories. Pullman is eight miles (13 km) fromMoscow, Idaho, home to theUniversity of Idaho, and is served by thePullman–Moscow Regional Airport.

In 1876, about five years after European-American settlers established Whitman County on November 29, 1871, Bolin Farr arrived in Pullman. He camped at the confluence of Dry Flat Creek and Missouri Flat Creek on the bank of thePalouse River. Within the year, Dan McKenzie and William Ellsworth arrived to stake claims for adjoining land. They named the first post office here as Three Forks. In the spring of 1881, Orville Stewart opened a general store and Bolin Farr platted about 10 acres (4.0 ha) of his land for a town.^{[citation needed]}

Pullman was incorporated on April 11, 1888, with a population of about 250–300 people.^[7]It was originally named Three Forks, after the three small rivers that converge there: Missouri Flat Creek, Dry Fork, and the South Fork of the Palouse River. In 1884, Dan McKenzie and Charles Moore (of Moscow) replatted the site and named it for American industrialistGeorge Pullman.^[6]

On March 28, 1890, the Washington State Legislature established the state'sland grant college, but did not designate a location. Pullman leaders were determined to secure the new college and offered 160 acres (0.65 km²) of land for its campus.Idaho Territoryhad established its land grant college in 1889; the University of Idaho was to be in neighboring Moscow. On April 18, 1891, the site selection commission appointed by Washington's governor chose Pullman. On January 13, 1892, the institution opened with 59 students under the name Washington Agricultural College and School of Science. It was renamed the State College of Washington in 1905, more commonly known as "Washington State College," and becameWashington State Universityin 1959.^[8][9]

In 1961, Pullman became a non-chartered code city under themayor–councilform of government. The city has an elected mayor with an elected seven-member council and an appointed administrative officer, the city administrator.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city of Pullman has a total area of 11.12 square miles (28.8 km²), all land.^[2]The city is in the eastern part of Whitman County in southeastern Washington, approximately 65 miles (105 km) south ofSpokaneand 32 miles (51 km) north ofLewiston, Idaho.

The city is situated across severalloesshills which characterize the Palouse Prairie, formed from windblown sediment over an estimated period of over one million years.^[10]This prairie region, thePalouse, is noteworthy for its fertile rolling hills where winter and spring wheat,barley,canola,lentils, andpeasare grown. These hills provide a variety of elevations across the city, from 2,342 to 2,575 ft (714 to 785 m) above sea level. Downtown Pullman is situated in a valley between these hills. Within the Pullman city limits, the Missouri Flat Creek and Paradise Creek both join the South Fork of thePalouse River. Pullman sits in the watersheds of theSnake Riverand theColumbia River.

Pullman is situated across four major hills which divide the city into nearly equal quarters. These are:

• Military Hill, north of the Palouse River and west of North Grand Avenue
• Pioneer Hill, south of Main Street and the downtown area, and east of South Grand Avenue
• Sunnyside Hill, south of Davis Way and west of South Grand Avenue
• College Hill, north of Main Street and east of North Grand Avenue

Military Hill is named for the Pullman Military College that opened its doors in 1891 and burned down in 1893.^[11]

Pullman has awarm-summer Mediterranean climate(KöppenCsb). This climate is typified by hot, dry summers followed by cold, wet winters with short transitional seasons in between. Due to the rain shadow effect of theCascade Rangeto its west, clear skies occur regularly throughout the year and rainfall is drastically less frequent in comparison to cities west of the mountains. Clouds of any variety are especially scant between June and September, which contributes to adiurnal temperature variationthat is much higher during the summer compared to winter. Pullman has an annual average of 20.41 inches (518 mm) of precipitation.^[12]

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	868		—
1900	1,308		50.7%
1910	2,602		98.9%
1920	2,440		−6.2%
1930	3,322		36.1%
1940	4,417		33.0%
1950	12,022		172.2%
1960	12,957		7.8%
1970	20,509		58.3%
1980	23,579		15.0%
1990	23,478		−0.4%
2000	24,675		5.1%
2010	29,799		20.8%
2020	32,901		10.4%
2022 (est.)	32,508	[5]	−1.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[15] 2020 Census[4]

In 2011,Bloomberg Businessweekselected Pullman as the "Best Place to Raise Kids" in Washington. Factors included affordability, safety, a family-friendly lifestyle, the quality of Pullman High School, the presence of Washington State University, and the natural environment of the area.^[16]

As of the2020 census, there were 32,901 people, 12,185 households, and 4,640 families in Pullman.^[17][18]The population density was 3,010.4 per square mile (1,162.3/km²). There were 13,645 housing units at an average density of 1,248.5 units per square mile (482.0 units/km²).^[18][19]The racial makeup was 69.61% (22,903)whiteorEuropean American(67.0%non-Hispanic white), 3.45% (1,134)blackorAfrican-American, 0.68% (225)Native AmericanorAlaska Native, 10.73% (3,529)Asian, 0.41% (134)Pacific IslanderorNative Hawaiian, 4.13% (1,359) fromother races, and 10.99% (3,617) fromtwo or more races.^[20]HispanicorLatinoof any race was 10.81% (3,556) of the population.^[21]

Of the 12,185 households, 19.5% had children under the age of 18; 27.9% were married couples living together; 31.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 37.7% of households consisted of individuals and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[18]The average household size was 2.2 and the average family size was 2.9.^[22]

13.1% of the population was under the age of 18, 45.7% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 10.6% from 45 to 64, and 6.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.3 males.^[18]For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 101.6 males.^[18]

As of the2010 census, there were 29,799 people, 11,029 households, and 3,898 families living in the city. Thepopulation densitywas 3,016.1 inhabitants per square mile (1,164.5/km²). There were 11,966 housing units at an average density of 1,211.1 units per square mile (467.6 units/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 79.3%White, 2.3%African American, 0.7%Native American, 11.2%Asian, 0.3%Pacific Islander, 1.9% fromother races, and 4.4% from two or more races.HispanicorLatinoresidents of any race were 5.4% of the population.

There were 11,029 households, of which 17.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 28.5% weremarried couplesliving together, 4.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 64.7% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.88.

The median age in the city was 22.3 years. 11.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 51.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.7% were from 25 to 44; 10.5% were from 45 to 64; and 4.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.3% male and 48.7% female.

As of the2000 census, there were 24,675 people, 8,828 households, and 3,601 families living in the city. The population density was 2,740.8 people per square mile (1,058.2 people/km²).

The racial makeup of the city was:

• 83.10%White
• 8.48%Asian
• 3.40% Mixed race
• 2.40%African American
• 1.58% fromother races
• 0.67%Native American
• 0.38%Pacific Islander

HispanicorLatinoof any race were 3.86% of the population.

The 2000 Census found 9,398 housing units at an average density of 1,043.9 units per square mile (403.1 units/km²). There were 8,828 households, out of which:

• 59.2% were non-families
• 33.0% were married couples living together
• 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals
• 20.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them
• 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present
• 3.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older (included in the 31.1% of households made up of individuals)

The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the city, the age distribution of the population was as follows:

• 13.1% under the age of 18
• 49.4% from 18 to 24
• 22.8% from 25 to 44
• 10.3% from 45 to 64
• 4.5% who were 65 years of age or older.

The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females, there are 104.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $20,652, and the median income for a family was $46,165. Males had a median income of $36,743 versus $29,192 for females. Theper capita incomefor the city was $13,448. About 15.3% of families and 37.5% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 20.0% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.

Washington State Universityis the largest employer in both Pullman and Whitman County.^[23][24]

As part of the Palouse Knowledge Corridor, companies associated with an expanding high-tech industry are at the city's north end, anchored bySchweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL), the largest private employer in the region.^[25][24]The lab company was founded byEdmund Schweitzer, a Ph.D. graduate of WSU.^[26]SEL and other firms are within the 107-acre (0.43 km²) Pullman Industrial Park, run by the Port of Whitman County.^[27]

Pullman Regional Hospital opened on Bishop Boulevard in late 2004;^[28][29]its predecessor, Pullman Memorial Hospital, was on the WSU campus and shared facilities with the student health center.^[28][30]

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• Dumas Seed Company warehouse

Since 1989, Pullman has been home to theNational Lentil Festival, a major community event celebrating thelentillegumegrown in the surroundingPalouseregion. The festival includes a lentil cook-off, Friday night street fair, Saturday parade and music in the park, and more. It is held in Reaney Park on the August weekend before fall semester classes start at WSU.^[31]

College sports are popular in Pullman; most support is centered on theWashington State Cougarswho compete in thePac-12 ConferenceinNCAA Division I.^[32]Thefootballteam plays atMartin Stadium, and their in-state rivals are theWashington Huskieswith whom the Cougars play an annualrivalry game, theApple Cup. Thewomen'sandmen's basketballteams play atBeasley Coliseum, and thebaseballteam atBailey–Brayton Field. Moobery Track hosts track and field, and historicBohler Gymnasium(1928) is the home of women's volleyball. The challenging 18-holePalouse Ridge Golf Clubopened in 2008, an overdue upgrade of the nine-hole WSU course.

TheGreyhoundsof Pullman High School compete inWIAAClass 2AinDistrict Seven. Historic rivals are theClarkston Bantamsto the south and theMoscow Bears, in adjacent Idaho.

• Regional Theatre of the Palouse
• Pullman Civic Theatre

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There are several concert series and performing arts organizations based in Pullman. The Washington Idaho Symphony performs approximately six symphonic concerts each season with three chamber concerts through the Silverthorne Chamber Series. The Palouse Choral Society services the greater Palouse region and has approximately five concerts per year. The Washington State University School of Music provides over 100 concerts throughout the school year that feature guest artists, faculty, and students. The larger events include the Festival of Contemporary Artists in Music, the Holiday Celebration, and the outdoor summer music series Fridays at the Clock.

ThePullman School Districtconsists of the following schools:^[33]

• Franklin Elementary School
• Jefferson Elementary School
• Sunnyside Elementary School
• Kamiak Elementary School
• Lincoln Middle School
• Pullman High School

The city's only public high school,Pullman High School (PHS)has about 700 students. It is on Military Hill. Its mascot for its athletic teams is thegreyhound. PHS offers honors and advanced placement courses, along withRunning Startcourse work throughWSUandSpokane Falls Community College.

Pullman is the site of the flagship campus of Washington State University (WSU), a member of thePac-12 Conference(Pac-12) inNCAA Division I. WSU is the second-largest university in the state of Washington, and is well known for its veterinary medicine, business, architecture, engineering, agriculture, pharmacy, and communications schools.

Pullman is located near the junction ofU.S. Route 195(US 195) andState Route 27, which both travel north towards theSpokanearea and serve towns in the Palouse.^[34]US 195 also continues south towardsLewiston, Idaho.^[35]State Route 270provides east–west connections between Pullman andMoscow, Idaho, and shares the same corridor as theBill Chipman Palouse Trail.^[36][37]

The city is also served byPullman Transit, which provides bus service for residents and WSU students who do not live on campus. WSU students are able to ride without fares by presenting their student ID card, as the university includes a transit fee in tuition.^[38]The agency has also provided additional shuttle services during major events at the Washington State University campus, including home football games.^[39]Pullman is also served byintercity busesto Spokane.^[40]An inter-campus shuttle bus between WSU and theUniversity of Idahoin Moscow was operated by a private company until 2011; proposals for a publicly-run replacement have been discussed by Pullman Transit and Smart Transit, the public transit service in Moscow.^[41]

Pullman is served by thePullman–Moscow Regional Airport, situated two miles (3 km) east of Pullman and four miles (6.5 km) west of Moscow.^{[citation needed]}Alaska Airlineshas two daily flights from the airport toSeattle–Tacomayear-round and five flights a week toBoiseduring the school year.^[42][43]The nearest major airport isSpokane International Airport, which is also used by travelers to and from the Pullman area.^[44]

• Pat Beach, NFL tight end for eleven seasons for the Baltimore and Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles, andArizona Cardinals
• John Elway,Hall of FameNFL quarterback for theDenver Broncos, was a resident for four years and attended Pullman High School as a freshman
• John M. Fabian, formerNASAastronaut, graduated fromPullman High Schooland WSU
• Susan Fagan, politician. Member ofWashington House of Representatives.
• Jean Hegland, novelist, born and raised in Pullman
• William La Follette, U.S. Congressman, lived in Pullman
• Gary Larson, cartoonist, graduated fromWashington State Universityin Pullman
• Young Jean Lee, playwright, raised in Pullman
• James Mattis, formerUSMCgeneral and the 26th Secretary of Defense
• Ron C. Mittelhammer, former director of the School of Economic Sciences and former president of the American Agricultural Economics Association
• Timm Rosenbach, NFL quarterback for theArizona CardinalsandNew Orleans Saints; played at Pullman High School andWashington State
• Edmund O. Schweitzer III, founder of Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories
• Kirk Triplett, three-time winner on thePGA Tourand member of the 2000 President's Cup team, 1980 graduate of Pullman High School

• MacGibbon, Elma (1904)."The Columbia River and Pullman".Leaves of Knowledge. Spokane, WA: Shaw & Borden. pp. 81–88.LCCN04010546.OCLC3877939.

• Official website
• Pullman, WashingtonatCurlie