Porter, Washington

Porter, Washington
Census-designated place
Porter, Washington, early 20th century
Porter, Washington, early 20th century
Porter is located in Washington (state)
Porter
Porter
Location within Washington (state)
Porter is located in the United States
Porter
Porter
Location within the United States
Coordinates: 46°57′18″N 123°15′32″W / 46.95500°N 123.25889°W / 46.95500; -123.25889
CountryUnited States
StateWashington
CountyGrays Harbor
Area
 • Total
8.9 sq mi (23.0 km2)
 • Land8.9 sq mi (23.0 km2)
 • Water0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation
492 ft (150 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
204
 • Density23.0/sq mi (8.87/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP Code
98541
Area code(s)360, 564
FIPS code53-55540
GNIS feature ID2585019

Porter is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States. The population was 204 at the 2020 census, slightly down from 207 at the 2010 census. Prior to 2010 it was part of the Malone-Porter CDP; Malone and Porter are now separate CDPs. They are located just off U.S. Route 12, southeast of Elma and northwest of Oakville, and along a shortline that is part of the Puget Sound and Pacific Railroad.

History

Porter was named after Fairchild Porter, who settled in the area around 1860. The Sharon Grange, located in Oakville, began in the Porter community as the Porter Grange No. 800 in 1923.

Much of Porter was destroyed by fire on January 31, 1924. Porter Saloon was re-built later that same year. When it re-opened in 1933 following the repeal of Prohibition, it was one of the first establishments to receive a liquor license in the state of Washington.[citation needed]

Geography

Porter is located in southeastern Grays Harbor County, east of the Chehalis River valley near the mouth of Porter Creek. The CDP extends northeast up the Porter Creek valley and east to the first ridgecrest of the local Black Hills. It is bordered to the northwest by the Malone CDP and to the west by U.S. Route 12, which leads west 27 miles (43 km) to Aberdeen and southeast 19 miles (31 km) to Grand Mound and Interstate 5.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Porter CDP has a total area of 8.9 square miles (23.0 km2), all of it land.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
2010207—
2020204−1.4%
U.S. Decennial Census
2000 2010

Porter first appeared as a census designated place in the 2010 U.S. census formed from part of the deleted Malone-Porter CDP and additional area.

Racial and ethnic composition

Porter CDP, Washington – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 189 176 91.30% 86.27%
Black or African American alone (NH) 4 1 1.93% 0.49%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 3 3 1.45% 1.47%
Asian alone (NH) 0 3 0.00% 1.47%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) 1 1 0.48% 0.49%
Other race alone (NH) 0 1 0.00% 0.49%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 1 10 0.48% 4.90%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 9 9 4.35% 4.41%
Total 207 204 100.00% 100.00%

Education

Primary and secondary education in Elma is provided by the Elma School District.

References

  1. 1 2 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Porter, Washington
  2. ↑ "Porter WA ZIP Code". zipdatamaps.com. 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Porter CDP, Washington". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2017.[dead link]
  4. ↑ "Census Bureau profile: Porter, Washington". United States Census Bureau. May 2023. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  5. ↑ Majors, Harry M. (1975). Exploring Washington. Van Winkle Publishing Co. p. 116. ISBN 978-0-918664-00-6.
  6. ↑ Meany, Edmond S. (1923). Origin of Washington Geographic Names. Seattle: University of Washington Press. p. 229.
  7. ↑ The Chronicle staff (April 8, 2024). "Oakville's Sharon Grange annual spring oyster feed returns this weekend". The Chronicle (Centralia, Washington). Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Decennial Census by Decade". United States Census Bureau.
  9. ↑ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Washington" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 26, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  10. 1 2 "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Washington" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 24, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  11. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Porter CDP, Washington". United States Census Bureau.
  12. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Porter CDP, Washington". United States Census Bureau.
  13. ↑ Geography Division (December 21, 2020). 2020 Census - School District Reference Map: Grays Harbor County, WA (PDF) (Map). Suitland, Maryland: U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2026. - Text list