Rosalia, Washington

Rosalia is a town in Whitman County, Washington, United States. It is an agricultural community in the Palouse region, at an elevation of 2238 ft above sea level. Its population was 598 at the 2020 census.

History


Rosalia was the site of an 1858 Battle of Pine Creek between United States troops, including Nez Perce allies, under Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Edward Steptoe, and members of the Coeur d'Alene, Palus and Spokane Native American tribes.

Rosalia was founded in 1870 by T.J. Favorite, who named it for his wife. Rosalia was officially incorporated on March 23, 1894.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.62 sqmi, all of it land.

Climate
Rosalia's climate is classified as a dry-summer humid continental climate (Dsb) according to the Köppen climate classification.

2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 550 people, 228 households, and 151 families residing in the town. The population density was 887.1 PD/sqmi. There were 270 housing units at an average density of 435.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 96.5% White, 0.7% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.9% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.2% of the population.

There were 228 households, of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.8% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.89.

The median age in the town was 43.4 years. 24.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.1% were from 25 to 44; 31.9% were from 45 to 64; and 16.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 50.5% male and 49.5% female.

2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 648 people, 246 households, and 167 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,059.1 /sqmi. There were 272 housing units at an average density of 444.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 96.14% White, 0.15% African American, 2.16% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.31% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.77% of the population.

There were 246 households, out of which 39.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.30.

In the town, the age distribution of the population shows 32.1% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $33,214, and the median income for a family was $37,750. Males had a median income of $30,962 versus $20,625 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,121. About 11.0% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.4% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education
Rosalia School District Awarded Best School National Award 2006.

Media
Outdoor scenes for the 1992 film Toys were filmed in the Palouse region of the eastern part of the state, near Rosalia. Scenes from the 1999 drama "The Basket", were filmed in and around Rosalia.