Copalis Beach, Washington
Location of Copalis Beach, Washington
Coordinates: 47°7′4″N 124°10′42″W / 47.11778, -124.17833
Country	United States
State	Washington
County	Grays Harbor
Area
- Total	3.8 sq mi (9.8 km²)
- Land	3.7 sq mi (9.6 km²)
- Water	0.1 sq mi (0.3 km²)
Elevation	23 ft (7 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	489
- Density	132.0/sq mi (51.0/km²)
Time zone	Pacific (PST) (UTC-8)
- Summer (DST)	PDT (UTC-7)
ZIP code	98535
Area code(s)	360
FIPS code	53-14660[1]
GNIS feature ID	1530849[2]

Copalis Beach is a census-designated place (CDP) in Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States. The population was 489 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Copalis Beach is located at 47°7′4″N, 124°10′42″W (47.117784, -124.178435)^[3].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.8 square miles (9.8 km²), of which, 3.7 square miles (9.6 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (2.63%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 489 people, 232 households, and 135 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 132.0 people per square mile (51.0/km²). There were 484 housing units at an average density of 130.7/sq mi (50.5/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 91.00% White, 0.20% African American, 4.70% Native American, 1.43% Asian, and 2.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.43% of the population.

There were 232 households out of which 21.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.4% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.67.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 19.6% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 20.0% from 25 to 44, 32.1% from 45 to 64, and 23.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. For every 100 females there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $33,194, and the median income for a family was $33,807. Males had a median income of $45,694 versus $20,156 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $17,437. About 17.3% of families and 17.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.9% of those under age 18 and 16.3% of those age 65 or over.

History

The Indian tribe Copalis belonged to the coastal division of the Salishan linguistic family and occupied the area of Copalis River and the Pacific Coast between the mouth of Joe Creek and Grays Harbor. In 1805 Lewis and Clark estimated a population of 200 Copalis in 10 houses. The 5 individuals assigned to a "Chepalis" tribe in an enumeration given by Olson of the year 1888 probably refers to them.

First white people settled in the 1890s. Copalis and the beach of the same name, have become famed as the "Home of the razor clam." The fame seems justified. The community sits near the northern end of probably the greatest razor clam bed in the world for the flavor renowned variety abounds, apparently only in the Pacific Northwest, and particularly on Copalis Beach. During the commercial season, Copalis' normal population of about 350 persons, leaped fourfold.

During 1947 and 1948, commercial diggers took more than a million pounds of bi-valves from Copalis Beach, earned themselves approximately $200,000.00 and brought huge additional sums to cannery men and workers. Tourists dug thousands of pounds more. But the clam is not Copalis' only drawing card. The beach is ideal for bathers, and motorists can drive their cars along miles of hard packed sand. In fact, before the highway came, all supplies were shipped by boat to Oyehut and hauled to Copalis over the same beach.

References

External links

• North Beach Travel Guide

• Copalis Beach, Washington is at coordinates 47°07′04″N 124°10′42″W / 47.117784, -124.178435 (Copalis Beach, Washington)Coordinates: 47°07′04″N 124°10′42″W / 47.117784, -124.178435 (Copalis Beach, Washington)

v â€¢ d â€¢ e Municipalities and communities of Grays Harbor County, Washington
County seat: Montesano
Cities	Aberdeen | Cosmopolis | Elma | Hoquiam | McCleary | Montesano | Oakville | Ocean Shores | Westport
CDPs	Aberdeen Gardens | Brady | Central Park | Chehalis Village | Cohassett Beach | Copalis Beach | Grayland | Humptulips | Junction City | Malone-Porter | Markham | Moclips | Neilton | Ocean City | Oyehut-Hogans Corner | Satsop | Taholah
Unincorporated communities	Amanda Park | Pacific Beach