Ridgefield Washington WA Warrant Search

Ridgefield, Washington Ridgefield is a city in the pastoral, rolling-hills countryside of northern Clark County, Washington, United States. The population was 2,147 at the 2000 census.Ridgefield is notable for the significant Native American and Lewis and Clark Expedition history of the area, but is also the home of the beautiful and verdant Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, a primary reserve for migrating waterfowl on the Pacific Flyway, and the somewhat oddly-named Ridgefield High School 'Spudders' (reflecting the area's potato-farming heritage). The city is home to several annual community events, such as their old-fashioned Fourth of July Celebration, and also holds a bird festival that attracts bird lovers from around the region and beyond.While the town of Ridgefield is in itself relatively modest in size, the geographic area that is locally also called Ridgefield is quite a bit larger, extending from the Columbia River to its immediate west, the Lewis River to the north, several miles past Interstate 5 to the east, and south nearly to Vancouver, Washington, encompassing both the Clark County Fairgrounds and the Amphitheater at Clark County . History The area has important ties to the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804-1806.Ridgefield was an important trading center as early as the 1860s, and the city was officially incorporated on August 26, 1909. U-Haul, an American equipment rental company, had its start in Ridgefield in 1945. The community's ties to the Chinookan people was commemorated by the construction of a replica of a Cathlapotle plankhouse at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, which was dedicated March 29, 2005.History The original inhabitants of the Ridgefield area were a Chinook tribe whose village was located along the banks of Lake River. The Lewis and Clark Expedition visited the area twice, once in 1805 enroute to the Pacific Ocean and once in 1806 on the return voyage. The Chinook Indians stayed until 1876 when they relocated at the mouth of the Lewis River.In 1840, a young Irish immigrant named James Carty filed the first Land Donation Claim in the area, a portion of which is in what is the present day northern part of Ridgefield's downtown. His nephew, James Carty, visited in 1860 and later settled in the area in 1872. Records indicate that the younger Carty was active in the Democratic Party and his son William Carty was a state representative for the State of Washington for 22 years.History indicates that Mr. Carty was the only settler until 1853, when Frederick Shobert arrived to homestead 320 acres (1.3 km2), which included in the southern portion of the city's current downtown. Most of this homestead was covered with heavy timber and family members say this was the reason that Mr. Shobert selected this land so that he could log the timber.In the years that followed, more settlers were drawn to the gently sloping land extending from elevated highland to the banks of Lake River. The original name of the community was Union Ridge due to the number of residents originating from the Union Ranks of the Civil War. The name was changed to Ridgefield in 1890 after S. P. Mackay successfully circulated a petition to rename the area and a meeting was called to order to decide the fate.The Post Office was established in the home of the first Postmaster, Asa Richardson, 1865, and commerce came to Ridgefield in 1882 when Stephen Shobert and J.J. Thompson opened the first store.At a special election held in 1909 the people decided by a vote of 62-12 in favor of incorporation. The first officials of the City were: James A. Smith, Mayor, Council members N.C. Hall, A. Murray, J.S. Maxson, F.H. Gilbert and Dr. R.S. Stryker. The City Clerk was J.W. Blackburn and the Treasurer was E. A. Blackmore.The established businesses for the City in 1909, as advertised in the Ridgefield Reflector, were two General Merchandise stores, a Department Store, two Lumber mills, a Water Well Contractor & Driller, two Contractors and Builders, Boat Builder, Meat Market, Hotel, Livery & Draying, Boot & Shoemaker, Creamery, Barber Shop, Blacksmith, Realtor and a Weaver.Other pioneering families settling in the Ridgefield area were the Wells, Bartel, Meuler and McDonald families. These families, along with the Cartys and Shoberts and other prominent families played an important role in the progress and development of Ridgefield. Descendents of these families still reside in Ridgefield. Recent controversy Recently Ridgefield has received attention for the conduct of the current and former city government officials. One former city councilman was convicted of DUI and possession of cocaine. A former city police sergeant, the department's only African American, has sued the city for wrongful termination and additionally filed a federal race discrimination suit on December 1, 2005 . Other controversies include a lawsuit relating to the termination of the former City Manager, (also a defendant in the discrimination suit) and the suspension and resignation of the City's former Chief of Police. Geography Ridgefield is located at 45°48′55″N 122°43′40″W / 45.81528°N 122.72778°W / 45.81528; -122.72778 (45.815309, -122.727846).According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.1 square miles (13.2 km²), of which, 5.1 square miles (13.2 km²) of it is land and 0.20% is water.In the physical lay of the land, (old, pre-Growth Management Act) Ridgefield is like many towns up and down the Columbia River in that it essentially dead-ends at the river, although in this case it is an offshoot of the Columbia River, Lake River, that the city runs up to, about three miles (5 km) west of Interstate 5.The area is marked, as one would expect, with numerous fields bordered by canyons, with ridges along them overlooking the canyons in places. The canyons have been and continue to be carved from the land primarily by water erosion. The land here has been cleared of much of its earlier forests to accommodate the uses of people, first as fields for farming, mostly potatoes and plums for prunes, and growth, especially residential development continues to impact the area.IMPORTANT DATES1840 - James Carty becomes the first settler in the area September 15, 1865 - Post Office established 1890 - Union Ridge renamed Ridgefield 1892 - School opened on Maple Avenue 1893 - First telephone installed August 20, 1909 - Town of Ridgefield incorporated by a vote of 62-12 October 8, 1909 - The Ridgefield Reflector started publication (Now operated in Battle Ground) February 21, 1910 - Ridgefield State Bank opened on the corner of Main & Pioneer (Now Ridgefield Hardware) January 6, 1911 - Eight room school building opened (Now View Ridge Middle School) 1913 - Bratlie - McClellen Lumber Mill built January 1916 - Electric service established by Bratlie Lumber Company December 27, 1916 - The steamboat 'City of Ridgefield' was launched for a Ridgefield-Portland run May 12, 1928 - The Clark County Potato Growers Associated was organized Fall 1945 - L. S. Schoen built the first U-Haul trailer in a tool shed at the Carty Ranch April 26, 1946 - Liberty Theatre opened 1964 - Pacific Wood Treating Plant opened 1975 - Lancaster House placed on National Register of Historic Places July 4, 1977 - Abrams Park dedicated in honor of D. K. AbramsCity Council Overview The Ridgefield City Council consists of a five member council who are elected by the citizens of Ridgefield and serve as the community leaders and policy makers.The Council is led by the Mayor who is appointed biennially by the members of the Council. The Mayor's duties include representing the City at events and before other agencies or organizations and facilitating City Council meetings. City Council members and the Mayor establish the policies of the city including the adoption of the annual budget which set the priorities and programs for staff to administer.The Ridgefield City Council meets at 6:30 p.m. at the Ridgefield Community Center located at 210 N Main Avenue. Council meetings are held on the second and fourth Thursday of each month, with the exception of the months of November and December when meetings shift to the first and third Thursdays. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend and participate in City Council meetings.Vision StatementConnecting our historic past with a healthy future where people, nature and business flourish together.Mission StatementCommitted to providing the community with superior services, building on the proud history and meeting the challenges that shape our future. Demographics As of the census of 2000, there were 2,147 people, 739 households, and 557 families residing in the city. The population density was 420.8 people per square mile (162.5/km²). There were 777 housing units at an average density of 152.3 per square mile (58.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.16% White, 0.28% African American, 1.12% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.23% from other races, and 2.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.77% of the population. 20.4% were of German, 18.9% American, 11.9% English, 6.9% Irish and 6.2% Norwegian ancestry according to Census 2000.There were 739 households out of which 43.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.6% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.6% were non-families. 18.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.18.In the city the population was spread out with 29.8% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males.The median income for a household in the city was $46,012, and the median income for a family was $51,121. Males had a median income of $38,125 versus $27,426 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,696. About 4.4% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over. Education The Ridgefield school district has four schools: Union Ridge elementary, South Ridge elementary, View Ridge middle school, and Ridgefield High School. Trivia Famous Clerks producer Scott Mosier once lived here.Former MLB player Richie Sexson currently resides here with his wife Kerry.