Editing Ruston, Washington

{{Short description|City in Washington, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Ruston, Washington
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|image_skyline            = Point Ruston.jpg
|imagesize                = 250px
|image_caption            = Neighborhoods at Stack Hill
|image_map                = Pierce_County_Washington_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Ruston_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Ruston, Washington
<!-- Location ------>
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Washington|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Pierce County, Washington|Pierce]]
<!-- Government ---->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         = 
<!-- Area ------>
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_53.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 0.67
|area_land_km2            = 0.66
|area_water_km2           = 0.01
|area_total_sq_mi         = 0.26
|area_land_sq_mi          = 0.26
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
<!-- Population ----------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
|population_total         = 1055
|population_density_km2   = 1276.60
|population_density_sq_mi = 3300.78
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific (PST)]]
|utc_offset               = -8
|timezone_DST             = PDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -7
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 98
|coordinates              = {{coord|47|17|53|N|122|30|37|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
<!-- Area/postal codes and others -->
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 98407
|area_code                = [[Area code 253|253]] 
|area_code_type           = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 53-60510
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2412586<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2412586}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|http://www.rustonwa.org/|rustonwa.org}}
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Ruston''' is a city in [[Pierce County, Washington|Pierce County]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], United States. The population was 1,055 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=2020 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US5360510 |work=American FactFinder |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=May 16, 2022}}</ref>

Although it is nearly indistinguishable from the adjacent city of [[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]], the predominantly residential area still retains its status as a separate municipality long after it ceased to be a [[company town]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Town of Ruston |publisher=Government of the Town of Ruston |url=http://www.rustonwa.org/ | access-date=March 5, 2009}}</ref> The local government opted to reclassify Ruston as a city in late 2012.

==History==
[[File:IMAG1554-point-ruston-tacoma.jpg|thumb|left|Mixed-use buildings at Point Ruston, on the former site of a smelter]]

In 1890, [[industrialist]] William R. Rust established Tacoma Smelting & Refining Company and a [[company town]] named the "Smelter District".<ref name="TNT-Smelter">{{cite news |last=Nunnally |first=Derrick |date=November 7, 2015 |title=Three decades after the Asarco smelter shutdown, its toxic legacy surprises Tacoma newcomers |url=https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article43503663.html |work=The News Tribune |accessdate=February 13, 2021}}</ref> The company took over an existing smelter that had opened two years earlier and began refining lead;<ref name="Crosscut">{{cite news |last=Chasan |first=Daniel Jack |date=October 6, 2010 |title=Memories of toxic rain in Ruston, and the smelter that shaped a city |url=https://crosscut.com/2010/10/memories-toxic-rain-in-ruston-smelter-that-shaped |work=[[Crosscut.com]] |accessdate=June 10, 2023}}</ref> it expanded to more than 300 employees by 1905, with most living in the Smelter District. In 1906, Rust proposed the creation of a new city, which residents named "Ruston" in his honor. Ruston was officially incorporated as a city on November 10, 1906, surrounded on one side by [[Commencement Bay]] and all other sides the city of [[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Brock |first=Amber |date=March 12, 2019 |title=Residents of Tacoma's Smelter District vote to incorporate as the City of Ruston on October 19, 1906. |url=https://www.historylink.org/File/20738 |work=[[HistoryLink]] |accessdate=June 10, 2023}}</ref>

The Tacoma Smelting & Refining Company was acquired by the [[American Smelting and Refining Company]] (ASARCO) in 1905 and its Ruston facility was converted for copper smelting. A prominent brick [[smokestack]] was constructed in 1917 and originally measured {{convert|571|ft|m}} in height and was the tallest in the world until it was reduced to {{convert|562|ft|m}} following earthquake damage in 1937.<ref name="HistoryLink">{{cite web |last=Riddle |first=Margaret |date=August 26, 2008 |title=The ASARCO smokestack — once the world's largest — is demolished at the company's old copper smelter in Ruston, north of Tacoma, on January 17, 1993. |url=https://www.historylink.org/File/8744 |work=HistoryLink |accessdate=June 10, 2023}}</ref> The facility's waste [[slag]] was dumped into Commencement Bay for land expansion, while the smokestack produced plumes that polluted portions of Pierce County.<ref name="Crosscut"/><ref name="Times-2006">{{cite news |last=Cornwall |first=Warren |date=March 9, 2006 |title=Once-toxic town wrestles with upscale makeover |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=20060309&slug=smelter07m |work=[[The Seattle Times]] |accessdate=June 10, 2023}}</ref> The smelter closed in 1985 due to a decline in copper prices and new regulations on arsenic pollution;<ref name="Crosscut"/> the facility employed 700 people at the time. The smokestack was demolished on January 17, 1993, amid a major environmental cleanup under the [[Superfund]] program.<ref>{{cite news |last=Murakami |first=Kery |date=January 18, 1993 |title=Tumbling landmark: Smokestack bites dust |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19930118&slug=1680633 |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=June 10, 2023}}</ref>

The Superfund cleanup extended to most of the town and required the removal of contaminated soil in and around properties. By 2006, cleanup was largely complete and median home prices had doubled over a three-year period as Ruston became a desirable [[bedroom community]].<ref name="Times-2006"/> The Ruston town council passed a measure to become a noncharter code city under [[city government in the state of Washington|Washington law]] in late 2012. Officials indicated that the "Town of Ruston" moniker would continue to be used.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.king5.com/news/local/Town-of-Ruston-grows-up-179947491.html |title=Town of Ruston grows up |publisher=KING5.com |author=John Langeler |date=November 19, 2012 |location=Seattle |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121128125547/http://www.king5.com/news/local/Town-of-Ruston-grows-up-179947491.html |archive-date=November 28, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/10/02/2318217/change-from-town-to-city-gives.html |title=Change from town to city gives Ruston leaders more autonomy |date=October 2, 2012 |author=Matt Misterek |newspaper=The News Tribune |location=Tacoma |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113162916/http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/10/02/2318217/change-from-town-to-city-gives.html |archive-date=November 13, 2012 }}</ref> Development of residential and commercial buildings on the {{convert|97|acre|ha|adj=mid}} smelter site, renamed "Point Ruston", began in 2013 and the first phase opened the following year.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gillie |first=John |date=July 10, 2014 |title=Point Ruston moving quickly to second phase |url=https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/business/article25871800.html |work=The News Tribune |accessdate=June 10, 2023}}</ref> The area, described as an urban village, also includes waterfront parkspace and a [[multi-use path]] that connects to [[Point Defiance Park]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Levy |first=Nat |date=October 22, 2015 |title=Real Estate Buzz: Perseverance pays off at Point Ruston |url=https://www.djc.com/news/re/bzz.html?id=12082834 |work=[[Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce]] |accessdate=June 10, 2023}}</ref> The full development of Point Ruston is planned to include 1,200 residential units, a waterfront hotel, and various commercial spaces.<ref>{{cite news |last=Driscoll |first=Matt |date=March 25, 2017 |title=Matt Driscoll: Will affordable housing be the next amenity added to Point Ruston? |url=https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/matt-driscoll/article140010328.html |work=The News Tribune |accessdate=June 10, 2023}}</ref> The development's properties were later placed in [[receivership]] due to failed payments to a lender by the new owners of various phases.<ref>{{cite news |last=De La Rosa |first=Shawna |date=June 8, 2023 |title=Point Ruston properties put into receivership after lender sues for $74M |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2023/06/08/lender-calls-in-738m-in-loans-from-point-ruston.html |work=[[Puget Sound Business Journal]] |accessdate=June 10, 2023}}</ref>

==Geography==

Ruston is surrounded on three sides by the city of [[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]]; to the north is [[Puget Sound]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|0.34|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which, {{convert|0.26|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.08|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=December 19, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=January 25, 2012}}</ref>

{{Panorama|image=Ruston_Panorama.jpg |width=650px|height=175px|caption=Panorama from above Point Ruston, overlooking the [[Puget Sound]]. }}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 780
|1920= 1128
|1930= 818
|1940= 739
|1950= 838
|1960= 694
|1970= 668
|1980= 612
|1990= 693
|2000= 738
|2010= 749
|2020= 1055
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 25, 2013}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]],<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=December 19, 2012}}</ref> there were 749 people, 336 households, and 194 families living in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2880.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 430 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1653.8|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the town was 87.0% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.9% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.1% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.7% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.7% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.9% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 4.7% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 6.0% of the population.

There were 336 households, of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.3% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.78.

The median age in the town was 39.5 years. 20.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 30.6% were from 25 to 44; 31.7% were from 45 to 64; and 10% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.7% male and 51.3% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], there were 738 people, 330 households, and 185 families living in the town. The population density was 2,879.9 people per square mile (1,095.9/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 355 housing units at an average density of 1,385.3 per square mile (527.2/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the town was 87.26% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.57% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 2.98% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.30% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.14% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.08% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 3.66% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 3.79% of the population.

There were 330 households, out of which 22.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.8% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.9% were non-families. 34.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the town the age distribution of the population shows 20.1% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 33.5% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $48,393, and the median income for a family was $54,167. Males had a median income of $36,932 versus $36,042 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $22,565. About 7.7% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 12.8% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==

Ruston is served by [[Tacoma Public Schools]], a public school district.<ref name=PierceCountyschools>{{cite map |author=U.S. Census Bureau Geography Division |date=December 23, 2009 |title=2020 Census – School District Reference Map: Pierce County, WA |page=2 |scale=1:80,000 |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st53_wa/schooldistrict_maps/c53053_pierce/DC20SD_C53053.pdf |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |accessdate=August 4, 2022}}</ref> Most of Ruston is zoned to Point Defiance Elementary School while parts in the east are zoned to Sherman Elementary School. All of Ruston is zoned to Truman Middle School and [[Silas High School]] (formerly [[Woodrow Wilson]] High School).<ref>{{cite map |title=School Boundaries |url=https://maulfoster.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Embed/index.html?webmap=8bbc76cd3fda4cbda9929d39f3bc1abd |publisher=[[Tacoma Public Schools]] |cartography=[[ArcGIS]] |accessdate=August 4, 2022}}</ref>

The [[magnet school]] [[Science and Math Institute (Tacoma, Washington)|Science and Math Institute]] (SAMi) is at [[Point Defiance Park]], adjacent to Ruston.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sami.tacomaschools.org/contact/staff-list|title=Staff List|publisher=Science and Math Institute|accessdate=August 5, 2022}}</ref> The school opened at the park in 2009 and moved to a new campus in 2015.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cafazzo |first=Debbie |date=February 13, 2015 |title=SAMI will build new home inside Tacoma's Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium |url=https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/education/article26255191.html |work=The News Tribune |accessdate=August 5, 2022}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.rustonwa.org/ Official website]
*[http://video.kbtc.org/video/2168041916/ Ruston]  Documentary produced by [[Full Focus]]

{{Pierce County, Washington}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Company towns in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:North Tacoma, Washington]]
[[Category:Cities in Pierce County, Washington]]
[[Category:Cities in the Seattle metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Cities in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Asarco]]
[[Category:1906 establishments in Washington (state)]]