Editing Twisp, Washington

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Twisp, Washington
| settlement_type    = [[Town]]
| nickname           = Heart of the Methow Valley
| image_skyline      = Twisp River Valley in Twisp, Washington.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Twisp River Valley
| image_map          = Okanogan_County_Washington_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Twisp_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Twisp, 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  = [[Okanogan County, Washington|Okanogan]]
<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = [[Mayor–council government|Mayor–council]]
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Hans Smith{{cn|date=February 2025}}
| leader_title1      = Council
| leader_name1       = Twisp Town Council
| established_title  = [[Municipal incorporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date   = August 6, 1909
<!-- 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     = 3.04
| area_land_km2      = 3.03
| area_water_km2     = 0.02
| area_total_sq_mi   = 1.18
| area_land_sq_mi    = 1.17
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.01
<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 992
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
<!-- 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       = 1595
| coordinates        = {{coord|48|21|48|N|120|07|23|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
<!-- Area/postal codes and others -->
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 98856
| area_code          = [[Area code 509|509]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 53-73080<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2413408<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2413408}}</ref>
| website            = [http://townoftwisp.com/ Town of Twisp]
| footnotes          = 
}}

'''Twisp''' is a town in [[Okanogan County, Washington|Okanogan County]] in north central [[Washington (state)|Washington]], which sits at the confluence of the [[Twisp River|Twisp]] and [[Methow River|Methow]] rivers. The population was 919 at the time of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]] and increased to 992 at the time of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].

==History==
On July 30, 1897, Henry C. Glover [[plat]]ted a town in the [[Methow River|Methow Valley]] he called Gloversville, in which a small store and post office were soon established.<ref name="majors">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CoWrPQAACAAJ|title=Exploring Washington|last=Majors|first=Harry M.|publisher=Van Winkle Publishing Co|year=1975|isbn=978-0-918664-00-6|page=40}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://historylink.org/File/9943|title=Twisp — Thumbnail History|last=West|first=Karen|date=October 5, 2011|website=HistoryLink.org|access-date=August 18, 2019}}</ref> In 1898, Glover became [[postmaster]] of the town, which was now called Twisp, the origin of which is unclear.<ref name=":0" /> The common explanation is that it comes from the [[Okanagan language|Okanagan]] placename ''txʷəc'p'',<ref name="Bright2004">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5XfxzCm1qa4C&pg=PA526|title=Native American placenames of the United States|last=Bright|first=William|publisher=University of Oklahoma Press|year=2004|isbn=978-0-8061-3598-4|page=526|author-link=William Bright|access-date=April 11, 2011}}</ref> which possibly translates to [[wasp]], [[yellowjacket]], or the sound made by a wasp.<ref name=":0" /> On June 29, 1899, Amanda P. Burgar platted the town of Twisp adjacent to the original Gloversville site, which was thereafter considered part of Twisp.<ref name=":0" />

Twisp soon contained a population of miners and ranchers who were supported by many local businesses, including a drug store, a bank, a hotel, two saloons and a [[Methodism|Methodist]] church.<ref name=":0" /> The [[Methow people|Methow tribe]] was also a common sight, who continued to camp in their traditional sites and traded with the settlers.<ref name=":0" /> On August 6, 1909, the town was incorporated and elected its first officers.<ref name=":0" /> One of the first issues the five-member town council faced was liquor licenses for the two saloons, and a 1910 election was held to determine whether Twisp would implement [[Prohibition]].<ref name=":0" /> The saloons served free drinks on election day, which allegedly all 88 voters partook in, and Prohibition was rejected by a vote of 56–32.<ref name=":0" /> In 1911, electricity was brought to Twisp and the first movie house opened.<ref name=":0" /> On January 15, 1912, the Twisp School, constructed at a cost of $12,109.68, opened its doors.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://methowcommunity.org/history/|title=History – Methow Valley Community Center|date=May 20, 2017 |language=en|access-date=August 18, 2019}}</ref>

Twisp was largely built of wood and shortly after midnight on July 24, 1924, a fire broke out in downtown Twisp, which burned down two houses and 23 buildings.<ref name=":0" /> Only the Filer and McAlister grocery store and the Commercial Bank's vault survived within the fire zone, which were both built of red brick.<ref name=":0" />

In 1940, a $50,000 addition to the Twisp School building was completed, which included a library, study hall and gymnasium, and the Twisp High School was relocated to a new wing.<ref name=":1" />

By the early 1940s, logging was a large business in [[Okanogan County, Washington|Okanogan County]] and Ernest and Otto Wagner, a father and son team, owned the second largest operation.<ref name=":0" /> After their [[Okanogan, Washington|Okanogan]] mill burned in 1943, they eventually moved all their operations to Twisp and in 1963 a local newspaper reported that "its payroll [was] the life blood of the biggest per cent of the people, not only of Twisp but of the entire Methow Valley."<ref name=":0" />

In 1948, the Columbia River and its tributaries, including the Twisp and Methow rivers, flooded and the damage in the Methow Valley was estimated to be $4 million, which lost power, telephone service, all its bridges and multiple houses.<ref name=":0" />

The opening of the [[North Cascades Highway]] in 1972 brought an influx of full-time resident retirees and seasonal recreationalists, which led to an increase of jobs.<ref name=":0" /> In 1973, [[Liberty Bell Junior-Senior High School|a new high school]] located between Twisp and neighboring [[Winthrop, Washington|Winthrop]] was completed and that year's class was the last to graduate from Twisp High School, which was then abandoned and sat vacant for five years.<ref name=":1" /> In 1979, the building reopened as the Methow Valley Community Center.<ref name=":1" />

In 2009, the vacant [[ranger station]] in Twisp was converted to a campus (entitled TwispWorks) where local businesses, community organizations, artists and producers could operate.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.methowarts.org/arts-partners/twisp-works/|title=TwispWorks|website=Methow Arts|language=en-US|access-date=August 18, 2019}}</ref>

Twisp, along with several neighboring towns in Okanogan County, was evacuated in August 2015 as a result of the [[Okanogan Complex Fire]]. Three firefighters were killed while battling one of the complex's fires near Twisp on August 19.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.khq.com/story/29837631/three-firefighters-killed-in-wildfire-near-twisp-evacuations-in-place|title=Three firefighters killed in wildfire near Twisp; One firefighter remains in critical condition|last=Howard|first=Cory|date=August 20, 2015|work=[[KHQ-TV]]|access-date=August 26, 2015}}</ref>

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|1.18|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all of it land.<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/20110220065340/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=February 20, 2011}}</ref>

Twisp is located on the [[Methow River]] at its confluence with the [[Twisp River]].

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1910 = 227
| 1920 = 289
| 1930 = 335
| 1940 = 477
| 1950 = 776
| 1960 = 750
| 1970 = 756
| 1980 = 911
| 1990 = 872
| 2000 = 938
| 2010 = 919
| 2020 = 992
| 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=September 8, 2014}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census">{{cite web |date=May 2023 |title=Census Bureau profile: Twisp, Washington |url=https://data.census.gov/all?q=Twisp%20town,%20Washington |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=May 12, 2024}}</ref>
}}

===2010 census===
At the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]] there were 919 people, 474 households, and 222 families in the town. The population density was {{convert|778.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 524 housing units at an average density of {{convert|444.1|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|racial makeup]] of the town was 94.6% White, 0.2% African American, 1.2% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.4% Pacific Islander, 0.3% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.3%.<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>

Of the 474 households 20.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.2% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 53.2% were non-families. 46.0% of households were one person and 15.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 1.94 and the average family size was 2.72.

The median age in the town was 46.1 years. 17.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.3% were from 25 to 44; 33.3% were from 45 to 64; and 18.2% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.6% male and 50.4% female.

===2000 census===
At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] there were 938 people, 438 households, and 258 families in the town. The population density was 807.9 people per square mile (312.2/km{{sup|2}}). There were 505 housing units at an average density of 434.9 per square mile (168.1/km{{sup|2}}). The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the town was 96.16% White, 0.96% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.75% from other races, and 1.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.77%.<ref name="GR2" />

Of the 438 households 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.5% were married couples living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.9% were non-families. 34.7% of households were one person and 14.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.70.

The age distribution was 24.2% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.2 males.

The median household income was $26,354 and the median family income was $31,944. Males had a median income of $26,250 versus $17,857 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,257. About 14.6% of families and 19.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 27.3% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.

== Government and politics ==
The Town of Twisp's [[Mayor–council government|mayor-council government system]] comprises a mayor and the five-member Twisp Town Council, with Hans Smith serving as mayor since 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nelson |first=Don |date=December 21, 2023 |title=Ing-Moody hands over mayoral reins in Twisp |url=https://methowvalleynews.com/2023/12/21/ing-moody-hands-over-mayoral-reins-in-twisp/ |work=Methow Valley News |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref> Twisp is located within [[Okanogan County, Washington|Okanogan County]] in [[Washington's 4th congressional district]], represented by Republican [[Dan Newhouse]], who was sworn in on January 3, 2015.

== Education ==
The Town of Twisp is served by the Methow Valley School District, which includes Methow Valley Elementary and [[Liberty Bell Junior-Senior High School]], both of which are located midway between Twisp and neighboring [[Winthrop, Washington|Winthrop]]. The Independent Learning Center, an [[alternative high school]], is located in Twisp.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://methow.org/schools/independent-learning-center/|title=Independent Learning Center|website=methow.org|access-date=August 23, 2019}}</ref>

== Notable people ==

* [[Jake Muxworthy]], actor
* [[Danbert Nobacon]], British musician
* [[Stella Stevens]], actress
* [[Lynx Vilden]], British survivalist
* [[Emily Warn]], poet

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=9943 History of Twisp] at [[HistoryLink]]
* [http://www.twispinfo.com/ Twisp Chamber of Commerce]

{{Okanogan County, Washington}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Okanogan County, Washington]]
[[Category:Towns in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Populated places in the Okanagan Country]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1897]]
[[Category:1897 establishments in Washington (state)]]