Mabton is a city incorporated during the first few years of the 20th century, and located in Yakima County, Washington, at the eastern edge of the Yakama Indian reservation. As of April 2001 the city's population was 1905, fourteen people more than recorded for the 2000 census and up 28.5% from the 1482 people residing there in 1990.
The Mabton area's original inhabitants were the Yakama, who were forced onto a reservation in 1855. Mabton existence as a town is due to the Northern Pacific Railroad, which arrived in the area around 1884. The town's name is an abbreviation of Mabletown; a railroad official's daughter was named Mable.
The Mabton School District has been the repeated beneficiary of grants from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation:
- $558,000 over five years (from 2000 to 2005) to enhance student access to technology;
- In 2001, Mabton High School was one of sixteen high schools chosen to participate in the Washington State Achievers Program; the school gets a share proportional to its student population (about 330 students) of more than $9 million to support school improvement and redesign efforts and more than $100 million for college scholarships for its students;
- Over $40,000 over five years (2001-2006) to improve high school education and access to higher education; and
- Over $125,000 over 34 months (2001-2004) to support professional development programs in partnership with Heritage College.
A small ranch near Mabton was home to the first confirmed case of mad cow disease in the United States.
Geography
Mabton is located at 46°12'42" North, 119°59'47" West (46.211618, -119.996520)1. Its ZIP code is 98935.
The city has a total area of ½ mi² (1.2 km²); none of the area is covered with water.
Statistics
Results from the census of 2000 taken by the United States Census Bureau are as follows:
- There are 1,891 people, 445 households, and 381 families residing in the city.
- The population density is 1,553.4/km² (4,026.3/mi²).
- There are 463 housing units at an average density of 380.4/km² (985.8/mi²).
- 89% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race; this figure includes the 80.5% who reported themselves as Mexican. The racial makeup of the city is 21.73% White, 1% Asian, 0.48% Native American, 0.11% African American, and no Pacific Islanders, 73.88% from other races, and 2.80% from two or more races.
- There are 445 households out of which 60% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.3% are married couples living together, 17.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 14.2% are non-families. 12.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 5.8% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 4.22 and the average family size is 4.54.
- The median house value is $69,800; 64.7% of the housing units are owner-occupied. 77.2% of the homes were built before 1980.
- 41.9% of the population is under the age of 18, 12.9% is from 18 to 24, 25.8% is from 25 to 44, 12.9% is from 45 to 64, and 6.5% are 65 or older. The median age is 22 years.
- There are more men than women: for every 100 females there are 104 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 104.1 males.
- The median income for a household in the city is $26,650, and the median income for a family is $26,198. Males have a median income of $18,917 versus $21,667 for females.
- The per capita income for the city is $7,694. 32.7% of the population and 27.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 44.0% are under the age of 18 and 18.2% are 65 or older.
