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Longview, WA

Frequently asked questions

Longview, WA

Longview is a city in Cowlitz County, Washington, United States. It is the principal city of the Longview, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cowlitz County. Longview's population was 37,818 at the time of the 2020 census, making it the largest city in Cowlitz County. The city is located in southwestern Washington, at the junction of the Cowlitz and Columbia rivers. Longview shares a border with Kelso to the east, which is the county seat.

The Cowlitz Indian Tribe, a federally recognized tribe of Cowlitz people, is headquartered in Longview.

The Long-Bell Lumber Company, led by Robert A. Long, decided to buy a great expanse of timberland in Cowlitz County in 1918. A total of 14,000 workers were needed to run the two large mills as well as lumber camps that were planned. The number of workers needed was more than a lumber town, or the nearest town, could provide. Long planned and built a complete city in 1921 that could support a population of up to 50,000 and provide labor for the mills as well as attract other industries. Several buildings in the city were built from Long's private funds.

Longview was the location of Mount Coffin, an ancestral burial ground for the local indigenous people. The first Euro-American settlers were led by Harry and Rebecca Jane Huntington, in 1849. The area was named Monticello in honor of Thomas Jefferson's home in Virginia. In 1852 a group assembled in what would be called the "Monticello Convention" to petition Congress for statehood to be called "Columbia". Congress agreed to statehood but as Washington, after President Washington, to avoid confusion with the District of Columbia. A monument to the convention is located near the Longview Civic Center. From 1854 to 1865 the town of Monticello was the seat of Cowlitz County, before being destroyed by the flooding of the Cowlitz River in December 1867. In 1865 Nathaniel Stone founded the town of Freeport (a mile upriver from Monticello) which became the seat of Cowlitz County until 1872. The area of the towns of Monticello and Freeport is now part of the city of Longview.

Longview was officially incorporated on February 14, 1924. At the time of its conception, Longview was the only planned city of its magnitude to have ever been conceived of and built entirely with private funds. Several prominent buildings in Longview were purchased with R. A. Long's funds, including R. A. Long High School, the Longview Public Library, the YMCA building, and the Monticello Hotel.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.79 square miles (38.31 km²), of which 14.49 square miles (37.53 km²) is land and 0.30 square miles (0.78 km²) is water. The Lewis and Clark Bridge spans the Columbia River, linking Longview to Rainier, Oregon. It is the only bridge spanning the river between Portland and Astoria, Oregon.

Health and wellness are integral aspects of life in Longview. The PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center offers comprehensive health services, including wellness check-ups and preventive care programs. Snap Fitness Longview offers comprehensive fitness programs including cardio, strength training, and group exercise classes. For a relaxing spa experience, visit Estetica Spa, which provides massages and skincare treatments. Yoga practitioners can find their zen at Fuel Yoga Workouts and Holos Yoga, which offer classes for all levels. The YMCA of Southwest Washington provides various fitness programs and swimming facilities. The Cowlitz River is a great spot for kayaking and fishing, promoting both physical and mental health. 

Top sites in Longview, WA are Triangle Bowl, Children's Discovery Museum, Stageworks Northwest, and Lake Sacajawea Park.

Population: 37,925 (2023). ZIP code: 98632. Area code: 360. Elevation: 20 ft (6 m). Area: 14.79 square miles (38.31 km²).

FAQs

What is Longview, WA known for?

Longview was developed as one of the world’s great lumber centers; it maintains paper, wood, aluminum, paint, and food-processing industries. Its deepwater port also serves the adjoining city of Kelso. Lower Columbia (junior) College was established there in 1934.

Is Longview, WA a nice place to live?

Living in Longview offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Longview, there are a lot of coffee shops and parks. Many families and retirees live in Longview and residents tend to lean conservative. The public schools in Longview are above average.

What is the violent crime rate in Longview, WA?

With a crime rate of 48 per one thousand residents, Longview has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes - from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One's chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 21. Within Washington, more than 90% of the communities have a lower crime rate than Longview.

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Longview

Britannica

Niche

Neighborhood Scout

Triangle Bowl 

Children's Discovery Museum 

Stageworks Northwest 

Lake Sacajawea Park

PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center

Snap Fitness Longview

Estetica Spa

Fuel Yoga Workouts

Holos Yoga

YMCA of Southwest Washington

Cowlitz River

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