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Othello, Washington Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

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Othello, Washington is located in the Columbia Basin region of the state, approximately 20 miles west of Moses Lake. The city lies on the banks of the Othello Channel, which serves as a major source of irrigation for its surrounding agricultural communities. The climate in Othello is semi-arid and experiences hot summers and cold winters.

The city was first settled in 1892 by a group of homesteaders who built a small community near the Othello Channel. The town was founded in 1910 and named after Shakespeare’s play “Othello” as a tribute to its original settlers. Since then, Othello has grown rapidly due to an influx of immigrants from Mexico and Central America, who form the majority of its population today.

Politically, Othello is part of Grant County and falls under the jurisdiction of Washington State government. Its economy is primarily based on agriculture with wheat production being the mainstay crop-wise. In recent years there has been an increase in other crops such as potatoes, corn and beans as well as some livestock production.

The city has several schools including two elementary schools: Columbia Elementary School and Sandridge Elementary School; one middle school: Othello Middle School; one high school: Othello High School; and one college: Columbia Basin College. All these schools provide quality education to students from Pre-K through college level studies.

Othello boasts many landmarks including its historic downtown area which features several buildings from its early days including City Hall and an old fire station that now serves as a museum for local history. Other notable landmarks include the towering wind turbines located just outside town that generate clean energy for nearby communities, and nearby Potholes State Park which offers hiking trails and camping sites along with fishing opportunities at nearby Potholes Reservoir.

Population: 5,847. Estimated population in July 2024: 6,221 (+6.4% change)
Males: 2,971 (50.8%), Females: 2,876 (49.2%)

Adams County

Zip code: 99344

Demographics

Median resident age: 26.2 years
Median household income: $30,291
Median house value: $85,400

Population by Race

Races in Othello:

  • Hispanic (63.8%)
  • Other race (39.5%)
  • White Non-Hispanic (34.4%)
  • Two or more races (3.6%)
  • American Indian (1.5%)
  • Black (0.5%)

(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)

Ancestries: German (7.4%), English (6.9%), United States (5.1%), Irish (4.3%), Swedish (1.8%), Norwegian (1.7%).

Elevation: 1038 feet

Land area: 3.0 square miles

Population by Education

Othello, Washington is a small town located in the Columbia Basin of the state of Washington, USA. It has an estimated population of 6,300 people, according to the 2019 census data. The majority of the population is White (83%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (10%), African American (3%), and Asian (1%). The median age in Othello is 32 years old, which is slightly lower than the national average. The median household income in Othello is $45,000 per year and the median home value is $150,000. In terms of education attainment, most adults in Othello have a high school diploma or GED (64%) while only 12% have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

The local economy in Othello relies heavily on agriculture and its related industries. The city’s largest employer is Columbia Basin Potato Growers with over 1,000 employees. Other major employers include Simplot Foods and Lamb Weston/ConAgra Foods with about 600 employees each. Additionally, there are several small businesses that provide goods and services to the community such as restaurants, retail stores, auto repair shops and more. Othello also has a local hospital that serves its residents as well as visitors from nearby towns.

For population 25 years and over in Othello

  • High school or higher: 58.0%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.9%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 5.0%
  • Unemployed: 9.9%
  • Mean travel time to work: 17.2 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Othello city

  • Never married: 29.1%
  • Now married: 54.6%
  • Separated: 1.8%
  • Widowed: 5.6%
  • Divorced: 9.0%

29.2% Foreign born (28.3% Latin America).

Population change in the 1990s: +1,191 (+25.6%).

Hospitals

Hospital/medical center in Othello:

  • OTHELLO COMMUNITY HOSPITAL (315 NORTH 14TH AVENUE)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Othello:

  • SAMARITAN HOSPITAL (about 23 miles; MOSES LAKE, WA)
  • KADLEC MEDICAL CENTER (about 39 miles; RICHLAND, WA)
  • LOURDES COUNSELING CENTER (about 39 miles; RICHLAND, WA)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Othello:

  • GRANT CO INTL (about 28 miles; MOSES LAKE, WA; Abbreviation: MWH)
  • TRI-CITIES (about 40 miles; PASCO, WA; Abbreviation: PSC)
  • WALLA WALLA REGIONAL (about 80 miles; WALLA WALLA, WA; Abbreviation: ALW)

Other public-use airports nearest to Othello:

  • OTHELLO MUNI (about 8 miles; OTHELLO, WA; Abbreviation: S70)
  • NEW WARDEN (about 12 miles; WARDEN, WA; Abbreviation: 2S4)
  • MOSES LAKE MUNI (about 22 miles; MOSES LAKE, WA; Abbreviation: W20)

Amtrak station near Othello:

  • 20 miles: MOSES LAKE (1819 KITTLESON RD.) – Bus Station

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Othello:

  • COLUMBIA BASIN COLLEGE (about 39 miles; PASCO, WA; Full-time enrollment: 3,529)
  • WALLA WALLA COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 78 miles; WALLA WALLA, WA; Full-time enrollment: 2,812)
  • WENATCHEE VALLEY COLLEGE (about 91 miles; WENATCHEE, WA; Full-time enrollment: 2,074)
  • CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (about 95 miles; ELLENSBURG, WA; Full-time enrollment: 7,420)
  • YAKIMA VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 99 miles; YAKIMA, WA; Full-time enrollment: 2,906)
  • WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY (about 106 miles; PULLMAN, WA; Full-time enrollment: 18,110)
  • EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (about 117 miles; CHENEY, WA; Full-time enrollment: 7,852)

Schools

Public high school in Othello:

  • OTHELLO HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 810; Location: 615 E JUNIPER STREET; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Othello:

  • LUTACAGA ELEMENTARY (Students: 617; Location: 615 E JUNIPER STREET; Grades: KG – 07)
  • SCOOTNEY SPRINGS ELEMENTARY (Students: 603; Location: 615 E JUNIPER STREET; Grades: KG – 06)
  • HIAWATHA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 598; Location: 615 E JUNIPER STREET; Grades: KG – 06)
  • MCFARLAND JUNIOR (Students: 468; Location: 615 E JUNIPER STREET; Grades: 07 – 08)

Private primary/middle schools in Othello:

  • MID COLUMBIA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 22; Location: 910 E ELM; Grades: KG – 4)
  • OTHELLO CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 12; Location: 736 E. ELM; Grades: 2 – 8)

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