Location
Vancouver Washington sits on the north bank of the magnificent Columbia River in Clark County, Washington. To the north and east of Vancouver lie the communities of Battle Ground, Ridgefield, Camas and Washougal. Each of these communities is uniquely different, carving out their own identities in the Clark County landscape. Framed by the picturesque Cascade Mountains to the east and the Columbia River to the south and west, Clark County is the southern gateway to Washington State.


Just a bridge away from metropolitan Portland, Oregon, Vancouver is located on the Interstate 5 corridor which links all major west coast cities from Canada to Mexico.

The Pacific Ocean and its expansive beaches are a quick 100 miles to the west. The startling beauty of Mount St. Helens, the challenging ski slopes of Mt. Hood, and the scenic Mt. Adams Recreation Area are all just a short drive away.


Climate
Vancouver is located between the Cascades and the Pacific Ocean. The climate is influenced by this geography, producing generally mild weather with fairly wet winters. Rainfall accumulates to 36 inches per year. There are 73 clear days, 104 partly cloudy days, and 189 cloudy days on average per year. The annual average temperature is 51.1.

Population
The city of Vancouver has a population of approximately 143,560 (2000). It is the fourth largest city in Washington following Seattle, Spokane and Tacoma. In 1998, the Vancouver-Portland Metropolitan area had a population of 1,819,000. This number is expected to reach 2,066,800 by the year 2010.

Economy
According to the local economic development council, manufacturing employment in the area continues to grow, due to diversification into high technology. Pulp, paper and primary metals industries continue to be major employers even though there has been restructuring. For several years, residential and commercial construction has been strong. Industries showing great expansion include retail trade and services jobs.

Religious Facts
Washington State is known as one of the most unchurched areas in the United States. Approximately 14% of Washington residents classify themselves as "nonreligious". In Washington State, less than one-third of the population claims membership in any denomination and in most of the counties in Western Washington, the percentage of church membership is lower than one-third.

Please pray for Vancouver, Washington!