Adams County, Washington

Infobox U.S. County
county = Adams County
state = Washington




map size = 250
founded = November 28, 1883
seat = Ritzville | area_total_sq_mi =1930
area_water_sq_mi =5
area percentage = 0.25%
census yr = 2000
pop = 16428
density_km2 =3
web = www.co.adams.wa.us
|

Adams County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. Its name is in honor of the second President of the United States, John Adams. As of 2000, the population is 16,428. The county seat is at Ritzville, and its largest city is Othello.

Adams County was formed out of Whitman County on November 28, 1883.cite web |title=Milestones for Washington State History — Part 2: 1851 to 1900|url=http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=5380| date=2003-03-06|publisher=HistoryLink.org]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,930 square miles (4,998 km²), of which, 1,925 square miles (4,986 km²) of it is land and 5 square miles (12 km²) of it (0.25%) is water.

Major highways

*Interstate 90
*U.S. Route 395

Adjacent counties

*Lincoln County, Washington north
*Whitman County, Washington east
*Franklin County, Washington south
*Grant County, Washington west

National protected areas

* Columbia National Wildlife Refuge (part)
* Hanford Reach National Monument (part)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 16,428 people, 5,229 households, and 4,094 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile (3/km²). There were 5,773 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 64.96% White, 0.28% Black or African American, 0.68% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 30.69% from other races, and 2.75% from two or more races. 16.3% were of German, 6.2% United States or American and 5.6% English ancestry according to Census 2000. 57.0% spoke English, 41.7% Spanish and 1.2% German as their first language.

There were 5,229 households out of which 44.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.50% were married couples living together, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.70% were non-families. 18.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.09 and the average family size was 3.52.

In the county, the population was spread out with 34.20% under the age of 18, 9.80% from 18 to 24, 26.30% from 25 to 44, 19.40% from 45 to 64, and 10.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 104.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,888, and the median income for a family was $37,075. Males had a median income of $28,740 versus $21,597 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,534. About 13.60% of families and 18.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.00% of those under age 18 and 8.90% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Adams County is a Republican dominated countyFact|date=December 2007. In 2004, it gave George W. Bush 73.16% of the voteFact|date=December 2007. Of the 31 precincts in the county, none voted for John Kerry, and only two gave him more than 40 percent of the voteFact|date=December 2007. Republicans generally receive large margins of victory in Ritzville and Othello, and 4-to-1 or 5-to-1 landslides in the rural areasFact|date=December 2007.

Census-recognized communities

*Hatton (98)
*Lind (582)
*Othello (5,847)
*Ritzville (1,736)
*Washtucna (260)

Other communities

*Benge
*Cunningham
*Royal Slope

Further reading

*cite book|title=An illustrated history of the Big Bend country : embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams, and Franklin counties, state of Washington|publisher=Western Historical Pub. Co.|year=1904 [http://www.secstate.wa.gov/history/publications_detail.aspx?p=36 Available online through the Washington State Library's Classics in Washington History collection]

References

External links

* [http://www.co.adams.wa.us/ Adams County, Washington]