Yakima County, Washington

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




map size = 225
founded = January 21, 1865
seat = Yakima | area_total_sq_mi =4312
area_land_sq_mi =4296
area_water_sq_mi =15
area percentage = 0.63%
census yr = 2000
pop = 222581
density_km2 =20
web = www.yakimacounty.us
|

Yakima County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. It is named after the Yakama tribe of Native Americans. In 2000, its population was 222,581. The county seat is Yakima, which is also its largest city.

Yakima County was formed out of Ferguson County on January 21, 1865. Ferguson County, no longer in existence, had been formed out of Walla Walla County on January 23, 1863.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=March 6, 2003|publisher=HistoryLink.org]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,312 square miles (11,167 km²), of which, 4,296 square miles (11,127 km²) of it is land and 15 square miles (40 km²) of it (0.36%) is water. The highest point in the county is Mount Adams at 12,277 feet (3,742 meters) above sea level.

Geographic features

*Cascade Mountains
*Mount Adams, highest point in Yakima County
*Yakima River
*Columbia River

Major roads

*Interstate 82
*U.S. Route 12
*U.S. Route 97

Adjacent counties

*Kittitas County, Washington - north
*Grant County, Washington - northeast
*Benton County, Washington - east
*Klickitat County, Washington - south
*Skamania County, Washington - west/southwest
*Lewis County, Washington - west
*Pierce County, Washington - northwest

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 222,581 people, 73,993 households, and 54,606 families residing in the county. The population density was 52 people per square mile (20/km²). There were 79,174 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 65.60% White, 0.97% Black or African American, 4.48% Native American, 0.95% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 24.43% from other races, and 3.48% from two or more races. 35.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 13.2% were of German, 6.4% United States or American, 5.9% English and 5.4% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 73,993 households out of which 39.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.80% were married couples living together, 12.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.20% were non-families. 21.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.44.

In the county, the population was spread out with 31.80% under the age of 18, 9.80% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 19.70% from 45 to 64, and 11.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 99.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,828, and the median income for a family was $39,746. Males had a median income of $31,620 versus $24,541 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,606. About 14.80% of families and 19.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.20% of those under age 18 and 11.30% of those age 65 or over.

Census-recognized communities

*Ahtanum
*Eschbach
*Gleed
*Grandview
*Granger
*Harrah
*Mabton
*Moxee
*Naches
*Satus
*Selah
*Summitview
*Sunnyside
*Terrace Heights
*Tieton
*Toppenish
*Union Gap
*Wapato
*West Valley
*White Swan
*Yakima
*Zillah

Other communities

*Brownstown
*Buena
*Cliffdell
*Cowiche
*Donald
*East Selah
*Fairview
*Fruitvale
*Goose Prairie
*Harwood
*Nile
*Outlook
*Parker
*Pomona
*Rimrock
*Sawyer
*Sumach
*Tampico
*Weikel
*West Side
*White Pass

Further reading

*cite book|author=Lyman, William Denison|title=History of the Yakima Valley, Washington : comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton counties|publisher=S.J. Clarke|year=1919 [http://www.secstate.wa.gov/history/publications%5Fdetail.aspx?p=17 Available online through the Washington State Library's Classics in Washington History collection]

References

External links

* [http://www.yakimacounty.us/ Yakima County]