Whitman County, Washington

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




map size = 225
founded = November 29, 1871
seat = Colfax | area_total_sq_mi =2178
area_land_sq_mi =2159
area_water_sq_mi =18
area percentage = 0.84%
census yr = 2000
pop = 40740
density_km2 =7
web = www.whitmancounty.org
|

Whitman County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. It is named after Marcus Whitman, a Presbyterian missionary who, with his wife Narcissa, was killed in 1847 by members of the Cayuse tribe of Native Americans. As of 2000, the population was 40,740, of which approx. 25,000 live in Pullman. The county seat is at Colfax. Its largest city is Pullman, home to Washington State University and to Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories.

Whitman County was formed out of Stevens County on November 29, 1871.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]

Agriculture

According to [http://www.heartofwashington.com/growerparticipation.shtml Heart of Washington] , Whitman County produces more barley, wheat, dry peas and lentils than any other county in the United States.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,178 square miles (5,640 km²), of which, 2,159 square miles (5,593 km²) of it is land and 18 square miles (47 km²) of it (0.84%) is water. It is part of the Palouse, a wide and rolling prairie-like region of the middle Columbia basin.

Geographic features

Rivers
*Snake River
*Palouse River
** Union Flat Creek
** Rock Creek
** Pine CreekLakes and reservoirs
* Lake Bryan, named for Dr. Enoch A. Bryan, behind the Little Goose Lock and Dam
* Lake Herbert G. West, formed from Lower Monumental Lock and Dam
* Lower Granite Lake, behind the Lower Granite Lock and Dam
* Rock Lake (Location: 47°11'03"N 117°40'55"W ; Elevation: 1729) Summits and peaks
* Steptoe Butte (47°01'56"N 117°17'49"W ; Elevation: 3612; highest point)
* Kamiak Butte (46°51'44"N 117°10'00"W ; Elevation: 3471)
* Bald Butte (46°38'00"N 117°05'16"W ; Elevation: 3369)Notable parks
* Steptoe Butte State Park (47°01'56"N 117°17'54"W ; Elevation: 3573)
* Kamiak Butte County Park (46°51'55"N 117°09'48"W ; Elevation: 3150)
* Palouse Falls State Park (46°40'00"N 118°13'25"W ; Elevation: 925)
* Central Ferry State Park (46°37'46"N 117°48'32"W ; Elevation: 650)

Adjacent counties

*Spokane County, Washington north
*Benewah County, Idaho northeast
*Latah County, Idaho east
*Nez Perce County, Idaho southeast
*Asotin County, Washington south/southeast
*Garfield County, Washington south
*Columbia County, Washington south
*Franklin County, Washington southwest
*Adams County, Washington west
*Lincoln County, Washington northwest

Major highways

*U.S. Route 195
*State Route 23
*State Route 26
*State Route 27
*State Route 270
*State Route 271
*State Route 272
*State Route 127

Census-recognized communities

*Albion
*Colfax
*Colton
*Endicott
*Farmington
*Garfield
*La Crosse
*Lamont
*Malden
*Oakesdale
*Palouse
*Pullman
*Rosalia
*St. John
*Tekoa
*Uniontown

Other communities

*Belmont
*Diamond
*Dusty
*Elberton
*Ewan
*Hay
*Hooper
*Steptoe
*Thornton
*Winona

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 40,740 people, 15,257 households, and 8,055 families residing in the county. The population density was 19 people per square mile (7/km²). There were 16,676 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.07% White, 1.53% Black or African American, 0.73% Native American, 5.55% Asian, 0.27% Pacific Islander, 1.22% from other races, and 2.63% from two or more races. 2.99% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 21.9% were of German, 9.8% English, 8.6% Irish, 8.3% United States or American and 6.6% Norwegian ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 15,257 households out of which 24.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.20% were married couples living together, 6.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.20% were non-families. 29.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the population was spread out with 18.10% under the age of 18, 32.60% from 18 to 24, 24.00% from 25 to 44, 16.00% from 45 to 64, and 9.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 102.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,584, and the median income for a family was $44,830. Males had a median income of $33,381 versus $27,046 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,298. About 11.00% of families and 25.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.50% of those under age 18 and 5.50% of those age 65 or over.

External links

* [http://www.whitmancounty.org/ Whitman County official website]
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~wawcgs/ Whitman County Genealogical Society]
* [http://www.wsu.edu/%7esarek/wchs.html Whitman County Historical Society]
* [http://www.whitco.lib.wa.us/ Whitman County Library] with branches in 14 communities throughout Whitman County.
* [http://wrh.statelib.lib.wa.us/whitman/ Whitman County Heritage] an online heritage collection
* [http://www.ofm.wa.gov/localdata/whit.htm Whitman County @ State of Washington Office of Financial Management]
* [http://www.portwhitman.com/ Port of Whitman County and Green IT Alliance (GITA)]

References