Wahkiakum County, Washington

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




map size = 225
founded = April 24, 1854
seat = Cathlamet | area_total_sq_mi =287
area_land_sq_mi =264
area_water_sq_mi =22
area percentage = 7.83%
census yr = 2000
pop = 3824
density_km2 =6
web = www.co.wahkiakum.wa.us
|

Wahkiakum County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. It is named after Chief Wahkiakum ("Tall Timber") of the Chinook. It is the smallest county (by total area) in the state, and has the third-smallest land area (behind San Juan County and Island County). As of 2000, the population is 3,824. The county seat is the town of Cathlamet, which is also the county's largest and only incorporated community. The County operates the Wahkiakum County Ferry, which connects Cathlamet to Westport, Oregon across the Columbia River.

Wahkiakum County was formed out of Cowlitz County on April 25, 1854.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 287 square miles (743 km²), of which, 264 square miles (684 km²) of it is land and 22 square miles (58 km²) of it (7.83%) is water.

Geographic features

*Columbia River
*Elochoman River
*Grays River
*Puget Island

Adjacent counties

*Pacific County, Washington - northwest
*Lewis County, Washington - north/northeast
*Cowlitz County, Washington - east/southeast
*Columbia County, Oregon - south/southeast
*Clatsop County, Oregon - south/southwest

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 3,824 people, 1,553 households, and 1,108 families residing in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile (6/km²). There were 1,792 housing units at an average density of 7 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.46% White, 0.26% Black or African American, 1.57% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.65% from other races, and 2.51% from two or more races. 2.56% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.7% were of German, 13.1% Norwegian, 10.6% United States or American, 9.1% English, 7.7% Irish, 6.5% Swedish, and 5.9% Finnish ancestry according to Census 2000. 96.7% spoke English and 2.5% Spanish as a first language.

There were 1,553 households out of which 26.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.40% were married couples living together, 6.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.60% were non-families. 24.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the county, the population was spread out with 23.40% under the age of 18, 5.30% from 18 to 24, 22.20% from 25 to 44, 30.60% from 45 to 64, and 18.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 100.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,444, and the median income for a family was $47,604. Males had a median income of $37,123 versus $27,938 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,063. About 5.90% of families and 8.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.00% of those under age 18 and 2.70% of those age 65 or over.

Census-recognized cities and towns

*Cathlamet - county seat

=Unincorporated communities and CDPs=

*Altoona
*Brookfield
*Dahlia
*Deep River
*East Cathlamet
*Elochoman Valley
*Grays River
*Pillar Rock
*Puget Island
*Rosburg
*Skamokawa

Grays River, Rosburg, and Deep River are sometimes counted as one community. [Wahkiakum]

References

*Wahkiakum County, Washington [http://www.co.wahkiakum.wa.us/ official web site]
*HistoryLink.org web site for [http://www.historylink.org/results.cfm?searchfield=county&keyword=Wahkiakum&Submit=Search+by+County Wahkiakum County, Washington]