Okanogan County, Washington

This article is about the region in the United States. For other uses of the term, see Okanogan.

Okanogan County, Washington
Seal
Location in the state of Washington
Washington's location in the U.S.
Founded	February 22, 1888[1]
Seat	Okanogan
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	5,315 sq mi (13,766 km²) 5,268 sq mi (13,644 km²) 47 sq mi (122 km²), 0.89%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	41,120 8/sq mi (3/km²)
Website	okanogancounty.org

Okanogan County ( /ˌoʊkəˈnɒɡən/) is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. In area, it is the largest county in the state.^[2] As of 2010, the population was 41,120. The county seat is at Okanogan, and its largest city is Omak. The first county seat was Ruby, Washington, which has now been a ghost town for more than 100 years.

The name derives from the Okanagan language place name ukʷnaqín.^[3] The name Okanogan (Okanagan) also refers to the region that also encompasses part of southern British Columbia.

Okanogan County was formed out of Stevens County on February 2, 1888.^[1]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 5,315 square miles (13,770 km²), of which 5,268 square miles (13,640 km²) is land and 47 square miles (120 km²) (0.89%) is water.

Geographic features

• Cascade Mountains
• Columbia River
• Okanogan River
• North Gardner Mountain, the highest point in Okanogan County

Major highways

• U.S. Route 97
• State Route 20
• State Route 153

Adjacent counties

• Ferry County, Washington - east
• Lincoln County, Washington - southeast
• Grant County, Washington - south
• Douglas County, Washington - south
• Chelan County, Washington - southwest
• Skagit County, Washington - west
• Whatcom County, Washington - west

It also shares its northern border with British Columbia, Canada.

• Okanagan-Similkameen Regional District, British Columbia
• Kootenay Boundary Regional District, British Columbia

National protected areas

• Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail (part)
• Nez Perce National Historical Park (part)
• Okanogan National Forest

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1890	1,467		—
1900	4,689		219.6%
1910	12,887		174.8%
1920	17,094		32.6%
1930	18,519		8.3%
1940	24,546		32.5%
1950	29,131		18.7%
1960	25,520		−12.4%
1970	25,867		1.4%
1980	30,639		18.4%
1990	33,350		8.8%
2000	39,564		18.6%
2010	41,120		3.9%

As of the census^[4] of 2000, there were 39,564 people, 15,027 households, and 10,579 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile (3/km²). There were 19,085 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 75.32% White, 0.28% Black or African American, 11.47% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 9.58% from other races, and 2.84% from two or more races. 14.38% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 14.0% were of German, 9.5% English, 9.2% United States or American and 6.8% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 15,027 households out of which 33.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.40% were married couples living together, 11.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.60% were non-families. 24.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county, the population was spread out with 27.70% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 25.50% from 25 to 44, 25.50% from 45 to 64, and 14.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 99.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,726, and the median income for a family was $35,012. Males had a median income of $29,495 versus $22,005 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,900. About 16.00% of families and 21.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.20% of those under age 18 and 10.40% of those age 65 or over.

Census-recognized communities

• Brewster
• Conconully
• Coulee Dam (partial)
• Elmer City
• Nespelem
• Nespelem Community
• North Omak
• Okanogan
• Omak
• Oroville
• Pateros
• Riverside
• Tonasket
• Twisp
• Winthrop

Other communities

• Aeneas
• Azwell
• Carlton
• Ellisford (aka Ellisforde)
• Havillah
• Loomis
• Malott
• Mason City
• Mazama
• Methow
• Monse
• Nighthawk
• Rocky Butte
• Synarep
• Wauconda

Ghost Towns

• Molson
• Bodie
• Bolster
• Chesaw
• Disautel
• Ruby

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Okanogan County, Washington

Further reading

• An illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, State of Washington. Western Historical Pub. Co.. 1904. Available online through the Washington State Library's Classics in Washington History collection

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Washington State Archives - Central Regional Branch: Guide to Holdings: Okanogan County". http://www.cwu.edu/~archives/okn.htm#32400000. Retrieved 2007-12-31. 
2. ^ Wilma, David (January 21, 2006). "Okanogan County — Thumbnail History". HistoryLink.org. http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=7608. 
3. ^ Bright, William (2004). Native American placenames of the United States. University of Oklahoma Press. p. 346. ISBN 978-0-8061-3598-4. http://books.google.com/books?id=5XfxzCm1qa4C&pg=PA346. Retrieved 16 September 2011. 
4. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 

Coordinates: 48°33′N 119°45′W / 48.55°N 119.75°W / 48.55; -119.75