Lewis County, Washington

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


map size = 225
founded = December 19, 1845
seat = Chehalis | area_total_sq_mi =2436
area_land_sq_mi =2408
area_water_sq_mi =29
area percentage = 1.18%
census yr = 2000
pop = 68600
density_km2 =11
web = www.co.lewis.wa.us
|

Lewis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of 2000, the population was 68,600. The county seat is at Chehalis, and its largest city is Centralia.

It is named after Meriwether Lewis. Lewis County is known for sharing many characteristics with eastern Washington instead of western Washington, where it is located, especially politically. Lewis County voted for Republican George W. Bush by almost a 2-to-1 margin, in sharp contrast to the fairly Democratic surrounding areas.

Lewis County was created on December 19, 1845 by the provisional government of Oregon Territory.cite web |title=Milestones for Washington State History — Part 1: Prehistory to 1850|url=http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=5366| date=March 5, 2003|publisher=HistoryLink.org]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,436 square miles (6,310 km²), of which, 2,408 square miles (6,236 km²) of it is land and 29 square miles (74 km²) of it (1.18%) is water.

Geographic features

*Cascade Mountains
*Chehalis River
*Cowlitz River
*Nisqually River
*Lake Mayfield
*Riffe Lake
*Big Horn, the highest place in Lewis county

Major highways

*Interstate 5
*U.S. Route 12

Adjacent counties

*Grays Harbor County, Washington - north/northwest
*Thurston County, Washington - north
*Pierce County, Washington - north/northeast
*Yakima County, Washington - east
*Skamania County, Washington - south/southeast
*Cowlitz County, Washington - south
*Wahkiakum County, Washington - south/southwest
*Pacific County, Washington - west

National protected areas

* Gifford Pinchot National Forest (part)
* Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest (part)
* Mount Rainier National Park (part)
* Mount St. Helens Volcanic National Monument (part)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 68,600 people, 26,306 households, and 18,572 families residing in the county. The population density was 28 people per square mile (11/km²). There were 29,585 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.96% White, 0.38% Black or African American, 1.22% Native American, 0.69% Asian, 0.18% Pacific Islander, 2.55% from other races, and 2.01% from two or more races. 5.37% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.7% were of German, 11.8 United States or American, 11.1% English, 8.7% Irish and 5.7% Norwegian ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 26,306 households out of which 31.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.90% were married couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.40% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out with 26.50% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 25.20% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 15.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,511, and the median income for a family was $41,105. Males had a median income of $35,714 versus $23,453 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,082. About 10.40% of families and 14.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.60% of those under age 18 and 9.40% of those age 65 or over.

Census-recognized communities

*Centralia
*Chehalis
*Fords Prairie
*Morton
*Mossyrock
*Napavine
*Pe Ell
*Toledo
*Vader
*Winlock

Other communities

*Adna
*Ajune
*Alpha
*Boistfort
*Bunker
*Carlson
*Carriage Hill
*Ceres
*Cinebar
*Claquato
*Curtis
*Doty
*Dryad

*Ethel
*Evaline
*Forest
*Galvin
*Glenoma
*Guerrier
*Harmony
*Kalber
*Klaber
*Knab
*Kosmos
*Lacamas
*Lindberg

*Littell
*Marys Corner
*Mineral
*Newaukum
*Onalaska
*Packwood
*Randle
*Saint Urbans
*Salkum
*Silver Creek
*Waunch Prairie
*Wildwood

Further reading

*cite book|author=Ware, Louisa Jackson|title=Daily journal of Louisa Jackson, 1865|year=1865 [http://www.secstate.wa.gov/history/publications%5Fdetail.aspx?p=80 Available online through the Washington State Library's Classics in Washington History collection] Daily diary for the entire year of 1865, recording the details of pioneer life in Washington Territory from the perspective of a 12-year old girl who was part of a prominent Lewis County family. Brief entries document the activities of running the farm and the number of visitors and immigrants that stopped at the Jackson home
* [http://www.drizzle.com/~jtenlen/walewis/history.html Early history of Lewis County] on Drizzle.com

References