Ferry County, Washington

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




map size = 225
founded = February 21, 1899
seat = Republic | area_total_sq_mi =2257
area_land_sq_mi =2204
area_water_sq_mi =53
area percentage = 2.73%
census yr = 2000
pop = 7260
density_km2 =1
web =
|

Ferry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of 2000, the population was 7,260. The county seat is at Republic, which is also the county's largest city. It was named after Elisha P. Ferry, the state's first governor. With about 3.3 people per square mile, it is Washington's least densely populated county.

Ferry County was created out of Stevens County on February 21, 1899.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=2003-03-06|publisher=HistoryLink.org]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,257 square miles (5,847 km²), of which, 2,204 square miles (5,708 km²) of it is land and 53 square miles (139 km²) of it (2.37%) is water.

Geographic features

*Columbia River
*Sanpoil RiverCurlew Lake (Elev: 2,400 ft) is nestled in the glacier-carved valley 6 miles north of Republic, Washington. The spring- and stream-fed lake named for the wading birds that once frequented the area. The seven mile long and 42 ft deep lake provides visitors and lakeshore homes with wonderful opportunities for kayaking, boating, fishing, swimming, water skiing, canoeing, and sailing.

Adjacent counties

*Stevens County, Washington east
*Lincoln County, Washington southwest
*Okanogan County, Washington west

(also shares northern border with British Columbia, Canada)
*Kootenay Boundary Regional District, British Columbia

National protected areas

* Colville National Forest (part)
* Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area (part)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 7,260 people, 2,823 households, and 1,987 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile (1/km²). There were 3,775 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 75.48% White, 0.21% Black or African American, 18.28% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 2.23% from other races, and 3.46% from two or more races. 2.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 14.1% were of German, 9.5% United States or American, 9.1% Irish and 7.6% English ancestry according to Census 2000. 96.7% spoke English and 1.9% Spanish as their first language.

There were 2,823 households out of which 30.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.70% were married couples living together, 10.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.60% were non-families. 24.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out with 26.90% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 23.40% from 25 to 44, 29.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 107.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,388, and the median income for a family was $35,691. Males had a median income of $32,103 versus $23,371 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,019. About 13.30% of families and 19.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.40% of those under age 18 and 10.30% of those age 65 or over.

Census-recognized communities

*Inchelium
*Republic

Other communities

*Barstow
*Boyds
*Curlew
*Danville
*Keller
*Kewa
*Laurier
*Malo
*Orient

ee also

* Stonerose Interpretive Center and Fossil Site

Further reading

*cite book|title=An illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, State of Washington|publisher=Western Historical Pub. Co.|year=1904 [http://www.secstate.wa.gov/history/publications_detail.aspx?p=83 Available online through the Washington State Library's Classics in Washington History collection]

References

External links

* [http://www.historylink.org/results.cfm?searchfield=county&keyword=Ferry&Submit=Search+by+County Ferry County, Washington] at HistoryLink.org
* [http://www.bobshannon.org/ Official website of Ferry County Online News Service]
* [http://www.ferry-county.com/ Official website of Ferry County Government]