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| Columbia County, Washington | |
 Columbia County Courthouse in Dayton
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 Location in the state of Washington (state) | |
 Washington's location in the U.S. | |
| Founded | November 11, 1875 |
|---|---|
| Named for | Columbia River |
| Seat | Dayton |
| Largest city | Dayton |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
873 sq mi (2,261 km²) 869 sq mi (2,251 km²) 4.9 sq mi (13 km²), 0.6% |
| Population - (2020) - Density |
3,952 4.6/sq mi (2/km²) |
| Congressional district | 5th |
| Time zone | Pacific: UTC-8/-7 |
| Website | www.columbiaco.com |
Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,952,[1] making it the second-least populous county in Washington. The county seat and largest city is Dayton. The county was created out of Walla Walla County on November 11, 1875,[2] and is named after the Columbia River (which does not flow through the county). Columbia County is included in the Walla Walla, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Geography[]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 873 square miles (2,260 km2), of which 869 square miles (2,250 km2) is land and 4.9 square miles (13 km2) (0.6%) is water.[3] It is part of the Palouse, a wide and rolling prairie-like region of the middle Columbia basin.
Geographic features[]
- Snake River
- Blue Mountains
- Touchet River
- Tucannon River
Major highways[]
U.S. Route 12
Adjacent counties[]
- Whitman County - north
- Garfield County - east
- Wallowa County, Oregon - southeast
- Umatilla County, Oregon - southwest
- Walla Walla County - west
- Franklin County - northwest
National protected area[]
- Umatilla National Forest (part)
Demographics[]
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 7,103 | ||
| 1890 | 6,709 | −5.5% | |
| 1900 | 7,128 | 6.2% | |
| 1910 | 7,042 | −1.2% | |
| 1920 | 6,093 | −13.5% | |
| 1930 | 5,325 | −12.6% | |
| 1940 | 5,549 | 4.2% | |
| 1950 | 4,860 | −12.4% | |
| 1960 | 4,569 | −6.0% | |
| 1970 | 4,439 | −2.8% | |
| 1980 | 4,057 | −8.6% | |
| 1990 | 4,027 | −0.7% | |
| 2000 | 4,064 | 0.9% | |
| 2010 | 4,078 | 0.3% | |
| Est. 2021 | 4,042 | [4] | −0.5% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1790–1960[6] 1900–1990[7] 1990–2000[8] 2010–2020[1] | |||
2000 census[]
As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 4,064 people, 1,687 households, and 1,138 families living in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile (2/km2). There were 2,018 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.73% White, 0.22% Black or African American, 0.96% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.73% from other races, and 1.89% from two or more races. 6.35% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 19.6% were of German, 18.2% United States or American, 14.3% English and 8.3% Irish ancestry. 94.3% spoke English and 5.7% Spanish at home.
There were 1,687 households, out of which 27.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.00% were married couples living together, 8.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.50% were non-families. 29.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.90% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 22.80% from 25 to 44, 27.70% from 45 to 64, and 18.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 95.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $33,500, and the median income for a family was $44,038. Males had a median income of $33,690 versus $21,367 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,374. About 8.60% of families and 12.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.90% of those under age 18 and 11.10% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census[]
As of the 2010 census, there were 4,078 people, 1,762 households, and 1,156 families living in the county.[10] The population density was 4.7 inhabitants per square mile (1.8 /km2). There were 2,136 housing units at an average density of 2.5 per square mile (0.97 /km2).[11] The racial makeup of the county was 93.0% white, 1.4% American Indian, 0.6% Asian, 0.3% Pacific islander, 0.3% black or African American, 1.7% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 6.2% of the population.[10] In terms of ancestry, 24.7% were German, 18.3% were English, 12.3% were Irish, and 7.0% were American.[12]
Of the 1,762 households, 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.6% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.4% were non-families, and 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.76. The median age was 48.3 years.[10]
The median income for a household in the county was $43,611 and the median income for a family was $53,452. Males had a median income of $45,000 versus $35,357 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,810. About 9.8% of families and 16.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.7% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age 65 or over.[13]
Communities[]
The Columbia County Courthouse in Dayton, one of the 20 NRHP-listed places in the county
City[]
- Dayton (county seat)
Town[]
- Starbuck
Unincorporated communities[]
- Huntsville
- Marengo
- Turner
Politics[]
Columbia County is one of the most conservative counties in Washington state. It has not been carried by a Democrat for President since Lyndon Johnson's 1964 landslide victory, and the last time it backed a Democrat for Governor was in 1936 when conservative Democrat Clarence D. Martin swept every county in the state.[14] Popular conservative Democratic Senator "Scoop" Jackson carried the county in four consecutive county sweeps (the last in 1982); since then, however, it has been powerfully Republican in those contests too.[15]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 1,754 | 70.30% | 668 | 26.77% | 73 | 2.93% |
| 2016 | 1,497 | 67.16% | 526 | 23.60% | 206 | 9.24% |
| 2012 | 1,568 | 68.77% | 645 | 28.29% | 67 | 2.94% |
| 2008 | 1,499 | 66.39% | 686 | 30.38% | 73 | 3.23% |
| 2004 | 1,470 | 69.77% | 605 | 28.71% | 32 | 1.52% |
| 2000 | 1,523 | 72.28% | 515 | 24.44% | 69 | 3.27% |
| 1996 | 948 | 48.49% | 743 | 38.01% | 264 | 13.50% |
| 1992 | 761 | 39.76% | 668 | 34.90% | 485 | 25.34% |
| 1988 | 1,172 | 60.29% | 730 | 37.55% | 42 | 2.16% |
| 1984 | 1,404 | 67.02% | 673 | 32.12% | 18 | 0.86% |
| 1980 | 1,349 | 64.67% | 587 | 28.14% | 150 | 7.19% |
| 1976 | 1,153 | 56.69% | 829 | 40.76% | 52 | 2.56% |
| 1972 | 1,445 | 69.47% | 533 | 25.63% | 102 | 4.90% |
| 1968 | 1,221 | 56.74% | 754 | 35.04% | 177 | 8.22% |
| 1964 | 1,048 | 47.92% | 1,138 | 52.03% | 1 | 0.05% |
| 1960 | 1,301 | 62.13% | 793 | 37.87% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 1,423 | 65.82% | 739 | 34.18% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 1,511 | 66.18% | 765 | 33.51% | 7 | 0.31% |
| 1948 | 1,062 | 50.28% | 1,015 | 48.06% | 35 | 1.66% |
| 1944 | 1,211 | 53.35% | 1,039 | 45.77% | 20 | 0.88% |
| 1940 | 1,461 | 54.41% | 1,218 | 45.36% | 6 | 0.22% |
| 1936 | 807 | 33.46% | 1,391 | 57.67% | 214 | 8.87% |
| 1932 | 714 | 31.07% | 1,491 | 64.88% | 93 | 4.05% |
| 1928 | 1,328 | 65.07% | 689 | 33.76% | 24 | 1.18% |
| 1924 | 1,122 | 52.11% | 522 | 24.25% | 509 | 23.64% |
| 1920 | 1,376 | 64.18% | 662 | 30.88% | 106 | 4.94% |
| 1916 | 1,148 | 46.91% | 1,164 | 47.57% | 135 | 5.52% |
| 1912 | 673 | 26.25% | 855 | 33.35% | 1,036 | 40.41% |
| 1908 | 887 | 57.41% | 585 | 37.86% | 73 | 4.72% |
| 1904 | 1,089 | 65.72% | 482 | 29.09% | 86 | 5.19% |
| 1900 | 899 | 54.72% | 706 | 42.97% | 38 | 2.31% |
| 1896 | 776 | 47.00% | 862 | 52.21% | 13 | 0.79% |
| 1892 | 615 | 39.30% | 672 | 42.94% | 278 | 17.76% |
See also[]
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Columbia County, Washington
Notes[]
References[]
- ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/columbiacountywashington/PST045221.
- ^ "Milestones for Washington State History — Part 2: 1851 to 1900". HistoryLink.org. March 6, 2003. http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=5380.
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_53.txt.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu.
- ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/wa190090.txt.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov.
- ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US53013.
- ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US53013.
- ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US53013.
- ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US53013.
- ^ David Leip. "Gubernatorial General Election Map Comparison – Washington". Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas. https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/comparemaps.php?year=1956&fips=53&f=0&off=5&elect=0.
- ^ David Leip. "Senatorial General Election Map Comparison – Washington". Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas. https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/comparemaps.php?year=2012&fips=53&f=0&off=3&elect=0&class=1.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS.
Further reading[]
- Frank T. Gilbert, Historic Sketches: Walla Walla, Columbia and Garfield Counties, Washington Territory. Portland, OR: A.G. Walling Printing House, 1882.
- W.D. Lyman, Lyman's History of Old Walla Walla County, Embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin Counties. In Two Volumes. Chicago: S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1918. Volume 1 | Volume 2
- Frederic Ambrose Shaver, An Illustrated History of Southeastern Washington, Including Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin Counties, Washington. Spokane, WA: Western Historical Publishing Co., 1906.
External links[]
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Franklin County | Whitman County |
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| Walla Walla County | 
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Garfield County | ||
   Columbia County, Washington | ||||
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| Umatilla County, Oregon | Wallowa County, Oregon |
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| This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Columbia County, Washington. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License. |