Columbia County, Washington

Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2010 census, the population was 4,078,[1] making it the third-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.

This article is about the county in the U.S. state of Washington. For Washington D.C.'s county, see Washington County, DC and District of Columbia County, DC.
Columbia County
U.S. county
Columbia County Courthouse in Dayton
Location within the U.S. state of Washington
Washington's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 46°18′N 117°55′W
Country United States
State Washington
FoundedNovember 11, 1875
Named forColumbia River
SeatDayton
Largest cityDayton
Area
 • Total873 sq mi (2,260 km2)
 • Land869 sq mi (2,250 km2)
 • Water4.9 sq mi (13 km2)  0.6%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total4,078
 • Estimate 
(2019)
3,985
 • Density4.6/sq mi (1.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
Congressional district5th
Websitewww.columbiaco.com

Columbia County is included in the Walla Walla, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. 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

Major highways
  • U.S. Route 12

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18807,103—
18906,709−5.5%
19007,1286.2%
19107,042−1.2%
19206,093−13.5%
19305,325−12.6%
19405,5494.2%
19504,860−12.4%
19604,569−6.0%
19704,439−2.8%
19804,057−8.6%
19904,027−0.7%
20004,0640.9%
20104,0780.3%
2019 (est.)3,985[4]−2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790–1960[6] 1900–1990[7]
1990–2000[8] 2010–2019[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 United States 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
Columbia County courthouse

City

Town

Unincorporated communities

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 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]

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 70.3% 1,754 26.8% 668 2.9% 73
2016 67.2% 1,497 23.6% 526 9.2% 206
2012 68.8% 1,568 28.3% 645 2.9% 67
2008 66.4% 1,499 30.4% 686 3.2% 73
2004 69.8% 1,470 28.7% 605 1.5% 32
2000 72.3% 1,523 24.4% 515 3.3% 69
1996 48.5% 948 38.0% 743 13.5% 264
1992 39.8% 761 34.9% 668 25.3% 485
1988 60.3% 1,172 37.6% 730 2.2% 42
1984 67.0% 1,404 32.1% 673 0.9% 18
1980 64.7% 1,349 28.1% 587 7.2% 150
1976 56.7% 1,153 40.8% 829 2.6% 52
1972 69.5% 1,445 25.6% 533 4.9% 102
1968 56.7% 1,221 35.0% 754 8.2% 177
1964 47.9% 1,048 52.0% 1,138 0.1% 1
1960 62.1% 1,301 37.9% 793
1956 65.8% 1,423 34.2% 739
1952 66.2% 1,511 33.5% 765 0.3% 7
1948 50.3% 1,062 48.1% 1,015 1.7% 35
1944 53.4% 1,211 45.8% 1,039 0.9% 20
1940 54.4% 1,461 45.4% 1,218 0.2% 6
1936 33.5% 807 57.7% 1,391 8.9% 214
1932 31.1% 714 64.9% 1,491 4.1% 93
1928 65.1% 1,328 33.8% 689 1.2% 24
1924 52.1% 1,122 24.3% 522 23.6% 509
1920 64.2% 1,376 30.9% 662 4.9% 106
1916 46.9% 1,148 47.6% 1,164 5.5% 135
1912 26.3% 673 33.4% 855 40.4% 1,036[lower-alpha 1]
1908 57.4% 887 37.9% 585 4.7% 73
1904 65.7% 1,089 29.1% 482 5.2% 86
1900 54.7% 899 43.0% 706 2.3% 38
1896 47.0% 776 52.2% 862 0.8% 13
1892 39.3% 615 42.9% 672 17.8% 278

See also

Notes
  1. The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 803 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 172 votes, Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 59 votes, and Socialist Labor candidate Arthur Reimer received 2 votes.

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  2. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  4. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  5. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  6. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  7. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  8. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  9. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  10. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  11. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  12. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  13. David Leip. "Gubernatorial General Election Map Comparison – Washington". Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas.
  14. David Leip. "Senatorial General Election Map Comparison – Washington". Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas.
  15. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 6, 2018.

Further reading

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