Island County, Washington

Island County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2010 census, its population was 78,506.[1] Its county seat is Coupeville,[2] while its largest city is Oak Harbor.

Not to be confused with County island.
Island County
U.S. county
Location within the U.S. state of Washington
Washington's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 48°09′N 122°35′W
Country United States
State Washington
Founded1852
SeatCoupeville
Largest cityOak Harbor
Area
 • Total517 sq mi (1,340 km2)
 • Land208 sq mi (540 km2)
 • Water309 sq mi (800 km2)  60%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total78,506
 • Estimate 
(2019)
85,141
 • Density381/sq mi (147/km2)
Time zoneUTC−8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.islandcountywa.gov

The county's name reflects the fact that it is composed entirely of islands.[3] It contains two large islands, Whidbey and Camano, and seven smaller islands (Baby, Ben Ure, Deception, Kalamut, Minor, Smith, and Strawberry). Island County was created out of Thurston County on December 22, 1852, by the legislature of Oregon Territory,[4][5] and is the eighth-oldest county in Washington. It originally encompassed what are now Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, and San Juan Counties.

Island County comprises the Oak Harbor, Washington Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Seattle–Tacoma, WA Combined Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 517 square miles (1,340 km2), of which 208 square miles (540 km2) is land and 309 square miles (800 km2) (60%) is water.[6] It is the second-smallest county in Washington by area.

Geographic features

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1860294—
1870626112.9%
18801,08773.6%
18901,78764.4%
19001,8704.6%
19104,704151.6%
19205,48916.7%
19305,369−2.2%
19406,09813.6%
195011,07981.7%
196019,63877.3%
197027,01137.5%
198044,04863.1%
199060,19536.7%
200071,55818.9%
201078,5069.7%
2019 (est.)85,141[7]8.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10]
1990–2000[11] 2010–2019[1]
Sunset South Whidbey State Park

2000 census

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 71,558 people, 27,784 households, and 20,254 families living in the county. The population density was 343 people per square mile (133/km2). There were 32,378 housing units at an average density of 155 per square mile (60/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 87.2% White, 2.4% Black or African American, 1.0% Native American, 4.2% Asian, 0.4% Pacific Islander, 1.4% from other races, and 3.4% from two or more races. 4.0% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.2% were of German, 11.2% English, 9.9% Irish, 7.2% United States or American and 6.0% Norwegian ancestry. 92.5% spoke English, 2.5% Spanish and 2.2% Tagalog as their first language.

There were 27,784 households, out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.2% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.1% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.5% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.9 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $45,513, and the median income for a family was $51,363. Males had a median income of $35,331 versus $25,612 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,472. About 5.1% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.8% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 78,506 people, 32,746 households, and 22,156 families living in the county.[13] The population density was 376.6 inhabitants per square mile (145.4/km2). There were 40,234 housing units at an average density of 193.0 per square mile (74.5/km2).[14] The racial makeup of the county was 86.1% white, 4.4% Asian, 2.2% black or African American, 0.8% American Indian, 0.5% Pacific islander, 1.5% from other races, and 4.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 5.5% of the population.[13] The largest ancestry groups were:[15]

  • 21.4% German
  • 14.3% Irish
  • 14.0% English
  • 6.1% Norwegian
  • 4.5% Scottish
  • 4.3% French
  • 4.1% Dutch
  • 4.0% Swedish
  • 4.0% American
  • 3.6% Mexican
  • 3.5% Italian
  • 2.9% Filipino
  • 2.5% Scotch-Irish
  • 2.1% Polish
  • 1.6% Welsh
  • 1.5% Danish

Of the 32,746 households, 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.3% were non-families, and 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.81. The median age was 43.2 years.[13]

The median income for a household in the county was $57,190 and the median income for a family was $68,106. Males had a median income of $46,801 versus $35,189 for females. The per capita income for the county was $29,079. About 5.7% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.[16]

Transportation

The primary islands of Island County, Whidbey Island and Camano Island are served by a total of 3 Washington State Routes, those being SR 20 and SR 525, on Whidbey Island, and SR 532 on Camano Island. SR 20 enters Island County via the Port Townsend-Coupeville (Keystone) ferry route from the West, and departs via the Deception Pass Bridge in the North. SR 525 enters Island County from the East/South via the Mukilteo-Clinton ferry and terminates at an intersection with SR 20, South of Coupeville. SR 532 begins on Camano Island, just a few hundred yards inside Island County at an intersection with Sunrise Boulevard and departs Island County to the East via the Mark Clark Bridge. These islands are also served by a fare-free/pre-paid bus service called Island Transit.

Politics

Island County is divided in many ways between its north and south. While the north (Oak Harbor) is conservative – Donald J. Trump received almost 55 percent of the 2016 vote and carried most precincts – most southern and central precincts voted for Hillary Clinton.

The south-central area (Coupeville, Langley) voted over 50 percent for Clinton, just over 30 percent for Trump.[17]

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 42.2% 22,746 54.2% 29,213 3.6% 1,966
2016 41.7% 18,465 47.3% 20,960 11.0% 4,848
2012 46.3% 19,605 50.7% 21,478 3.0% 1,289
2008 46.1% 19,426 52.3% 22,058 1.6% 680
2004 51.2% 19,754 47.2% 18,216 1.6% 610
2000 49.7% 16,408 44.8% 14,778 5.5% 1,818
1996 43.5% 12,387 42.7% 12,157 13.8% 3,920
1992 35.1% 9,526 35.2% 9,555 29.8% 8,087
1988 58.8% 12,552 39.9% 8,510 1.4% 291
1984 65.7% 13,548 33.2% 6,850 1.1% 218
1980 58.9% 10,926 29.2% 5,422 11.9% 2,211
1976 55.3% 7,804 41.5% 5,859 3.1% 441
1972 68.1% 7,495 28.6% 3,149 3.3% 359
1968 51.0% 4,077 40.5% 3,238 8.6% 685
1964 43.5% 3,044 56.4% 3,946 0.1% 9
1960 59.0% 3,596 40.5% 2,470 0.5% 28
1956 61.2% 3,196 38.5% 2,009 0.3% 17
1952 61.7% 2,901 37.7% 1,772 0.6% 30
1948 49.1% 1,805 46.0% 1,694 4.9% 181
1944 46.7% 1,487 52.2% 1,662 1.2% 38
1940 44.9% 1,371 53.2% 1,626 2.0% 60
1936 32.7% 921 60.0% 1,687 7.3% 205
1932 30.2% 803 57.0% 1,517 12.9% 342
1928 71.3% 1,487 26.6% 556 2.1% 44
1924 46.3% 832 6.3% 114 47.4% 853
1920 51.2% 883 16.5% 285 32.3% 557
1916 43.6% 804 46.3% 855 10.1% 186
1912 21.1% 332 19.7% 310 59.2% 931
1908 58.2% 450 24.8% 192 17.0% 131
1904 72.0% 424 14.1% 83 13.9% 82
1900 62.6% 263 29.3% 123 8.1% 34
1896 50.9% 206 47.2% 191 2.0% 8
1892 40.7% 161 32.1% 127 27.3% 108

Communities

Cities

Town

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Juniper Beach, a wedding ceremony locale in past years,[19] has given its name to the Juniper Beach Water District.[20]

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Government Printing Office. pp. 166.
  4. Reinartz, Kay. "History of King County Government 1853–2002" (PDF). p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 25, 2009. Retrieved December 30, 2007.
  5. "Washington: Individual County Chronologies". Washington Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2007. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 5, 2015.
  7. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved April 11, 2020.
  8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  13. "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 6, 2016.
  14. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  15. "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 6, 2016.
  16. "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 6, 2016.
  17. "11-08-2016 Island County Election Results" (PDF). Islandcountywa.gov.
  18. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  19. Island County Marriage Register, January-April 1939, paid subscription site accessed October 2017.
  20. Juniper Beach Water District, accessed October 2017

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