Skagit County, Washington

Skagit County /ˈskædʒɪt/ is a county in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2010 census, the population was 116,901.[1] The county seat and largest city is Mount Vernon.[2] The county was formed in 1883 from Whatcom County[3] and is named for the Skagit Indian tribe, which has been indigenous to the area prior to European-American settlement.

Skagit County
U.S. county
Skagit County Courthouse
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Washington
Washington's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 48°29′N 121°47′W
Country United States
State Washington
FoundedNovember 28, 1883
Named forSkagit tribes
SeatMount Vernon
Largest cityMount Vernon
Area
 • Total1,920 sq mi (5,000 km2)
 • Land1,731 sq mi (4,480 km2)
 • Water189 sq mi (490 km2)  9.8%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total116,901
 • Estimate 
(2019)
129,205
 • Density71/sq mi (27/km2)
Time zoneUTC−8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
Congressional districts1st, 2nd
Websitewww.skagitcounty.net

Skagit County comprises the Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is included in the Seattle-Tacoma, WA Combined Statistical Area. It is located in the Puget Sound region.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,920 square miles (5,000 km2), of which 1,731 square miles (4,480 km2) is land and 189 square miles (490 km2) (9.8%) is water.[4] It is noted for its broad, fertile valley of the Skagit River, a center for cultivation of tulips and strawberries.

Geographic features
Skagit County Courthouse, Mount Vernon, Washington.
Fir-Conway Lutheran Church.

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18908,747—
190014,27263.2%
191029,241104.9%
192033,37314.1%
193035,1425.3%
194037,6507.1%
195043,27314.9%
196051,35018.7%
197052,3812.0%
198064,13822.4%
199079,55524.0%
2000102,97929.4%
2010116,90113.5%
2019 (est.)129,205[5]10.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010–2019[1]

2000 census

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 102,979 people, 38,852 households, and 27,351 families living in the county. The population density was 59 people per square mile (23/km2). There were 42,681 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile (10/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 86.49% White, 0.44% Black or African American, 1.85% Native American, 1.49% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 7.17% from other races, and 2.40% from two or more races. 11.20% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 13.9% were of German, 11.2% English, 9.2% Norwegian, 8.2% Irish and 6.7% United States or American ancestry.

Three Salish Native American tribes have reservations in the county: the Swinomish, Upper Skagit, and Samish.

There were 38,852 households, out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.60% were married couples living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.60% were non-families. 23.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.30% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,381, and the median income for a family was $48,347. Males had a median income of $37,207 versus $26,123 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,256. About 7.90% of families and 11.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.50% of those under age 18 and 6.80% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 116,901 people, 45,557 households, and 30,656 families living in the county.[11] The population density was 67.5 inhabitants per square mile (26.1/km2). There were 51,473 housing units at an average density of 29.7 per square mile (11.5/km2).[12] The racial makeup of the county was 83.4% white, 2.2% American Indian, 1.8% Asian, 0.7% black or African American, 0.2% Pacific islander, 8.7% from other races, and 3.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 16.9% of the population.[11] The largest ancestry groups were: 17.8% German, 14.9% Mexican, 13.7% English, 11.4% Irish, 8.3% Norwegian, 4.8% Swedish, and 4.3% Dutch.[13]

Of the 45,557 households, 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.7% were non-families, and 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.01. The median age was 40.1 years.[11]

The median income for a household in the county was $54,811 and the median income for a family was $63,468. Males had a median income of $48,979 versus $34,628 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,925. About 7.4% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.0% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.[14]

Government

Skagit County's government is headed by three commissioners, in the system laid out in the state constitution for all counties without charters. Commissioners are "nominated" in the primary by their district, but then are elected in the general by a county-wide vote. Commissioners are therefore said to represent the entire county, and not just their district.

The current Skagit County commissioners include Lisa Janicki, a Democrat from District 3, which encompasses Burlington east of Interstate 5, Sedro-Woolley, and the rest of eastern Skagit County; Ken Dahlstedt, a Democrat from District 2, which covers Mount Vernon, Conway, and south county; and Ron Wesen, a Republican from District 1, which includes Anacortes, La Conner, and that area of the county west of Interstate 5 and north of McLean Road.

Politics

Skagit County had been a bellwether county since the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980, voting for the winning candidate in each subsequent presidential election until it was carried by Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016 (though only by a plurality).

Presidential election results
Presidential elections results[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 44.6% 32,762 52.1% 38,252 3.3% 2,409
2016 42.6% 24,736 46.0% 26,690 11.4% 6,633
2012 45.0% 25,071 51.5% 28,688 3.5% 1,938
2008 43.9% 24,687 53.4% 30,053 2.7% 1,513
2004 50.0% 26,139 48.1% 25,131 2.0% 1,029
2000 49.0% 22,163 45.2% 20,432 5.8% 2,626
1996 39.9% 16,397 44.5% 18,295 15.6% 6,426
1992 32.9% 13,388 39.1% 15,936 28.0% 11,404
1988 51.1% 16,550 46.8% 15,159 2.1% 692
1984 56.5% 18,840 41.9% 13,947 1.6% 539
1980 50.7% 15,520 36.9% 11,299 12.4% 3,804
1976 48.7% 13,060 47.4% 12,718 4.0% 1,059
1972 58.1% 14,212 37.8% 9,233 4.1% 1,003
1968 45.8% 10,354 46.6% 10,529 7.6% 1,711
1964 36.2% 8,138 63.7% 14,344 0.1% 28
1960 52.4% 12,168 47.4% 11,003 0.2% 49
1956 56.7% 12,149 43.1% 9,243 0.2% 48
1952 57.4% 11,446 41.7% 8,321 0.9% 185
1948 44.9% 8,176 49.9% 9,080 5.2% 936
1944 45.0% 7,805 54.3% 9,409 0.7% 118
1940 44.4% 7,985 54.5% 9,796 1.1% 189
1936 33.4% 5,222 61.7% 9,639 4.8% 754
1932 30.6% 4,246 60.5% 8,395 9.0% 1,247
1928 73.6% 8,336 25.1% 2,848 1.3% 145
1924 48.0% 5,071 6.6% 699 45.4% 4,806
1920 51.6% 5,320 17.9% 1,840 30.5% 3,146
1916 40.2% 4,142 47.9% 4,936 12.0% 1,232
1912 26.0% 2,399 21.2% 1,962 52.8% 4,876
1908 56.4% 2,924 28.0% 1,449 15.6% 810
1904 69.9% 3,051 20.2% 880 9.9% 432
1900 55.9% 1,814 37.6% 1,220 6.5% 211
1896 43.4% 1,268 55.6% 1,623 1.0% 30
1892 42.9% 1,246 31.8% 923 25.3% 734

County conservation efforts

In 2006, the Skagit County Marine Resources Committee commissioned a study to evaluate establishing one or more no-take marine reserves to protect rockfish and other groundfish from overfishing.[16]

Transportation

Skagit Transit provides the county with bus service. It also offers connections to Everett, Bellingham, Whidbey Island and Camano Island, and operates the Guemes Island ferry linking Anacortes to Guemes Island.

Major highways

Communities
Majestic Inn, Anacortes, Washington.
Downtown La Conner, Washington.

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Reservations

Ghost Towns

See also

Footnotes
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  4. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved April 11, 2020.
  5. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  6. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  7. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  8. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  9. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  10. "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.
  11. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  12. "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.
  13. "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.
  14. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  15. Valz, JH; Dinnel, PA (2007). "Bottomfish Variability in the Proposed Marine Reserves of Skagit County, Washington". In: NW Pollock and JM Godfrey (Eds.) The Diving for Science…2007, Proceedings of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences, Twenty-sixth annual Scientific Diving Symposium, University of Miami, Miami, FL. Retrieved 2009-03-24.

Further reading

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