Skamania County, Washington

Skamania County (/skəˈmeɪniə/) is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2010 census, the population was 11,066.[1] The county seat and largest incorporated city is Stevenson,[2] although the Carson River Valley CDP is more populous. The county was founded in 1854 and derives its name from the Cascades Chinook word sk'mániak, meaning "swift waters".[3]

Skamania County
U.S. county
Skamania County panorama
Location within the U.S. state of Washington
Washington's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 46°02′N 121°55′W
Country United States
State Washington
FoundedMarch 9, 1854
SeatStevenson
Largest cityCarson River Valley
Area
 • Total1,683 sq mi (4,360 km2)
 • Land1,656 sq mi (4,290 km2)
 • Water28 sq mi (70 km2)  1.7%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total11,066
 • Estimate 
(2019)
12,083
 • Density7.15/sq mi (2.76/km2)
Time zoneUTC−8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.skamaniacounty.org

Skamania County is included in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

The area delineated by the future Washington state boundary began to be colonized at the start of the nineteenth century, both by Americans and British subjects. However, the majority of British exploration and interest in the land was due to the fur trade, whereas American settlers were principally seeking land for agriculture and cattle raising. The Treaty of 1818 provided for the region to be an Anglo-American condominium. During this period, the future Washington Territory was divided into two administrative zones: Clark County and Lewis County (made official in 1845).

The condominium was unwieldy and led to continual argument, and occasional conflict. The status of the Washington area was settled in 1846, when the Oregon Treaty ceded the land south of North latitude 49 degrees to American control.

On March 9, 1854, Skamania County was split from the original Clark County. Also in 1854, Walla Walla County was split from the new Skamania County. After that, Skamania County retained its shape, including through the period after Washington became the 42nd state of the Union in 1889.[4] An early county seat was Fort Cascades, built to protect the Columbia River, but the county seat has been in Stevenson since 1893.

Skamania County is also known for enacting what has been described as the "Bigfoot Ordinance", passed by the Board of County Commissioners at its meeting of April 1, 1969 and published in twice in the Skamania County Pioneer, the newspaper of highest circulation in the county, as required by law. Although its passage coincided with April Fool's Day, Ordinance 69-01 was real, was amended in 1984, and has not been repealed. Its purposes included protection of residents and visitors from in the county from a very real concern, "an influx of scientific investigators as well as casual hunters, many armed with lethal weapons", who had been attracted to the area by reported sightings of a creature.[5][6][7]

On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,684 square miles (4,360 km2), of which 1,656 square miles (4,290 km2) is land and 28 square miles (73 km2) (1.7%) is water.[8] 90% of Skamania is forested and 80% is a part of Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

Geographic features

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1860173—
1870133−23.1%
1880809508.3%
1890774−4.3%
19001,688118.1%
19102,88771.0%
19202,357−18.4%
19302,89122.7%
19404,63360.3%
19504,7883.3%
19605,2078.8%
19705,84512.3%
19807,91935.5%
19908,2894.7%
20009,87219.1%
201011,06612.1%
2019 (est.)12,083[9]9.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790–1960[11] 1900–1990[12]
1990–2000[13] 2010–2019[1]

2000 census

As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 9,872 people, 3,755 households, and 2,756 families living in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile (2/km2). There were 4,576 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.11% White, 0.30% Black or African American, 2.20% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 2.43% from other races, and 2.25% from two or more races. 4.03% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.7% were of German, 12.5% English, 12.1% Irish, 11.2% United States or American and 5.2% Norwegian ancestry.

There were 3,755 households, out of which 34.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.50% were married couples living together, 8.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.60% were non-families. 21.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.60% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 27.10% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 101.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,317, and the median income for a family was $44,586. Males had a median income of $36,732 versus $25,130 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,002. About 10.00% of families and 13.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.10% of those under age 18 and 7.90% of those age 65 or over.

There are more Seventh-day Adventists in Skamania County than members of any other religious group. Skamania County is the only county in the United States for which this is true.[15]

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 11,066 people, 4,522 households, and 3,072 families living in the county.[16] The population density was 6.7 inhabitants per square mile (2.6/km2). There were 5,628 housing units at an average density of 3.4 per square mile (1.3/km2).[17] The racial makeup of the county was 92.8% white, 1.6% American Indian, 0.9% Asian, 0.4% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 1.3% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 5.0% of the population.[16] In terms of ancestry, 20.6% were German, 15.7% were Irish, 11.0% were English, 6.3% were Norwegian, and 5.0% were American.[18]

Of the 4,522 households, 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.1% were non-families, and 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.92. The median age was 44.0 years.[16]

Recreation

Parks and other protected areas

There are many parks in Skamania County. Only a few have been listed.

County parks
  • Prindle Park is a county-maintained park with picnic facilities and a playground.
  • Big Cedars Campground is a county-maintained campground with primitive campsites.
  • Home Valley Campground is another county-maintained camping area.

State parks

Sites maintained by the US Forest Service
  • Sams Walker Day Use Site offers an interpretive trail, access to the Columbia River, and opportunities to view wildlife. Portions of it are typically wheelchair-accessible. However, vegetation growth sometimes prevents people in wheelchairs from using the trails.
  • St. Cloud Day Use Site features a short, easy trail through a meadow, picnic area, access to the Columbia River and wildlife viewing opportunities.

National protected areas

Communities

Cities

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Politics

Skamania County is a fairly competitive county in presidential elections. The Republicans and Democrats won the county four times each between 1988 and 2016.

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 53.1% 3,885 43.7% 3,192 3.2% 235
2016 50.2% 2,928 38.3% 2,232 11.5% 669
2012 48.6% 2,687 47.5% 2,628 3.9% 217
2008 46.0% 2,524 51.3% 2,817 2.7% 149
2004 52.2% 2,695 46.0% 2,374 1.7% 90
2000 50.6% 2,151 41.3% 1,753 8.1% 345
1996 36.6% 1,387 45.5% 1,724 17.9% 678
1992 30.0% 1,102 40.1% 1,474 30.0% 1,104
1988 42.9% 1,356 55.3% 1,748 1.8% 58
1984 52.0% 1,736 46.5% 1,552 1.5% 51
1980 45.8% 1,416 44.4% 1,373 9.9% 306
1976 41.6% 1,102 54.2% 1,436 4.3% 114
1972 48.7% 1,288 43.6% 1,153 7.7% 204
1968 40.7% 968 51.3% 1,221 8.0% 191
1964 27.1% 653 72.8% 1,758 0.1% 3
1960 44.8% 1,032 55.0% 1,269 0.2% 5
1956 45.9% 1,014 54.0% 1,193 0.1% 2
1952 52.3% 1,072 47.7% 978
1948 38.4% 707 57.9% 1,067 3.7% 68
1944 40.6% 668 58.8% 968 0.7% 11
1940 36.8% 765 62.2% 1,292 1.1% 22
1936 17.6% 406 80.7% 1,863 1.8% 41
1932 30.4% 444 63.9% 934 5.8% 84
1928 56.0% 631 42.0% 473 2.0% 23
1924 52.2% 533 20.3% 207 27.6% 282
1920 52.7% 409 31.8% 247 15.5% 120
1916 50.0% 489 46.1% 451 4.0% 39
1912 30.2% 251 31.6% 262 38.2% 317[20]
1908 60.1% 310 27.7% 143 12.2% 63
1904 68.4% 297 14.1% 61 17.5% 76
1900 45.1% 175 52.3% 203 2.6% 10
1896 32.3% 122 66.7% 252 1.1% 4
1892 39.7% 91 43.2% 99 17.0% 39

See also

References
  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. Bright, William (2004). Native American placenames of the United States. University of Oklahoma Press. p. 450. ISBN 978-0-8061-3598-4. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
  4. "Milestones for Washington State History — Part 2: 1851 to 1900". HistoryLink.org. March 6, 2003.
  5. "Skamania County, Washington State Bigfoot Ordinance, No. 69-01
  6. Joe Gisondi, Monster Trek: The Obsessive Search for Bigfoot (University of Nebraska Press, 2016)
  7. Courthouse Library of British Columbia
  8. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  9. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  10. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  12. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  13. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  15. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 18, 2011. Retrieved February 5, 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. "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.
  17. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  18. "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.
  19. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  20. The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 218 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 86 votes, Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 10 votes, and Socialist Labor candidate Arthur Reimer received 3 votes.

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