Spokane County, Washington

Spokane County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2010 census the population was 471,221, making it the fourth-most populous county in Washington state.[2] The largest city and county seat is Spokane,[3] the second largest city in the state after Seattle. The county is named after the Spokane tribe.

Spokane County
U.S. county
Spokane County Courthouse
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Washington
Washington's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 47°37′N 117°24′W
Country United States
State Washington
FoundedJanuary 29, 1858 (created)
January 19, 1864 (annexed to Stevens Co.)
October 30, 1879 (separated from Stevens Co.)
Named forSpokane people
Seat Spokane
Largest citySpokane
Area
 • Total1,781 sq mi (4,610 km2)
 • Land1,764 sq mi (4,570 km2)
 • Water17 sq mi (40 km2)  0.9%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total471,221
 • Estimate 
(2019)
522,798
 • Density275/sq mi (106/km2)
Time zoneUTC−8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
Congressional district5th
Websitewww.spokanecounty.org
Large Autunite specimen from the Daybreak Mine, Mount Kit Carson, Spokane County [1]

Spokane County is part of the Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also part of the greater Spokane-Coeur d'Alene Combined Statistical Area that includes nearby Kootenai County, Idaho.

History

Spokane County was established by the Washington legislature effective January 29, 1858. It was annexed by Stevens County on January 19, 1864, and re-created on October 30, 1879.[4][5] The first post office in the county was located at Spokane Bridge.[6]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,781 square miles (4,610 km2), of which 1,764 square miles (4,570 km2) is land and 17 square miles (44 km2) (0.9%) is water.[7] The lowest point in the county is the Spokane River behind Long Lake Dam (boundary of Stevens County) at 1538 feet (468 m) above sea level. (There is virtually no change in elevation between the dam and the mouth of the Little Spokane River inside Riverside State Park.) The highest point in the county is the summit of Mount Spokane at 5,887 ft (1,794 m). NAVD 88[8]

Rivers

Lakes and reservoirs

Notable summits and peaks

Notable parks

National protected area

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1860996—
18702,000100.8%
18804,262113.1%
189037,487779.6%
190057,54253.5%
1910139,404142.3%
1920141,2891.4%
1930150,4776.5%
1940164,6529.4%
1950221,56134.6%
1960278,33325.6%
1970287,4873.3%
1980341,83518.9%
1990361,3645.7%
2000417,93915.7%
2010471,22112.7%
2019 (est.)522,798[9]10.9%
US Decennial Census[10]
1790–1960[11] 1900–1990[12]
1990–2000[13] 2010–2019[2]

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States Census,[14] there were 417,939 people, 163,611 households, and 106,019 families in the county. The population density was 237 inhabitants per square mile (92/km2). There were 175,005 housing units at an average density of 99 per square mile (38/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.62% White, 2.00% Black or African American, 1.40% Native American, 1.88% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 0.82% from other races, and 2.76% from two or more races. 2.77% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 22.0% were of German, 10.7% Irish, 9.9% English, 7.6% United States or American and 6.4% Norwegian ancestry.

There were 163,611 households, out of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.90% were married couples living together, 11.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.20% were non-families. 28.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.70% under the age of 18, 10.60% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 96.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,308, and the median income for a family was $46,463. Males had a median income of $35,097 versus $25,526 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,233. About 8.30% of families and 12.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.20% of those under age 18 and 8.10% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 471,221 people, 187,167 households, and 118,212 families residing in the county.[15] The population density was 267.2 inhabitants per square mile (103.2/km2). There were 201,434 housing units at an average density of 114.2 per square mile (44.1/km2).[16] The racial makeup of the county was 89.2% white, 2.1% Asian, 1.7% black or African American, 1.5% American Indian, 0.4% Pacific islander, 1.2% from other races, and 3.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.5% of the population.[15] In terms of ancestry, 27.0% were German, 15.4% were Irish, 13.5% were English, 6.9% were Norwegian, and 4.4% were American.[17]

Of the 187,167 households, 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.8% were non-families, and 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.99. The median age was 36.8 years.[15]

The median income for a household in the county was $47,250 and the median income for a family was $59,999. Males had a median income of $44,000 versus $33,878 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,127. About 9.1% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.0% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.[18]

Law and government

Spokane County is governed by a partisan Board of County Commissioners, one from each of three districts. They run in a partisan primary election within their own district, then compete countywide in the general election. Other elected officials include the Sheriff, Auditor (who is also responsible for elections), Assessor, Treasurer, and Prosecutor, which are also partisan offices. Spokane County has an appointed Medical Examiner. The current[19] commissioners for Spokane County are Josh Kerns, Mary Kuney, and Al French, from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd county districts respectively.

Transportation planning within the county is handled by the Spokane Regional Transportation Council (SRTC), a metropolitan planning organization that was created in 1962. The SRTC distributes federal and state funds for transportation projects and is tasked with updating the long-range transportation plan for Spokane County.[20]

Spokane County has generally been a reliably Republican county in presidential elections over the last half-century. It did, however, give a plurality of votes to Bill Clinton in both of his presidential runs.

Presidential election results
Presidential election results[21]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 50.3% 148,576 46.0% 135,765 3.7% 11,089
2016 48.1% 113,435 39.7% 93,767 12.2% 28,848
2012 51.1% 115,285 45.3% 102,295 3.6% 8,174
2008 49.0% 108,314 47.9% 105,786 3.1% 6,907
2004 55.1% 111,606 43.2% 87,490 1.7% 3,491
2000 51.9% 89,299 43.4% 74,604 4.8% 8,209
1996 41.8% 66,628 45.1% 71,727 13.1% 20,877
1992 35.5% 59,984 41.1% 69,526 23.4% 39,622
1988 49.4% 68,787 49.2% 68,520 1.3% 1,843
1984 59.0% 88,043 39.9% 59,620 1.1% 1,673
1980 55.5% 78,096 35.0% 49,263 9.5% 13,326
1976 53.4% 68,290 43.5% 55,660 3.1% 4,004
1972 59.4% 74,320 35.4% 44,337 5.2% 6,528
1968 47.6% 52,650 44.7% 49,423 7.7% 8,521
1964 44.3% 49,387 55.7% 62,092 0.1% 102
1960 51.6% 59,557 48.2% 55,553 0.2% 259
1956 55.2% 60,335 44.7% 48,833 0.1% 119
1952 55.2% 56,958 44.4% 45,827 0.4% 451
1948 41.7% 37,086 55.8% 49,649 2.5% 2,253
1944 44.2% 36,359 55.3% 45,491 0.6% 456
1940 42.2% 33,228 56.9% 44,852 0.9% 713
1936 28.5% 19,951 68.6% 48,117 2.9% 2,057
1932 38.2% 24,848 56.7% 36,953 5.1% 3,324
1928 65.5% 35,858 33.8% 18,527 0.7% 373
1924 49.3% 23,403 12.7% 6,036 38.0% 18,034
1920 60.6% 26,219 31.0% 13,412 8.5% 3,670
1916 45.2% 19,503 49.5% 21,339 5.3% 2,278
1912 11.9% 4,205 30.8% 10,845 57.3% 20,218
1908 58.7% 11,719 32.8% 6,557 8.5% 1,694
1904 71.7% 10,258 18.2% 2,602 10.1% 1,445
1900 49.8% 5,515 46.3% 5,125 3.8% 425
1896 31.2% 2,701 67.4% 5,829 1.4% 122
1892 45.5% 3,367 30.3% 2,247 24.2% 1,794

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns/neighborhoods
  • Babb
  • Coey
  • Darknell
  • Dragoon
  • Freedom
  • Geib
  • Hite
  • Lyons
  • Mock
  • North Pine
  • Rahm
  • Rodna
  • Saxby
  • Scribner
  • Wallner

See also

References
  1. Autunite from Daybreak Mine at Mindat.org
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. "Milestones for Washington State History – Part 2: 1851 to 1900". HistoryLink.org. March 6, 2003.
  5. "Spokane County, Washington: Historical Dates and Maps". Archived from the original on December 14, 2007. Retrieved January 1, 2008.
  6. "Spokane Valley — Thumbnail History". HistoryLink. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  8. "Y". NGS data sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey.
  9. "American FactFinder". Retrieved April 11, 2020.
  10. "US Decennial Census". US 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". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  13. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  14. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  15. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  16. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  17. "Selected Social Characteristics in the United States - 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  18. "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  19. As of October 2018
  20. Deshais, Nicholas (June 12, 2019). "Spokane Tribe will get a voice in transportation planning, a move that sparked controversy among Spokane officials". Spokesman-Review. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  21. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 10, 2018.

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