Thurston County, Washington

Thurston County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2010 census, its population was 252,264.[1] The county seat and largest city is Olympia,[2] the state capital.

Thurston County
U.S. county
Former Thurston County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Washington
Washington's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 46°56′N 122°50′W
Country United States
State Washington
FoundedJanuary 12, 1852
Named forSamuel Thurston
SeatOlympia
Largest cityOlympia
Area
 • Total774 sq mi (2,000 km2)
 • Land722 sq mi (1,870 km2)
 • Water52 sq mi (130 km2)  6.7%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total252,264
 • Estimate 
(2019)
290,536
 • Density368/sq mi (142/km2)
Time zoneUTC−8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
Congressional districts3rd, 10th
Websitewww.co.thurston.wa.us

Thurston County was created out of Lewis County by the government of Oregon Territory on January 12, 1852. At that time, it covered all of the Puget Sound region and the Olympic Peninsula. On December 22 of the same year, Pierce, King, Island, and Jefferson counties were split off from Thurston County.[3][4] It is named after Samuel R. Thurston, the Oregon Territory's first delegate to Congress.[5] In his role as congressional delegate, Thurston attempted to justify Oregon State's Exclusionary Acts, which barred people of color from suffrage and allowed for their exclusion from the state.

Thurston County comprises the Olympia-Tumwater, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area and is included in the Seattle-Tacoma, WA Combined Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 774 square miles (2,000 km2), of which 722 square miles (1,870 km2) is land and 52 square miles (130 km2) (6.7%) is water.[6]

Major watersheds: Black River, Budd/Deschutes, Chehalis River, Eld Inlet, Henderson Inlet, Nisqually River, Skookumchuck River, Totten Inlet and West Capitol Forest.

Geographic features

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18601,507—
18702,24649.0%
18803,27045.6%
18909,675195.9%
19009,9272.6%
191017,58177.1%
192022,36627.2%
193031,35140.2%
194037,28518.9%
195044,88420.4%
196055,04922.6%
197076,89439.7%
1980124,26461.6%
1990161,23829.8%
2000207,35528.6%
2010252,26421.7%
2019 (est.)290,536[7]15.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10]
1990–2000[11] 2010–2019[1]

2000 census

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 207,355 people, 81,625 households and 54,933 families living in the county. The population density was 285 per square mile (110/km2). There were 86,652 housing units at an average density of 119 per square mile (46/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 85.66% White, 2.35% Black or African American, 1.52% Native American, 4.41% Asian, 0.52% Pacific Islander, 1.69% from other races, and 3.85% from two or more races. 4.53% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.1% were of German, 10.2% English, 9.8% Irish, 6.9% United States or American and 5.5% Norwegian ancestry.

There were 81,625 households, of which 33.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.10% were married couples living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.70% were non-families. 25.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.99.

Age distribution was 25.30% under the age of 18, 9.30% from 18 to 24, 29.30% from 25 to 44, 24.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.70 males.

The median household income was $46,975, and the median family income was $55,027. Males had a median income of $40,521 versus $30,368 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,415. About 5.80% of families and 8.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.80% of those under age 18 and 5.00% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 252,264 people, 100,650 households, and 66,161 families living in the county.[13] The population density was 349.4 inhabitants per square mile (134.9/km2). There were 108,182 housing units at an average density of 149.8 per square mile (57.8/km2).[14] The racial makeup of the county was 82.4% white, 5.2% Asian, 2.7% black or African American, 1.4% American Indian, 0.8% Pacific islander, 2.2% from other races, and 5.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 7.1% of the population.[13] In terms of ancestry, 21.2% were German, 13.4% were English, 13.2% were Irish, 5.0% were Norwegian, and 4.7% were American.[15]

Of the 100,650 households, 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.9% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.3% were non-families, and 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.95. The median age was 38.5 years.[13]

The median income for a household in the county was $60,930 and the median income for a family was $71,833. Males had a median income of $53,679 versus $41,248 for females. The per capita income for the county was $29,707. About 7.1% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.0% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.[16]

Education

School Districts in Thurston County:

Higher Education in Thurston County:

Media

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Politics
Presidential election results
Presidential election results[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 38.8% 65,277 57.5% 96,608 3.7% 6,249
2016 36.2% 48,624 51.3% 68,798 12.5% 16,769
2012 38.6% 49,287 58.0% 74,037 3.5% 4,416
2008 38.0% 48,366 59.6% 75,882 2.5% 3,142
2004 42.6% 47,992 55.6% 62,650 1.9% 2,147
2000 41.0% 39,924 51.8% 50,467 7.2% 7,031
1996 34.2% 29,835 52.2% 45,522 13.7% 11,923
1992 30.3% 25,643 45.3% 38,293 24.4% 20,633
1988 47.8% 31,980 50.6% 33,860 1.6% 1,090
1984 55.5% 34,442 43.3% 26,840 1.2% 763
1980 48.1% 26,369 37.4% 20,508 14.5% 7,946
1976 47.7% 21,000 48.2% 21,247 4.1% 1,809
1972 57.5% 22,297 37.6% 14,596 4.9% 1,899
1968 45.1% 13,742 46.7% 14,228 8.3% 2,529
1964 34.6% 9,351 65.1% 17,578 0.3% 92
1960 54.4% 13,921 45.4% 11,620 0.3% 65
1956 58.7% 14,093 41.2% 9,897 0.1% 19
1952 58.3% 13,904 41.0% 9,764 0.7% 172
1948 45.7% 9,511 50.3% 10,461 4.0% 832
1944 44.5% 7,900 54.6% 9,708 0.9% 158
1940 39.2% 7,275 59.7% 11,092 1.1% 206
1936 28.1% 4,425 67.5% 10,647 4.5% 703
1932 30.9% 4,241 46.0% 6,308 23.1% 3,173
1928 69.6% 7,203 29.1% 3,013 1.3% 135
1924 57.8% 5,125 10.6% 943 31.6% 2,803
1920 52.8% 3,899 18.5% 1,367 28.7% 2,122
1916 47.8% 3,223 39.4% 2,658 12.9% 867
1912 30.7% 1,937 23.1% 1,456 46.2% 2,918[19]
1908 57.3% 1,940 28.5% 964 14.3% 483
1904 68.5% 2,121 21.6% 668 9.9% 307
1900 54.6% 1,298 41.1% 978 4.3% 103
1896 42.3% 1,052 56.9% 1,415 0.9% 22
1892 41.7% 1,043 32.4% 810 25.9% 648

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Reinartz, Kay. "History of King County Government 1853–2002" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 1, 2007. Retrieved December 29, 2007.
  4. "Thurston County Place Names: A Heritage Guide" (PDF). Thurston County Historical Commission. 1992. p. 87. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved April 11, 2020.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  12. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
  13. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
  14. "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 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
  15. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
  16. Newspapers: The Olympian, McClatchy Company, archived from the original on 2013-03-07, retrieved 2013-02-13
  17. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-04-10.
  18. The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 1,471 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 1,160 votes, Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 270 votes, and Socialist Labor candidate Arthur Reimer received 17 votes.

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