Jefferson County, Washington | |
|---|---|
 Jefferson County Courthouse in Port Townsend | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofWashington | |
 Washington's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:47°50′N123°35′W / 47.84°N 123.58°W /47.84; -123.58 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Washington |
| Founded | December 22, 1852 |
| Named after | Thomas Jefferson |
| Seat | Port Townsend |
| Largest city | Port Townsend |
| Area | |
• Total | 2,183 sq mi (5,650 km2) |
| • Land | 1,804 sq mi (4,670 km2) |
| • Water | 379 sq mi (980 km2) 17% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 32,977 |
• Estimate (2024) | 33,944 |
| • Density | 17/sq mi (6.6/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| Congressional district | 6th |
| Website | co.jefferson.wa.us |
Jefferson County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofWashington. As of the2020 census, the population was 32,977.[1] Thecounty seat and only incorporated city isPort Townsend.[2] The county is named forThomas Jefferson.[3]
Jefferson County was formed out ofThurston County on December 22, 1852, by the legislature ofOregon Territory,[4] and included the northern 4,854-square-mile (12,571.8 km2) portion of theOlympic Peninsula. On April 26, 1854, the legislature ofWashington Territory createdClallam County from the northwestern 2,670-square-mile (6,915.3 km2) portion of this original area.
TheHood Canal Bridge connects Jefferson County toKitsap County, Washington. The Coupeville-Port Townsend route of theWashington State Ferries connects the county toWhidbey Island inIsland County, Washington.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,183 square miles (5,650 km2), of which 1,804 square miles (4,670 km2) is land and 379 square miles (980 km2) (17%) is water.[5]
The county is split in three parts by its landforms:
Because of themountainous barrier, there is no road lying entirely within Jefferson County that connects the eastern and western parts. The most direct land route between the two ends of the county involves a drive of approximately 100 miles (160 km) alongU.S. Route 101 through neighbouringClallam County. Themountains also block the dampChinook winds, which make the climate much wetter in the west than the so-called eastern "banana belt" in therain shadow.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 531 | — | |
| 1870 | 1,268 | 138.8% | |
| 1880 | 1,712 | 35.0% | |
| 1890 | 8,368 | 388.8% | |
| 1900 | 5,712 | −31.7% | |
| 1910 | 8,337 | 46.0% | |
| 1920 | 6,557 | −21.4% | |
| 1930 | 8,346 | 27.3% | |
| 1940 | 8,918 | 6.9% | |
| 1950 | 11,618 | 30.3% | |
| 1960 | 9,639 | −17.0% | |
| 1970 | 10,661 | 10.6% | |
| 1980 | 15,965 | 49.8% | |
| 1990 | 20,146 | 26.2% | |
| 2000 | 25,953 | 28.8% | |
| 2010 | 29,872 | 15.1% | |
| 2020 | 32,977 | 10.4% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 33,944 | [6] | 2.9% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9] 1990–2000[10] 2010–2020[1] | |||
Jefferson County also comprises the entirety of the Port Townsendmicropolitan statistical area, which is designated by theU.S. Census Bureau. As of 2023[update], the county's median age of 60.8 years old is the second-highest among metropolitan and micropolitan areas in the country, behindThe Villages, Florida.[11]
As of the2010 census, there were 29,872 people, 14,049 households, and 8,394 families living in the county.[12] The population density was 16.6 inhabitants per square mile (6.4/km2). There were 17,767 housing units at an average density of 9.9 per square mile (3.8/km2).[13] The racial makeup of the county was 91.0% white, 2.3% American Indian, 1.6% Asian, 0.8% black or African American, 0.2% Pacific islander, 0.7% from other races, and 3.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.8% of the population.[12] In terms of ancestry, 20.8% wereEnglish, 20.3% wereGerman, 13.9% wereIrish, 8.3% wereNorwegian, 5.9% wereScottish, and 4.2% wereAmerican.[14]
Of the 14,049 households, 18.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 40.3% were non-families, and 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.57. The median age was 53.9 years.[12]
The median income for a household in the county was $46,048 and the median income for a family was $59,964. Males had a median income of $45,616 versus $29,508 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,528. About 8.9% of families and 13.5% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 20.8% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.[15]
As of the2000 census, there were 25,953 people, 11,645 households, and 7,580 families living in the county. Thepopulation density was 14 people per square mile (5.4 people/km2). There were 14,144 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3.1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.17%White, 0.42%Black orAfrican American, 2.31%Native American, 1.19%Asian, 0.13%Pacific Islander, 0.76% fromother races, and 3.02% from two or more races. 2.06% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 17.4% were ofGerman, 14.8%English, 9.9%Irish and 7.5%Norwegian ancestry. 97.1% spokeEnglish and 1.0%Spanish as their first language.
There were 11,645 households, out of which 23.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.60% weremarried couples living together, 8.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.90% were non-families. 28.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.67.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 19.80% under the age of 18, 5.00% from 18 to 24, 21.60% from 25 to 44, 32.50% from 45 to 64, and 21.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 95.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,869, and the median income for a family was $45,415. Males had a median income of $37,210 versus $25,831 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $22,211. About 7.20% of families and 11.30% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 16.60% of those under age 18 and 6.00% of those age 65 or over.
Jefferson County is a dominantDemocratic area, with Democrats having carried the county in every election cycle sinceRonald Reagan's landslide victory in1980.
In2024, Democratic nomineeKamala Harris won over 70% of the vote in the county, the highest vote share in its history. The county was one of the few in the country to shift significantly leftward. As of 2024[update], the county is located inWashington's 6th congressional district and in the 24th ofWashington state legislative districts.
Because of thebarrier dividing the county, the populations and economies differ between the eastern and western halves of Jefferson County. The contrasts are notable as the west portion is more dependent onlogging, somewhat less prosperous, and having fewer people for roughly the same area. Areas of East Jefferson County located south of Port Townsend remain largely rural and can be divided into two parts, those communities located on the Hood Canal and those on the Admiralty Inlet. Perennial discussions and attempts to separate the west half from the east half gained little support during the twentieth century.
The county seat, Port Townsend, is overwhelmingly Democratic in most elections. It gaveBarack Obama 82% of its votes in the 2012 presidential election. Areas outside of Port Townsend (such as Cape George) gave Obama 2-to-1 victory margins. Democrats also draw the most votes in many of the small towns of northern Jefferson County, with strong Democratic leans in Coyle, Discovery Bay, Gardiner, and Nordland, as well as in the towns just southeast of Port Townsend such as Chimacum,Irondale,Kala Point, and Port Hadlock. Democrats also perform strongly in the sparsely populated western part of the county, where much of the population is Native American.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1892 | 610 | 43.85% | 665 | 47.81% | 116 | 8.34% |
| 1896 | 704 | 56.32% | 536 | 42.88% | 10 | 0.80% |
| 1900 | 684 | 61.73% | 392 | 35.38% | 32 | 2.89% |
| 1904 | 962 | 73.60% | 283 | 21.65% | 62 | 4.74% |
| 1908 | 859 | 63.16% | 417 | 30.66% | 84 | 6.18% |
| 1912 | 636 | 27.34% | 642 | 27.60% | 1,048 | 45.06% |
| 1916 | 1,094 | 51.80% | 861 | 40.77% | 157 | 7.43% |
| 1920 | 1,128 | 61.57% | 322 | 17.58% | 382 | 20.85% |
| 1924 | 913 | 51.79% | 143 | 8.11% | 707 | 40.10% |
| 1928 | 1,472 | 63.83% | 810 | 35.13% | 24 | 1.04% |
| 1932 | 952 | 29.14% | 1,994 | 61.03% | 321 | 9.83% |
| 1936 | 1,063 | 31.04% | 2,279 | 66.54% | 83 | 2.42% |
| 1940 | 1,540 | 42.13% | 2,083 | 56.99% | 32 | 0.88% |
| 1944 | 1,415 | 43.38% | 1,829 | 56.07% | 18 | 0.55% |
| 1948 | 1,610 | 43.80% | 1,911 | 51.99% | 155 | 4.22% |
| 1952 | 2,355 | 54.70% | 1,933 | 44.90% | 17 | 0.39% |
| 1956 | 2,300 | 56.69% | 1,750 | 43.14% | 7 | 0.17% |
| 1960 | 2,103 | 48.83% | 2,197 | 51.01% | 7 | 0.16% |
| 1964 | 1,432 | 32.14% | 3,012 | 67.59% | 12 | 0.27% |
| 1968 | 1,827 | 40.55% | 2,251 | 49.97% | 427 | 9.48% |
| 1972 | 2,770 | 53.49% | 2,096 | 40.47% | 313 | 6.04% |
| 1976 | 2,794 | 45.86% | 2,913 | 47.82% | 385 | 6.32% |
| 1980 | 3,645 | 44.61% | 3,279 | 40.13% | 1,246 | 15.25% |
| 1984 | 4,543 | 48.67% | 4,602 | 49.30% | 189 | 2.02% |
| 1988 | 4,184 | 43.42% | 5,270 | 54.69% | 182 | 1.89% |
| 1992 | 3,467 | 26.79% | 6,148 | 47.50% | 3,327 | 25.71% |
| 1996 | 4,607 | 32.63% | 7,145 | 50.61% | 2,367 | 16.76% |
| 2000 | 6,095 | 38.50% | 8,281 | 52.30% | 1,457 | 9.20% |
| 2004 | 6,650 | 35.66% | 11,610 | 62.25% | 390 | 2.09% |
| 2008 | 6,330 | 31.46% | 13,252 | 65.85% | 541 | 2.69% |
| 2012 | 6,405 | 32.09% | 12,739 | 63.82% | 817 | 4.09% |
| 2016 | 6,037 | 28.91% | 12,656 | 60.62% | 2,186 | 10.47% |
| 2020 | 6,931 | 27.96% | 17,204 | 69.39% | 657 | 2.65% |
| 2024 | 6,324 | 25.61% | 17,459 | 70.69% | 915 | 3.70% |
The largest private employer in Jefferson County is the Port Townsend Paper Mill.[17] The largest employer overall (private and public) isJefferson Healthcare, which operatesJefferson Healthcare Hospital.[18]
The Jefferson County Public Utility District (PUD) provideselectricity to over 23,000 customers in Jefferson County and water to 5,600 customers.[19] It was established in 1939 to construct electrical infrastructure for rural communities and expanded into providing water service in 1981.[20] The PUD began electrical service to the entire county in April 2013 after it had acquired assets and infrastructure fromPuget Sound Energy, a private operator, for $103 million. The transfer had been approved by voters in the November 2008 general election after Puget Sound Energy had been sold to an Australianhedge fund.[21]
Geographic data related toJefferson County, Washington atOpenStreetMapPlaces adjacent to Jefferson County, Washington | |
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Municipalities and communities ofJefferson County, Washington,United States | ||
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| Other communities | ||
| Indian reservation | ||
| Ghost towns |
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
47°50′N123°35′W / 47.84°N 123.58°W /47.84; -123.58
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